The Sydney Roosters have beaten the Brisbane Broncos 20-10 on the back of masterclasses from James Tedesco and Joey Manu in their Las Vegas season opener at Allegiant Stadium.
The Broncos were beaten but Reece Walsh kept them within striking distance with a sparkling performance of his own.
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The Broncos lost Brendan Piakura to an ugly head knock in just the fourth minute of the match and he came off for a HIA and did not return.
Manu produced a 30-metre intercept try to stun the Broncos and give the Roosters an early lead against the run of play.
Walsh came up with a brilliant pinpoint grubber for Deine Mariner to score in just his seventh NRL game.
Manu then produced a freak pass to set up Junior Pauga for a stunning try as the Roosters extended their lead.
Walsh finished off a superb long-range try to give the Broncos a sniff of a comeback win with 20 minutes to play.
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But the Roosters all but sealed the result when Tedesco produced a silky try assist for Victor Radley to make it a 10 point lead with six minutes remaining.
In a sour note Ezra Mam made a complaint against Spencer Leniu for an alleged racial slur late in the second half.
Still, nothing could detract from a sparkling night for rugby league capped by two upsets in an enthralling double header that showcased everything that is good about the greatest game of all.
BIG HITS
TEDESCO ANSWER CRITICS EMPHATICALLY
James Tedesco came into the season with an uncertain rep future after a form slump last season, but he showed he still has plenty to offer with a sizzling display against the Broncos.
Tedesco finished with 190 metres, nine tackle busts, two offloads, one linebreak, one try assist and five tackles without a miss and he had his fingerprints all over the win.
Braith Anasta believes Tedesco stood up and sent a message to his critics.
“There was a lot of pressure on James Tedesco coming into this season because he wants to hold that NSW jersey,” Anasta said.
“That collision with Ezra Mam was spectacular.
“The whole first half he was fast. He was on the ball. And he was creating opportunities. He was really good.
“Any question marks heading into the season around their spine were answered.
“That’s where they had problems last year. But I think they started well with Brandon Smith, Luke Keary and Sam Walker.
“But James Tedesco was a real standout.”
Michael Ennis lauded Tedesco’s influence on the game and his relentless competitiveness.
“He was everywhere tonight Tedesco,” Ennis said.
“He has been absolutely brilliant for the Roosters. Covering kicks and catching kicks and his work through the middle has been exceptional.
“Nearly 200 run metres he was superb.”
ROCK STAR WALSH SHINESIN BEATEN SIDE
The Broncos may have gone down, but there was still plenty to like from fullback Reece Walsh, who looks set to get even better in 2024.
Walsh finished with 137 metres, three tackle busts, three offloads, a linebreak assist, a try assist, 10 tackles without a miss and a superb try.
The Broncos were down 8-0 before a freak grubber from Walsh got them back in the fight.
“Individual brilliance from Reece Walsh,” Anasta said.
“Fleet-footed and a mixture of skill and speed. He is an enormous talent.
“That first half he was the best player on the field for the Broncos by a long way.
“It was only his individual brilliance that kept the Broncos in the contest.”
Michael Ennis believes Walsh is the most marketable player in the NRL and the perfect player to showcase the sport to America and the world.
“All week everyone has been waiting to see Reece Walsh… the bright lights of Vegas just got a little brighter with rugby league’s rock star Walsh,” Ennis said.
“He finds a way through, set up their first and now he’s scored a second. Reece Walsh stamping his authority here in Las Vegas.
“We saw him at State of Origin, he’s just not overwrought and I had so much confidence in him tonight that no matter the size of the crowd. No matter the noise and atmosphere here, this kid just has no fear of failure. He’s a genuine star.
“It’s so much more than just blistering speed, it’s a highly intelligent footy player who skates on the side of risk not being conservative.
“The score line starting to get away and he says ‘leave it to me baby’.”
MANU SHOWS NRL WHAT THEY WILL MISS
It is a shame Joey Manu could be lost the NRL in favour of French rugby union because he is undoubtedly one of the game’s biggest drawcards.
Manu finished with 153 metres, four tackle busts, three offloads, two linebreak assists, a try assist, a try and 16 tackles in a superb showing.
Michael Ennis lauded Manu’s footy IQ after his intercept that set the tone for the night.
“Too smart from Joey Manu and it is the intercept on the left edge,” Ennis said.
“Carrigan floated out and left the space for Manu, who is a highly intelligent player.
“He eats that for breakfast. It’s all too easy.”
Anasta believes Manu’s involvement for a centre gives the Roosters such an edge.
“The first try was an intercept to Joey Manu,” Anasta said.
“Ezra Mam drifted across field and produced a poor pass and Manu swooped to get the Roosters off to a flyer.
“The Roosters dominated the first half and Manu was in everything.”
A freak flick pass in the second half sealed the result for the Roosters with Manu stunning with a no look special for the ages.
“It’s a magic show from Joey Manu in Vegas,” Andrew Voss said.
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MATCH PREVIEW
The Brisbane Broncos have had five months to stew on the painful loss in the 2023 grand final, but will now get their first chance to atone for that defeat when they clash with the Sydney Roosters in the second game of the historic Las Vegas double header.
The Roosters have suffered a late setback with Billy Smith sidelined by a minor hamstring complaint. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, who had initially shifted to the wing for the injured Dominic Young, instead moves to centre with Junior Pauga taking the vacant wing spot.
Marty Taupau starts at prop in jersey No.21, with Corey Jensen dropping to the bench and Xavier Willison dropping out. Corey Oates is 18th man.
The Broncos have named a full-strength side for the clash, with exciting forward Xavier Willison on the bench, however The Courier Mail reported that the 21-year-old will make way for veteran Martin Taupau.
With that said, in the 24-hour update, Willison remained in the 17 with Taupau on an extended bench. Broncos coach Kevin Walters will whittle down his team to 18 an hour before kick off.
It’s a new look Brisbane side to the one that lost to Penrith in last year’s decider.
Centre Herbie Farnworth and prop Tom Flegler moved on to the Dolphins, Kurt Capewell to the Warriors while Keenan Palasia is now a Gold Coast Titan.
Selwyn Cobbo shifts into the centres to replace Farnworth while Deine Mariner beat out Corey Oates for the vacant wing spot opposite Jesse Arthars.
Brendan Piakura has shaken off a knee issue to slot into Capewell’s back row position while the consistent Corey Jensen is the new starting prop.
The Roosters meanwhile, have been forced to make a late backline switch after Billy Smith was ruled out due to a hamstring injury.
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Joseph Suaalii moves inside with Junior Pauga to start on the wing.
Roosters recruit Spencer Leniu will start in his first game with the new club.
The talented prop forward would come off the bench for the Panthers having been stuck behind James Fisher-Harris and Moses Leota, but now gets his chance in the run on side.
The promising Siua Wong has been given first opportunity to start in the back row ahead of Nat Butcher, Angus Crichton and Naufahu Whyte.
Slow starts have plagued the Tricolours over the past few seasons, so coach Trent Robinson will be hopeful his side can build on the momentum they built at the back end of 2023.
The Roosters won seven of their last eight games to miraculously progress to the finals.
After beating Cronulla in Week 1 of the finals, the Roosters’ season ended after a heartbreaking loss to the Storm.
Robinson said on NRL 360 this week that the past four seasons haven’t been good enough for the Roosters, with a change in game style hoping to be what helps get his side back to the grand final for the first time since winning the comp in 2019.
TEAMS
Roosters team: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 4. Joseph Manu 5. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii 18. Junior Pauga 6. Luke Keary 7. Sam Walker 8. Spencer Leniu 9. Brandon Smith 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Siua Wong 12. Sitili Tupouniua 13. Victor Radley 14. Sandon Smith 15. Naufahu Whyte 16. Nat Butcher 17. Terrell May. 18th man: 22. Connor Watson
Broncos team: 1. Reece Walsh 2. Jesse Arthars 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Selwyn Cobbo 5. Deine Mariner 6. Ezra Mam 7. Adam Reynolds 21. Martin Taupau 9. Billy Walters 10. Payne Haas 11. Brendan Piakura 12. Jordan Riki 13. Patrick Cardigan 8. Corey Jensen 14. Tyson Smoothy 15. Fletcher Baker 16. Kobe Hetherington 18th man: 18. Corey Oates
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