WHAT’S GAMBLING REALLY COSTING YOU? Set a deposit limit. For Free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.<\/p>\n The Sharks came into the contest on the back of consecutive wins, stamping their authority through their spine, while the Roosters enjoyed a 16-day rest heading into the clash. <\/p>\n The Chooks\u2019 last game was the most disciplined from any side in the NRL era, making just three errors, and giving away zero penalties in their win over Manly. <\/p>\n It took just 22 minutes for the tricolors to double that error count in Perth. <\/p>\n The Roosters looked certain to score the first try of the afternoon, James Tedesco dashing through the ruck and finding Sam Walker in support, only for the halfback to hit his skipper straight back, tackled just metres out. <\/p>\n A sweep to the left saw the No. 1 fumble it just four plays later, sending Sione Katoa 70 metres down the touchline before a swing back to the left yielded first blood. <\/p>\n A dart out of dummy-half from Blayke Brailey ending in a pin-point pass to Jesse Colquhoun for the opening try. <\/p>\n It momentarily opened the floodgates for the Sharks, scoring straight away after a Nicho bullet pass ricocheted off Walker, and straight into Mawene Hiroti\u2019s breadbasket to double their lead.<\/p>\n The Sharks continue to be unable to defeat the elite NRL teams.Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n Another nifty pass from Brailey, this time a crash-ball for Braydon Trindall on the right edge brought the score out to 16-0, and alarm bells well and truly ringing for the Roosters. <\/p>\n After seven errors in their opening 22 minutes, Trent Robinson\u2019s side finally managed to gain some momentum, and they captilised off it almost immediately. <\/p>\n A cut-out pass on halfway from Walker sent veteran Daniel Tupou racing down the sideline, drawing Kennedy before finding his enigmatic halfback in support to get the red, white and blue outfit onto the scoreboard. <\/p>\n They looked to have gone back-to-back after Robert Toia crossed on the back of a Sam Stonestreet dropped bomb, only for the Bunker to deliver one of the most controversial calls of the season so far. <\/p>\n Toia competed in the air for the ball, both arms outstretched and eyes on the footy, only for the Bunker to deem the Queensland centre a disruptor after his arm brushed Stonestreet\u2019s before the football was caught.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t like this call at all,\u201d former NRL player turned analyst Cooper Cronk said on Fox League\u2019s Super Saturday show.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is the NRL, the best rugby league players on the planet, and we\u2019re awarding mediocrity when someone puts a fingertip on someone. Robert Toia barely touches Stonesreet, and they\u2019re saying it disrupts an elite player from catching the ball.\u201d<\/p>\n ‘Are You Sure?!’ Disruptor denies Chooks | 00:29<\/p>\n The decision went from bad to worse for the Roosters, immediately leaking a soft try to tom Hazleton through the middle after another crafty Brailey pass. <\/p>\n Some quick-thinking from Walker narrowed Cronulla\u2019s half-time lead to just 10 after the siren, Katoa\u2019s rushing defence causing Walker to put up a half-bomb, coming down straight into Tupou\u2019s arms for an untouched four-pointer. <\/p>\n The half-time break came and went like a new installment of Freaky Friday, the Sharks leaving the sheds complacent and full of errors, while the Roosters seemed to snare momentum from their cross-town rivals. <\/p>\n After peppering Cronulla early in the second stanza, a one-handed bat-back from Mark Nawaqanitawase handed Daly Cherry-Evans his 100th NRL try, and erasing the lead back to just a four-point differential. <\/p>\n While the Chooks finally found their way on top of the contest, DCE\u2019s second try of the season lead to a 20-minute arm wrestle, with both teams finding an error on the cusp of crossing the line. <\/p>\n The Roosters would be the one\u2019s to finally break the deadlock, a brilliant no-look pass from fill-in centre Savala handing Tupou a double, and locking up the score at 22-22. <\/p>\n Sam Walker was in fine form against the Sharks.Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n Some quick-thinking on the right edge two minutes later saw Nawaqanitawase turn provider again, narrowly getting an offload away to DCE to bag his first-ever double in a Roosters outfit, and the club\u2019s first lead of the game. <\/p>\n After overcoming two seperate 16-point leads from Cronulla, the returning Victor Radley, who the club allowed to return from suspension a week early, crossed in his first game of the season to seal the 34-22 win. <\/p>\n It\u2019s a sour end for Cronulla, who failed to score a point in the second stanza, while it sends an ominous threat from the Roosters after a rollercoaster opening month of football.<\/p>\n BIG HITS<\/p>\n DISGRACEFUL DISRUPTOR CALL MARS MATCH<\/p>\n If calls like these from the Bunker are the standard for in-air contests going forward, then the NRL may as well get rid of them all together. <\/p>\n The decision to take Robert Toia\u2019s try off him was nothing short of deplorable, after the centre correctly went up against Stonestreet in the air, eyes on the football and both arms out in front of him. <\/p>\n Only for the Bunker to rule he\u2019d grazed Stonestreet\u2019s arm in the contest, denying the Roosters a crucial try, and sending Cronulla down the other end to score a try of their own. Someone needs to clarify this rule as black and white as possible, before a big game is decided by one of these. <\/p>\n BRAILEY DELIVERS KNOCK-OUT BLOW IN SKY BLUE RACE<\/p>\n Reece Robson may have won the game, but Blayke Brailey delivered a spectacular performance to put himself in the boxseat to wear the Sky Blue No. 9 next month. <\/p>\n The Cronulla hooker had three try-assists in the first-half alone and played a key role in their other try, absolutely controlling the middle third against a complacent Roosters outfit. <\/p>\n Robson missed the opening month with a broken hand, and while he\u2019ll only get better as the Chooks work out their attack, Brailey has to be close to snaring an Origin debut in May.<\/p>\n PERTH, AUSTRALIA – APRIL 11: Daly Cherry-Evans of the Roosters passes the ball during the round six NRL match between Cronulla Sharks and Sydney Roosters at Optus Stadium, on April 11, 2026, in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Janelle St Pierre\/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n HALVES MEASURES FOR COMPLACENT CHOOKS<\/p>\n The Roosters may have undone the discipline they showed against Manly, however they\u2019ve unearthed something even more valuable \u2013 their halves combination. <\/p>\n After recruiting Daly Cherry-Evans in the off-season, all eyes have been on the tricolors and their new haves combination, and on Saturday night in Perth, they finally found a way to gel. <\/p>\n Walker delivered arguably his best game since DCE joined the club, while the former Sea Eagles star nabbed a double as he finally found his poise. A 24-0 second-half to the Roosters, opposition sides be warned.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/poster-fallback.png\"\/)
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