The Sydney Roosters have cemented their place in the NRL preliminary finals after a dominating and physically intense performance against the Manly Sea Eagles in a 40-16 victory on Saturday night. Angus Crichton, the Roosters’ forward, stood out as a key figure in a game defined by bone-crunching collisions and uncompromising defense, as both teams fought for survival.
Crichton found himself in a moment of high tension after witnessing two Manly players, Tolutau Koula and Jake Trbojevic, knocked out of the game in the opening two tackles. The brutal start left Crichton knowing he was next in line to take the ball up, bracing himself for what would come next.
“It was knockout, re-set, knockout, re-set, and I was taking the third one,” Crichton said. “I was thinking ‘surely not another one.’”
Despite the intense start, Crichton did not hesitate. He took the ball, charging into the defense of Haumole Olakau’atu and Reuben Garrick, managing to offload to Joseph-Aukuso Sua’ali’i, showcasing the Roosters’ relentless attitude and aggressive approach to the sudden-death final.
“That’s what footy is about,” Crichton explained. “It takes you back to that Origin game [this year’s series decider in Brisbane] where everyone’s getting knocked out. It was a brutal start to the game but that’s why fans love our game.”
The Roosters’ physical dominance was evident from the start, with Jared Waerea-Hargreaves leading the charge after returning from suspension. Waerea-Hargreaves, who is one of five players set to leave the club if they face another loss, wasted no time in making his presence felt. The Roosters’ enforcer set the tone for what would be a bruising night for Manly, and his leadership on and off the field proved invaluable.
“You need a Jared in your side, he is a leader from his actions and his words,” said teammate Victor Radley, who himself delivered a remarkable performance despite playing with a fractured shoulder.
Radley, who was not expected to return until the grand final, made a dramatic comeback and scored the opening try of the game. His commitment and toughness inspired his teammates, although he was rested for the second half due to his shoulder injury. Reflecting on Waerea-Hargreaves’ leadership, Radley told Triple M, “Even just in the circle before we went out … it was some speech. He just gets everyone up for it and does that from the kickoff. That start was crazy—two people with HIAs, you don’t want to see that, but it was just on. That’s what finals footy is.”
The Roosters’ unrelenting pressure, especially from their forward pack, left Manly reeling. Crichton was quick to acknowledge the impact of players like Radley and Waerea-Hargreaves in maintaining the Roosters’ brutal mindset and keeping their intensity at a high level.
“We trust him [Radley]. I believed it when I saw it out on the field. He wouldn’t put himself in a position if he wasn’t ready to go, and he couldn’t perform,” Crichton said. “You always know what you are going to get with Rads.”
The Roosters now prepare for an even greater challenge as they set their sights on the Melbourne Storm in the preliminary final. Crichton and his teammates are determined to carry forward the aggression and intensity that helped them dismantle Manly, knowing full well that Melbourne will pose an even tougher test.
“We will be right. When we get that roll on, I think it’s easy to pick up where we left off,” Crichton added. “We will bottle it, channel it, and make sure we go and do it again. We’ve got to channel that aggressive sort of mindset, go and be brutal as a pack, simple plays, get to our kick, and just take them into that grind.”
Acknowledging the Storm’s status as one of the NRL’s most consistent and disciplined teams, Crichton concluded, “They’ve been the best at it. We just need to take them on at their own game.”
With their season on the line, the Roosters’ bruising victory against Manly has set the tone for what promises to be a high-stakes battle against the Melbourne Storm, as the Roosters chase a spot in the NRL Grand Final.
