DCE, Roosters Flat as right edge set for big test against South Sydney

A hyped Sydney Roosters outfit tipped by many to challenge for the premiership was given a harsh reality check in Round 1, with the New Zealand Warriors serving up a disciplined, clinical performance to stun the Sydney Roosters in front of a sold-out Auckland crowd.

Speaking on Monday's episode Rugby League Insider, James Hooper said it was a rude awakening for the Sydney Roosters Friday night in New Zealand.

The Roosters had been widely tipped as a premiership contender, but Hooper said their performance was well short of that standard.

“We’re playing people who had them as top four, possibly premiers - and that’s coming from leading experts within the game,” he said. “But they were flat. They were right off their marquee.”

Hooper pointed to the performance of Daly Cherry-Evans as symbolic of the Roosters’ sluggish start.

“I thought he played in a dinner suit,” Hooper said. “I really didn’t think he’d shown up ready to rumble. You know when you're going to play the Wahs in front of a hostile, sold out Go-Media Stadium it's going to be tough game.

when he was in front of a hostile, sold-out Go Media Stadium in Auckland.”

Cherry-Evans and his right side defence were a clear target of Andrew Webster's Warriors with four first half tries landing on the edge also defended by Fatalaiga Pauga and Mark Nawaqanitawase.

“Andrew Webster, came up with a brilliant blueprint. They really targeted the Roosters’ right edge,” Hooper said.

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While the criticism was pointed, Darcie McDonald urged some caution given it was only the opening round.

“It’s only been one game - let’s just preface by saying that,” McDonald said. “But you look at their team on paper and you think, ‘jeez, these guys are going to be hard to beat.’”

Instead, the Roosters were plagued by basic errors, penalties and poor discipline with the Roosters on the wrong side of an 11-4 penalty count and 6-4 set restarts - an issue that is sure to frustrate coach Robinson.

McDonald pointed out some of Robinson's comments post match.

“He said he wasn’t too concerned about the attack," McDonald said. “What he was concerned about was having to cop the referee calls on the chin.”

“He wants them to be a team that rolls their sleeves up and defends errors or penalties - and they didn’t do that. When you look at how much experience is in that side, that's concerning."

Hooper echoed the comments, saying he feels the Roosters are 'sailing way too close to the edge' with the style of football they are playing and the referees are pinging them for it.

“This has been a hallmark of the Roosters during Trent Robinson’s entire tenure,” Hooper said.

“His credentials speak for themselves - he’s won three premierships and he’s one of the best coaches in the game. But the reality is they are skating way too close to the edge around the style of blueprint and game that they’re trying to bring.”

Rooster setting slow start trend

Stat's man Brandon Savage also pointed out the Roosters have developed an unfortunate trend of slow starts to seasons.

"Since they went back to back (2018/19), they've only finished in the top four in 2020 and 2024," he said.

"It's disappointing that this year they have started slow once again. They've lost significant round once games in the past, last year the Broncos put 50 on them, 2023 the Dolphins beat them infamously in their first game and the knights in 2022 beat them in round one." `

Next chapter in the book of fueds looms large for right edge defence

Despite the setback, the panel believes the Roosters still have time to respond - but their next test will be a fierce one.

They now face their arch-rivals, the South Sydney Rabbitohs, who opened the season in barnstorming fashion.

South Sydney’s left-edge combination featuring Latrell Mitchell, David Fifita and Alex Johnston looked lethal in the sides 40-30 win over the Dolphins at Suncorp Stadium.

“That Bunnies left side attack absolutely rinsed the Dolphins,” Hooper said. “That is lethal.”

For Cherry-Evans and the Roosters, the derby now looms as an early opportunity to answer their critics.

Given the competitor that he is [DCE], he'll take his challenge. It's probably the challenge that he needs. He'd be disappointed. I think Robo said that in his presser as well... This is his chance to make up for a make mistake and say no, that wasn't an accurate representation of what I want to bring.

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