The Sydney Roosters are one victory away from the NRL Grand Final after dismantling the Cronulla Sharks 46-10 in a ruthless semifinal performance at Allianz Stadium.
The Roosters led 18-10 at halftime before exploding in the second half, scoring five more tries and piling on 28 unanswered points. Their 46-point haul was the highest score by a Roosters side in a finals match in the club’s 118-year history.
Veteran playmaker Daly Cherry-Evans was at the centre of the damage, finishing with a try, three try assists and two line-break assists, while captain James Tedesco produced another huge performance with 161 running metres and 11 tackle breaks. Mark Nawaqanitawase crossed twice and ran for 187 metres.
Cronulla’s night was made significantly harder when star halfback Nicho Hynes failed a head injury assessment following an early collision, while centre Mawene Hiroti was forced from the field with a knee injury.
The Sharks struggled to contain Sydney as the match opened up, with the Roosters running away with the contest during the final half-hour.
There could still be a judiciary concern for Sydney, with Cherry-Evans placed on report for a tripping action involving Cronulla’s Teig Wilton. The Roosters are also hoping injured halfback Sam Walker will be available for their next assignment after undergoing ankle surgery less than a month ago.
Sydney will now travel to face the Dolphins in next Friday night’s preliminary final, with the winner advancing to the NRL Grand Final.
For Cronulla, another finals campaign is over. Despite reaching the top eight in nine of the past ten seasons, the Sharks have not returned to the Grand Final since their historic 2016 premiership.
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