Roosters take flight after belting disappointing Raiders

The Sydney Roosters have sent a warning to the competition after thrashing the Raiders 34-6 at Allianz Stadium. Both Mitchell Pearce and James Maloney starred as the Tricolours put on a good show for their home crowd.

Trent Robinson will be his happy his side were finally able to put in a complete attacking performance, as every backline player scored a try barring Pearce. The halfback was able to notch up four try assists though and controlled the game brilliantly with his kicking game.

It all started in just the third minute when Pearce threw a terrific long ball to Blake Ferguson, who dished it off to Shaun Kenny-Dowall and the winger crashed over in the corner untouched.

Just eight minutes later Roger Tuivasa-Sheck crossed the stripe after a well executed set play. Pearce went to the line before throwing it out the back to the crafty number one, who screamed through a whole created by two decoy runners. Poor defensive reads from Jarrod Croker and Mitch Cornish also didn't help the Green Machine's cause.

The Raiders then began to work themselves into the game. Blake Austin and winger Jordan Rapana were both hard to handle for the Roosters defence, seemingly breaking tackles with ease.

Unfortunately it didn't come to anything for the Raiders as the Roosters extended their lead in the 28th minute. In a replica of the Tuivasa-Sheck try, the fullback this time went one pass further to Ferguson who danced around Croker and touched down.

The away side were finally able to get themselves on the scoresheet three minutes before the break with a well worked try. Mitch Cornish engaged the defensive line 30 metres out before putting through a deft grubber. Captain Croker was then able to scream through, pick up the Steeden and dive over. The Raiders were in with a sniff as they went to the sheds down only 18-6.

This sniff quickly became a distant memory as the Roosters scored two tries in three minutes early in the second half to put the game to bed.

The first try went to Michael Jennings and it was textbook perfect. Pearce went to the line and engaged two defenders before passing it to Maloney who did the exact same thing. The five-eight than gifted it off to Jennings who just had to use his speed to get the line.

Just two minutes later Daniel Tupou jumped over Rapana to take a towering Pearce bomb and it was curtains. Maloney was able to get himself a well deserved try late after Tupou ran 50 metres before handing it off to the hard working pivot.

Dylan Napa was busy for the home side as usual.

The Raiders at times were brilliant in attack with Austin, Wighton and Croker combining with scintillating adlib footy. At other times they were a train wreck with very little direction. They need to improve drastically if they want to keep in touch with the top eight.

Next up the Roosters host the Sharks on Easter Sunday, while the Raiders travel to Albury to tackle an under-fire Manly.

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:
3 points - Mitchell Pearce
2 points - Dylan Napa
1 point - James Maloney

SYDNEY ROOSTERS (34)
Tries: Shaun Kenny-Dowall, James Maloney, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Blake Ferguson, Michael Jennings, Daniel Tupou
Conversions: James Maloney (5/6)

CANBERRA RAIDERS (6)
Tries: Jarrod Croker
Conversions: Jarrod Croker (1/1)

Good Afternoon all and welcome to our live coverage of the Roosters v Raiders in round 4 of the NRL. It looks as if the Roosters will be 1-17 today while the Raiders have made two changes; Jeremy Hawkins comes onto the wing for Sisa Waqa whilst Mark Nicholls replaces Shannon Boyd on the bench.

Underway at Allianz!

1: Roosters complete their first set and get a great kick away downfield through Mitchell Pierce

3: TRY SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Scored by Shaun Kenny-Dowall. Kick to come.
Early points for the home side! Pearce throws a brilliant long ball to Ferguson who puts SKD over in the corner

4: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Conversion attempt by James Maloney successful.
Maloney knocks it over from touch and the Roosters are up 6-0

5: Sam Moa gets away a great offload for the Chooks

6: They complete a great set after points and the Raiders have to work it away from their try line

7: Sam Moa lets them off the hook by giving away a penalty for having hands on the ball

7: Great solo run from Blake Austin, Raiders looking dangerous in attack

8: UNFORCED ERROR SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Blake Ferguson makes an unforced error.
Ferguson knocks the ball out of Crocker's hands and the Raiders will get a full set 20m out

9: UNFORCED ERROR CANBERRA RAIDERS
Dane Tilse makes an unforced error.
The big man blows a good chance for the Green Machine after offloading straight to a Rooster

10: Now the Raiders have given away a penalty for laying in the ruck… Sticky won't be happy!

11: Going upstairs for a potential Roger Tuivasa-Sheck try, maybe obstruction in the build up

12: TRY SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Scored by Roger Tuivasa-Sheck. Kick to come.
Green Light! Poor read in defence from both Crocker and Mitch Cornish created the whole

12: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Conversion attempt by James Maloney successful.
Maloney puts it through from beside the sticks and the Roosters shoot to a 12 nil lead!

14: Falcon of the year contender off Blake Ferguson's beak!

15: UNFORCED ERROR CANBERRA RAIDERS
Jarrod Croker makes an unforced error.
Croker goves it away on the last tackle. Cornish needs to control their sets better so he can get a kick away on the last!

16: Tuivasa-Sheck takes a Cornish bomb with ease but then the Roosters give it away on the next tackle…

17: UNFORCED ERROR CANBERRA RAIDERS
Dane Tilse makes an unforced error.
The big man gives it straight back to the home team

18: Raiders force their first drop out of the match. Good set and great grubber from Cornish to finish. That's more like it

19: Brendon McCullum has won the toss in the cricket and the Kiwis will bat first!

20: Roosters defending very well on their own goal line.. Raiders unable to crack them after a decent attacking set

21: UNFORCED ERROR CANBERRA RAIDERS
Blake Austin makes an unforced error.
Forward pass from dummy half from the number six. Gives Roosters good position and the Raiders will do well to hold them out

22: Brilliant defence. The Green Machine stood tall when it counted and pushed Maloney into touch

22: Mitchell Pearce gives away a penalty for holding down in the tackle for too long

23: And the cricket is underway! C'mon Australia!

24: Jennings makes a half break but is run down by Hawkins

26: The two sides going set for set at the moment, great defence from both sides. Jennings makes another break

27: Wighton takes a brave catch as Guerra hits him with a good shot as he hits the turf

27: Starc has knocked over the Kiwi skipper in the first over!!! Cleaned bowled you beauty!

28: TRY SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Scored by Blake Ferguson. Kick to come.
The reformed star grabs his third try in two games in the exact same set play that Tuivasa-Sheck grabbed his try

30: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Conversion attempt by James Maloney successful.
Maloney has his eye in today, 18-0 Roosters

31: The Chooks make easy metres in the set after points, Raiders look like they are on the ropes all of a sudden!

33: Edrick Lee takes a good catch in his in goal and the away team do well to hold a barnstorming Roosters out

34: Cornish puts up a towering spiral bomb and big Daniel Toupu does week to take it

35: Kane Evans puts a great shot on Jordan Rapana

36: The Raiders in good attacking position trying to strike before the break

37: The Raiders give it away through another silly offload, story of their afternoon

37: UNFORCED ERROR SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Michael Jennings makes an unforced error.
The NSW centre puts it down on the third after his side were marching down the field with ease

38: TRY CANBERRA RAIDERS
Scored by Jarrod Croker. Kick to come.
Something out of nothing! A brilliant Cornish grubber in behind the line from 30 metres out has seen Croker stream through, pick it up and carsh over. Game On!

39: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CANBERRA RAIDERS
Conversion attempt by Jarrod Croker successful.
The Canberra captain converts his own try and we have a 12 point ball game in the shadow of halftime

40: Half time at Allianz! The home side is up 18-6

41: James Maloney gets us back underway!

41: Raiders complete their first set and Cornish launches it downfield

43: UNFORCED ERROR SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Blake Ferguson makes an unforced error.
The inform centre puts down a Maloney short ball that hit him on the chest…. Tut tut tut

44: UNFORCED ERROR CANBERRA RAIDERS
Jordan Rapana makes an unforced error.
The winger throws a 'forward pass' from dummy half. Looks like they were hard done by with the decision though

46: TRY SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Scored by Michael Jennings. Kick to come.
Execution doesn't get any better. Pearce takes it to the line, hits Maloney out the back and the five-eight gives it to the flying centre who crashes over. Great try!

46: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Conversion attempt by James Maloney unsuccessful.
Maloney misses from the sideline but it is looking ominous for the Raiders

49: TRY SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Scored by Daniel Tupou. Kick to come.
The big winger flies above Rapana and plants it down. Long range bomb from Pearce did the damage

49: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Conversion attempt by James Maloney successful.
Maloney guides it over the black dot and she might be game over

50: All of the Roosters back five have crossed the line and Pearce has FOUR try assists!

52: The Raiders are completing their sets but struggling to make decent metres, and the Roosters are doing it with ease

53: UNFORCED ERROR CANBERRA RAIDERS
Jeremy Hawkins makes an unforced error.
The winger knocks down a Maloney pass and saves a try

53: Dylan Napa has run down Edrick Lee and made a great tackle!

56: Cricket update: Maxwell has just bowled out the inform Martin Guptil! Kiwis are 2 for 33

56: The Roosters have somehow not scored after a sizzling attacking set, Blake Ferguson is running HOT

57: Commentators curse, Ferguson has limped off with what looks like an ankle injury

57: Josh Hodgson gets penalised for a chicken wing on Boyd Corner!

59: Jennings nearly pulls off a sincilating tap on to Tupou but its called forward! The big winger would have scored

60: Johnson has caught and bowled Williamson and the Kiwis are GOONNEEEEE

63: UNFORCED ERROR CANBERRA RAIDERS
Jarrad Kennedy makes an unforced error.
The big man loses it in the tackle as the Raiders were sniffing for a try

65: Pearce almost pulls off a 40/20 but it falls half a metre short

68: Cornish nearly scores a great solo try! The Raiders are a mix of brilliant and lost in attack

69: TRY SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Scored by James Maloney. Kick to come.
The five eight grabs himself a well deserved try. Jennings flicked it off to Tupou who went 50 metres before handing it off to Maloney who burnt Croker and dived over

71: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Conversion attempt by James Maloney successful.
Maloney adds the extras to his own meat pie and the Roosters are running out big winners today!

73: The Raiders ball handling and silly offloads has cost them dearly today

74: Dubious call as Rapana is called offside from a Cornish grubber. The winger had set up Austin for a certain try

75: UNFORCED ERROR SYDNEY ROOSTERS
James Maloney makes an unforced error.
An inside ball from Maloney to Tuivasa-Sheck is called forward as the fullback set sail for the try line

77: Sums up the Raiders day. Austin is tackled on the last tackle and i don't think the blonde number 6 had any idea it was the last

78: UNFORCED ERROR CANBERRA RAIDERS
Jack Wighton makes an unforced error.
The fullback knocks on a Maloney grubber. Did well to be first to the ball though with Tuivasa-Sheck screaming in

79: UNFORCED ERROR SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Michael Jennings makes an unforced error.
The centre throws a dubious forward pass to Maloney, who was through a whole and would have scored. Lucky the game is already wrapped up

80: Fulltime! The Roosters have flogged the Raiders 34-6 with the tricolours having six different try scorers! Thanks for joining us today and stay tuned for our match report!