An explosive second half has propelled the Roosters to an impressive 32-12 win over the Eels at Parramatta Stadium, despite the absence of Origin stars Willie Mason, Craig Fitzgibbon, Anthony Topou and Nate Myles.
Often criticised for their second half fade-outs, the Roosters produced a stunning performance in the second stanza, piling on five tries, including two in the opening five minutes to surge to a comfortable 20 point win.
The Eels peppered the Roosters’ line for much of the opening half, but some impressive goal-line defence combined with some sloppy handling from Parramatta kept the Roosters in the contest, before their second half romp.
Iosia Soliola powered his way over off the back of a Roosters penalty in the 43rd minute, before another show of sheer strength from Setaimata Sa to force his way over in the 45th minute gave the Roosters a 16-8 lead.
The Roosters extended with a special effort from Anasta in the 55th minute, the star pivot juggling a deft chip-kick from Pearce before crossing to take the score to 20-8.
Roberts slotted the straightforward conversion to give the home side a 14 point lead, but they weren't finished there.
Brent Grose touched down for one of the easiest tries of his career after Eric Grothe failed to handle another towering Anasta bomb, extending the Roosters advantage to 18, before some brief respite for the Eels.
Joel Reddy pulled one back for the Eels in the 72nd minute, before Mitchell Pearce rounded out an impressive second half from the Roosters, touching down off an intercept in the 77th minute.
The Roosters had the run of play early, and were able to apply some sustained pressure courtesy of a Parramatta forward pass, but the Eels showed some impressive grit in defence to hold the Roosters out in successive sets, before applying some pressure of their own.
The home side looked to have gone over through Daniel Wagon in the 16th minute, but the video referee ruled that Brett Finch held back Roosters centre Soliola in the lead-up.
There was no denying the Eels’ next scoring raid.
Grothe finished off some quick hands to cross untouched in the corner in the 18th minute, with Luke Burt nailing the extras from the sideline to extend the Eels lead to six.
An impressive effort from Anasta to step his way over from close range in the 27th minute bought the Roosters back into the contest, with Amos Roberts' conversion squaring the game at 6-all.
Burt added a penalty right on the stroke of half time to give the Eels an 8-6 advantage at the break, but it was the last time the home side would be in front.
SYDNEY ROOSTERS 32 (B Anasta 2 S Soliola S Sa B Grose M Pearce tries A Roberts 4 goals)
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PARRAMATTA 12 (E Grothe J Reddy tries L Burt 2 goals)
Crowd: 16,211.
