
Who needs DCE? Savala shines as Roosters stun Sharks
Hugo Savala has led a depleted Sydney Roosters side to a 42-16 win over Cronulla that will ignite questions over the NRL glamour club's pursuit of veteran halfback Daly Cherry-Evans.
Savala stole the show at Industree Group Stadium in Gosford, the 23-year-old scoring a try, contributing three try assists and outgunning Sharks halfback Nicho Hynes on his home patch.
Leading a Roosters side missing five State of Origin players and three NRL regulars through injury, No.7 Savala delivered the most mature display of his nine-game first-grade career on Saturday.
Savala's long-term future at the Roosters has been subject to scrutiny this season, with his agent declaring he would explore loan options if Trent Robinson does what many expect him to do and lands the signature of Manly veteran Cherry-Evans.
But on the evidence so far this season - and with Sam Walker still sidelined for a further month with an anterior cruciate ligament injury - Savala and Sandon Smith look to be bona fide NRL playmakers.
The Roosters led 14-0 in as many minutes, with left winger Daniel Tupou catching and grounding two pin-point Savala kicks to the air.
Both tries were converted by Smith, who added a penalty and finished the night with seven goals from eight attempts.
Cronulla finally had some decent attack 15 minutes in, and on their first real foray forward the Sharks crashed over through Cameron McInnes.
But the Roosters didn't go into their shell and instead combined for one of the plays of the season.
Beginning in their own half, Savala started and finished it.
He and Mark Nawaqanitawase combined to put Dom Young away down the right edge.
The English winger burned KL Iro, then flicked a one-handed offload inside to James Tedesco, who tipped on to a supporting Savala to score.
More woe was to come for the Sharks, with winger Ronaldo Mulitalo sin-binned for a shoulder-charge on Nawaqanitawase as the winger set the wheels in motion for Savala's try.
The Sharks weathered the storm to trail 20-6 at halftime, but another Savala kick moved the Chooks out of reach.
This time it was to the right wing, and while Young missed the ball, it fell kindly for former Wallabies winger Nawaqanitawase, who crashed over for his eighth try in nine NRL games.
Debutant Roosters prop Xavier Va'a crashed in on just his second touch in the NRL, before Cronulla launched a late and short-lived fightback.
Iro and Mulitalo crossed in the final 20 minutes, before Tedesco and Young wrapped up a deserved Roosters victory with late tries.

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The Advertiser
9 minutes ago
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"But we also believe his best chance of success on and off the field is if he is around family and friends. "He will now have the chance to not only return to a team environment but also to play alongside his brother Terrell – which is important to him." Wests Tigers CEO Shane Richardson believes Taylan May deserves a second chance in the NRL, after signing the outside back on a train-and-trial deal. The Tigers on Tuesday formally won the race for May's signature, with the Samoan international agreeing to a deal for the rest of this season. The contract is May's first since he was released from Penrith last season, after the Panthers attempted to rip up his contract over a number of off-field indiscretions. May played 30 games for the Panthers between 2021 and 2024 but never featured in any of their grand finals because of injury. The 23-year-old also had domestic violence charges against him dropped in March, after his wife who had accused him of punching did not show up in court. 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"All players deserve a second chance and we think this is the environment which gives him the best chance of success both on and off the field." May's move to the Tigers came after he had met with South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett and toured the club's Heffron Park facilities. But the Tigers signing will allow him to play alongside his brother Terrell, with the duo and older brother Tyrone May all keen to one day play together. "Clearly, Taylan is a quality player who will further strengthen our squad in the back end of the competition," Richardson said. "But we also believe his best chance of success on and off the field is if he is around family and friends. "He will now have the chance to not only return to a team environment but also to play alongside his brother Terrell – which is important to him."


The Advertiser
9 minutes ago
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Newcastle have finally turned to Jackson Hastings in the fight for their NRL season, with the out-of-favour half set to face another returning playmaker in Sam Walker in his comeback game. Off-contract Hastings appeared to have played his last game for the Knights when he was unable to crack first grade in a slump that yielded seven losses from eight games between March and May. Under-pressure Knights coach Adam O'Brien previously told reporters it would be "unfair" to recall Hastings and expect him to be able to turn the Knights' fortunes around. Reports had also claimed Hastings, unsighted at NRL level since last July, was at the centre of a rift with his Knights teammates. But with Kalyn Ponga away on State of Origin duty, the 15th-placed Knights have brought Hastings in to partner Jack Cogger in the halves against the Sydney Roosters on Saturday. 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Sea Eagles veterans Daly Cherry-Evans and Jake Trbojevic will also be on hand after being overlooked for selection in the second Origin match. Jason Taumalolo is back from a calf injury for North Queensland's clash against intrastate rivals the Dolphins and the Cowboys have also recalled playmaker Jake Clifford to cover for Queensland representative Tom Dearden. As expected, Matt Burton's call-up to serve as NSW's 18th man for Origin II has opened a spot for Lachlan Galvin to start in the halves for the first time since joining Canterbury. The teenager will play five-eighth next to Toby Sexton for Sunday's meeting with South Sydney, who have lost Cody Walker to a groin issue. Jamie Humphreys will join Jayden Sullivan in the halves, with Jye Gray recalled at fullback to cover for Blues star Latrell Mitchell. St George Illawarra have recalled Tyrell Sloan from a week in reserve grade to replace Christian Tuipulotu, who misses the match with Cronulla through a hamstring issue.


West Australian
18 minutes ago
- West Australian
Knights confirm playmaker's long-awaited NRL return
Newcastle have finally turned to Jackson Hastings in the fight for their NRL season, with the out-of-favour half set to face another returning playmaker in Sam Walker in his comeback game. Off-contract Hastings appeared to have played his last game for the Knights when he was unable to crack first grade in a slump that yielded seven losses from eight games between March and May. Under-pressure Knights coach Adam O'Brien previously told reporters it would be "unfair" to recall Hastings and expect him to be able to turn the Knights' fortunes around. Reports had also claimed Hastings, unsighted at NRL level since last July, was at the centre of a rift with his Knights teammates. But with Kalyn Ponga away on State of Origin duty, the 15th-placed Knights have brought Hastings in to partner Jack Cogger in the halves against the Sydney Roosters on Saturday. The Knights had few options but to recall Hastings given Tyson Gamble remains sidelined with a thumb injury and Will Pryce was released to the English Super League in March. Fletcher Sharpe shifts from five-eighth to Ponga's fullback spot. Following a successful performance with the reserves last week, Roosters halfback Walker will play his first top-grade game since September after recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury. Walker's return pushes Sandon Smith from the halves to the bench, with Hugo Savala retaining a spot in the starting side as reward for a strong first season to date. Out-of-favour winger Dom Young has also been recalled to the top grade amid the Roosters' Origin absences as he continues to be linked with a return to the Knights. Elsewhere, Tom Trbojevic returns from his corked quad to line up in Manly's match against Gold Coast. Sea Eagles veterans Daly Cherry-Evans and Jake Trbojevic will also be on hand after being overlooked for selection in the second Origin match. Jason Taumalolo is back from a calf injury for North Queensland's clash against intrastate rivals the Dolphins and the Cowboys have also recalled playmaker Jake Clifford to cover for Queensland representative Tom Dearden. As expected, Matt Burton's call-up to serve as NSW's 18th man for Origin II has opened a spot for Lachlan Galvin to start in the halves for the first time since joining Canterbury. The teenager will play five-eighth next to Toby Sexton for Sunday's meeting with South Sydney, who have lost Cody Walker to a groin issue. Jamie Humphreys will join Jayden Sullivan in the halves, with Jye Gray recalled at fullback to cover for Blues star Latrell Mitchell. St George Illawarra have recalled Tyrell Sloan from a week in reserve grade to replace Christian Tuipulotu, who misses the match with Cronulla through a hamstring issue.