Roosters 14 Broncos 20
When the Roosters courted Wayne Bennett about becoming their coach about 18 months ago, it was an act of desperation, so fractured was the club. Maybe it was destiny that he reneged, because it's clear that Brad Fittler has his team about to explode with self-belief.
It was there in the Sydney Football Stadium dressing rooms in the countdown to the match as his players joked and fooled around as though they were kids in the schoolyard, not facing a blockbuster against Brisbane.
And it was there in the first half when they managed to overwhelm the Broncos without their most crucial playmaker, Braith Anasta, who had head-butted Broncos fullback Karmichael Hunt's left shoulder with his nose, which was duly broken.
But old heads often prevail when they are challenged by young upstarts. So it was last night, as Bennett's side triumphed 20-14.
Bennett, by the way, is looking for a job from next season. Apply within.
Regardless of the result, there were two incidents that are sure to resonate this Easter weekend.
Hunt's tackle on Anasta in the 18th minute is certain to be scrutinised by all and sundry - not least the match review committee - on whether it was illegal or whether Anasta fell into the tackle.
The Roosters five-eighth couldn't play the rest of the first half because the club's doctor, John Orchard, couldn't stop the bleeding from his broken snout. He assured Anasta he'd be playing in second half "even if I have to tape him up like Hannibal Lecter". Anasta will attend a bucks part at Randwick today so let's hope the knock does not affect his punting judgment.
The other eyebrow-raising moment came in the 28th minute, when video referee Steve Clark inexplicably denied a try to Roosters winger Shaun Kenny-Dowall. Presumably, Clark deemed a wraparound play involving lock Anthony Tupou and centre Setaimata Sa was an obstruction because of decoy runner Mitchell Aubusson. Numerous replays showed the rest of the universe it was a poor defensive read from Broncos centre Justin Hodges, nothing more.
Dodgy decisions aside, the second half was a cracker. Tries to veteran Tonie Carroll and winger Darius Boyd pushed the Broncos out to a 20-14 lead but the Roosters had a blinding chance to level when a Hannibal Lecter cross-kick found its way into Kenny-Dowall's hands. Alas, one of his feet was on the chalk as he stretched out for the try line.
It was the closest the Roosters got to making good on their outstanding first half.
While this is Bennett's 21st season, it is Fittler's first full campaign, although he is already showing that he's developing the cagey instincts of a veteran clipboard-holder. For instance, he has instructed the club to put a sponsor's placard over one section of the glass coach's box, so the fans can't peer at him during the match. It didn't stop one female fan from trying to write a message in text on the window as she left the field. (It was not a phone number.)
While the hype leading up to last week's game against South Sydney was unprecedented, Roosters insiders reported that the vibe around the club this week was just as intense.
That's not to say the season-opener has faded completely from memory: the loudest cheer when the Roosters players were shown on the SFS big screen came for Riley Brown, the "Prowler" who all but ended Craig Wing's season.
In the coach's box, Fittler's statistician, Pat Curteis, wore a handlebar moustache to make U2 guitarist The Edge jealous. You felt he was about to bust a Discotheque-like move at any moment, such was the mood.
The party atmosphere fizzled in the second minute when Roosters prop David Shillington was knocked cold after a head clash with Broncos second-rower Ashton Sims. From the next set of six, his back-row partner David Stagg pounced on a fumble from Roosters captain Craig Fitzgibbon in the in-goal.
But the Roosters are one of the few teams in the NRL who like to razzle-dazzle. In the 10th minute, a perfectly placed kick from halfback Mitchell Pearce found Anasta. The timing of the kick, the bounce, the regather, and the put-down millimetres from the deadline was perfecto. This weekend we might be remembering Bethlehem's greatest playmaker, but the Bondi Junction club is cultivating two of their own.
The penalty for Hunt's assault on Anasta's nose allowed Fitzgibbon to push them ahead 8-6. Then, in the 31st minute, Tupou collected the four-pointer that Clark had denied when he galloped through the Broncos' defence.
BRISBANE 20 (D Boyd T Carroll D Stagg tries P Wallace 4 goals) bt SYDNEY ROOSTERS 14 (B Anasta A Tupou tries C Fitzgibbon 3 goals) at Sydney Football Stdm. Referee: J Maxwell. Crowd: 18,724.
