Latest news with #Roosters'
The Age
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Age
Magic and madness of Walker's return leaves Robinson with crucial Roosters call
Sam Walker's long-awaited rugby league return - with his typical play-making magic and madness - will leave Roosters coach Trent Robinson with a potential season-defining call to make about his scrum base. With lungs burning and extremities freezing on a sunny, but blisteringly cold Sunday afternoon, Walker returned from a ruptured ACL for his first footy in nine months. The Roosters' million-dollar halfback played the first 40 minutes of a 28-16 NSW Cup loss to Parramatta at Kellyville Oval, with Robinson, assistant coach Matt King and NSW Origin stars Spencer Leniu and Angus Crichton in attendance. Walker's bright return included plenty of defensive work and an eye-catching 60-metre intercept of a dummy-half pass. His kick from the very next first-tackle play held the promise of a spectacular try for his far winger - only for the ball to sail dead in the kind of all-or-nothing play that makes Walker one of the game's must-watch playmakers. It is a matter of when, not if, the 22-year-old returns to the NRL, potentially as early as Saturday's clash against Newcastle. Who Robinson chooses as Walker's scrum base partner - towering rookie halfback Hugo Savala, or fellow livewire Sandon Smith, shapes as a crucial call not just for this season, but also the pair's longer-term futures, given the club's interest in Daly Cherry-Evans for next season.
Sydney Morning Herald
2 days ago
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Magic and madness of Walker's return leaves Robinson with crucial Roosters call
Sam Walker's long-awaited rugby league return - with his typical play-making magic and madness - will leave Roosters coach Trent Robinson with a potential season-defining call to make about his scrum base. With lungs burning and extremities freezing on a sunny, but blisteringly cold Sunday afternoon, Walker returned from a ruptured ACL for his first footy in nine months. The Roosters' million-dollar halfback played the first 40 minutes of a 28-16 NSW Cup loss to Parramatta at Kellyville Oval, with Robinson, assistant coach Matt King and NSW Origin stars Spencer Leniu and Angus Crichton in attendance. Walker's bright return included plenty of defensive work and an eye-catching 60-metre intercept of a dummy-half pass. His kick from the very next first-tackle play held the promise of a spectacular try for his far winger - only for the ball to sail dead in the kind of all-or-nothing play that makes Walker one of the game's must-watch playmakers. It is a matter of when, not if, the 22-year-old returns to the NRL, potentially as early as Saturday's clash against Newcastle. Who Robinson chooses as Walker's scrum base partner - towering rookie halfback Hugo Savala, or fellow livewire Sandon Smith, shapes as a crucial call not just for this season, but also the pair's longer-term futures, given the club's interest in Daly Cherry-Evans for next season.
The Advertiser
16-05-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Miracle try could prove inspirational for Roosters
Trent Robinson wants Mark Nawaqanitawase's miracle try to inspire the Roosters' next generation to play without fear and with more freedom. Nawaqanitawase finished Friday night's 24-20 loss to Canterbury "hurting", with the Sydney Roosters winger ruing two crucial errors in the lead up to Bulldogs tries. But he also provided a moment likely to live on in highlights reels for years, replayed time after time for the next generation that Robinson hopes he'll influence. With the Roosters trailing 18-14 after giving up a 14-0 lead, Nawaqanitawase provided a piece of magic to briefly put his team back in the lead. After getting the ball on the right wing, the flyer pushed off a Stephen Crichton tackle and hopped on his left foot twice to avoid going over the sideline. The 24-year-old then chipped ahead for himself, had the ball land on its belly, before reaching over the sideline and dragging it back in to get it down and score. Nawaqanitawase almost scored a similar try against the Warriors earlier this year, with the former Wallaby just nine games into his NRL career. And Robinson believed his fearless approach had come from rugby union, where Nawaqanitawase was a star in both the 15 and seven-man variants. "The attrition base in union isn't as high as it is in league. So therefore you can take risks and it's not going to hurt you like it does in rugby league," Robinson said. "That's why we love rugby league, but you also have to make sure players are coming through not think attrition through (under) 17s and 19s. "There has to be allowed to be that freedom in footy, and hopefully Mark can allow that with players and coaches to allow more freedom in the right areas. "Back yourself. The game needs those players. "We don't often do it, but it's a tip of the cap to the freedom that comes from union because it doesn't hurt as much." A despondent Nawaqanitawase did not want to talk to awaiting media after the game, upset by allowing the Bulldogs back into the game with his errors. But Roosters captain James Tedesco rated Nawaqanitawase's try as one of the best he'd ever seen. "It was up there," Tedesco said. "That's just individual brilliance. "He does that stuff at training, he's shown in the short time he has been with us in the NRL that he comes up with some incredible plays." "He's got high instincts. That was what I was most impressed with when he came, just his skill ... He's on the wing but can still create plays like that." Trent Robinson wants Mark Nawaqanitawase's miracle try to inspire the Roosters' next generation to play without fear and with more freedom. Nawaqanitawase finished Friday night's 24-20 loss to Canterbury "hurting", with the Sydney Roosters winger ruing two crucial errors in the lead up to Bulldogs tries. But he also provided a moment likely to live on in highlights reels for years, replayed time after time for the next generation that Robinson hopes he'll influence. With the Roosters trailing 18-14 after giving up a 14-0 lead, Nawaqanitawase provided a piece of magic to briefly put his team back in the lead. After getting the ball on the right wing, the flyer pushed off a Stephen Crichton tackle and hopped on his left foot twice to avoid going over the sideline. The 24-year-old then chipped ahead for himself, had the ball land on its belly, before reaching over the sideline and dragging it back in to get it down and score. Nawaqanitawase almost scored a similar try against the Warriors earlier this year, with the former Wallaby just nine games into his NRL career. And Robinson believed his fearless approach had come from rugby union, where Nawaqanitawase was a star in both the 15 and seven-man variants. "The attrition base in union isn't as high as it is in league. So therefore you can take risks and it's not going to hurt you like it does in rugby league," Robinson said. "That's why we love rugby league, but you also have to make sure players are coming through not think attrition through (under) 17s and 19s. "There has to be allowed to be that freedom in footy, and hopefully Mark can allow that with players and coaches to allow more freedom in the right areas. "Back yourself. The game needs those players. "We don't often do it, but it's a tip of the cap to the freedom that comes from union because it doesn't hurt as much." A despondent Nawaqanitawase did not want to talk to awaiting media after the game, upset by allowing the Bulldogs back into the game with his errors. But Roosters captain James Tedesco rated Nawaqanitawase's try as one of the best he'd ever seen. "It was up there," Tedesco said. "That's just individual brilliance. "He does that stuff at training, he's shown in the short time he has been with us in the NRL that he comes up with some incredible plays." "He's got high instincts. That was what I was most impressed with when he came, just his skill ... He's on the wing but can still create plays like that." Trent Robinson wants Mark Nawaqanitawase's miracle try to inspire the Roosters' next generation to play without fear and with more freedom. Nawaqanitawase finished Friday night's 24-20 loss to Canterbury "hurting", with the Sydney Roosters winger ruing two crucial errors in the lead up to Bulldogs tries. But he also provided a moment likely to live on in highlights reels for years, replayed time after time for the next generation that Robinson hopes he'll influence. With the Roosters trailing 18-14 after giving up a 14-0 lead, Nawaqanitawase provided a piece of magic to briefly put his team back in the lead. After getting the ball on the right wing, the flyer pushed off a Stephen Crichton tackle and hopped on his left foot twice to avoid going over the sideline. The 24-year-old then chipped ahead for himself, had the ball land on its belly, before reaching over the sideline and dragging it back in to get it down and score. Nawaqanitawase almost scored a similar try against the Warriors earlier this year, with the former Wallaby just nine games into his NRL career. And Robinson believed his fearless approach had come from rugby union, where Nawaqanitawase was a star in both the 15 and seven-man variants. "The attrition base in union isn't as high as it is in league. So therefore you can take risks and it's not going to hurt you like it does in rugby league," Robinson said. "That's why we love rugby league, but you also have to make sure players are coming through not think attrition through (under) 17s and 19s. "There has to be allowed to be that freedom in footy, and hopefully Mark can allow that with players and coaches to allow more freedom in the right areas. "Back yourself. The game needs those players. "We don't often do it, but it's a tip of the cap to the freedom that comes from union because it doesn't hurt as much." A despondent Nawaqanitawase did not want to talk to awaiting media after the game, upset by allowing the Bulldogs back into the game with his errors. But Roosters captain James Tedesco rated Nawaqanitawase's try as one of the best he'd ever seen. "It was up there," Tedesco said. "That's just individual brilliance. "He does that stuff at training, he's shown in the short time he has been with us in the NRL that he comes up with some incredible plays." "He's got high instincts. That was what I was most impressed with when he came, just his skill ... He's on the wing but can still create plays like that."
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'Worse than Latrell': Calls for NRL to punish Angus Crichton after ugly act ignored
NRL fans and commentators are questioning why Angus Crichton wasn't penalised or charged by the match review committee for attacking the face of Lachlan Ilias in the Roosters' win over the Dragons on Anzac Day. Crichton was penalised two weeks ago against the Broncos when he led with his elbow while carrying the ball and collected Adam Reynolds in the throat. A similar incident occurred on Friday when the Roosters forward raised his arm into Ilias' face during a hit-up. With Crichton standing in the tackle, he then deliberately attacked Ilias' face with his free hand three times, before being taken to ground. With Ilias lying underneath him, Crichton then pressed his elbow and forearm into his opponent's head and throat - a clear attempt to rattle the much smaller halfback and show him who's boss. But many felt Crichton's actions crossed a line. Inexplicably, the referee pinged Ilias for a ruck infringement and gave the Roosters a set restart. But many were of the opinion that Crichton should have been penalised. Players in possession of the ball are allowed to fend tacklers in the face or head with their hand, but they can't raise their forearm or elbow. And they certainly shouldn't be allowed be hit defenders in the face when they're not making a genuine attempt to fend off and free themselves. RELATED: Payne Haas and Jahrome Hughes linked to rival NRL team NRL's 'crazy' move as $120 million disaster could be on the cards Speaking in commentary for Fox League, Andrew Voss and Greg Alexander said a defender would have been penalised for the treatment that Crichton gave Ilias. But because Crichton was the attacker it was deemed ok (for some bizarre reason). "Crichton went double palm on Lachlan Ilias, then a forearm and an elbow," Voss said. "You can almost have grounds for a penalty against man in possession." Alexander added: "If that was a defender he would have been penalised." Voss replied: "100 per cent. Crichton knew what he was doing and it was all attacking the head of Ilias." TV viewers also took to social media to complain about Crichton, who wasn't charged by the match review committee on Saturday morning either. The only charge to come from the match (won 46-18 by the Roosters) was a $1000 fine for Sandon Smith for a high shot on Ilias. One fan went as far as to suggest Crichton's actions were worse than those of Latrell Mitchell, who was slapped with a one-game suspension for a high tackle that concussed Sua Fa'alogo on Friday night. While Mitchell's hit was careless, there was an accidental nature to it because Fa'alogo slipped into the contact. However there was nothing accidental about Crichton attacking Ilias' head, which was labelled "dirty" and "grubby" by others on social media. Writing for , editor Matt Russell called on the NRL to crack down on ball-carriers raising their arms illegally. "It's only going to be a matter of time before Crichton really hurts someone, not to mention the double standards that Brandy (Alexander) raised," he wrote. "It's a good point, too. What punishment would he have copped as a defender?" So unlike Crichton to go after the smaller man and attack the head. — CAPEL (@laurencecapel) April 25, 2025 Angus Crichton so dirty. #NRLRoostersDragons — oldmatespicy ☘⚡️ (@oldmatespicy) April 25, 2025 Unpopular opinion #NRL2025 @NRL What Angus Crichton was doing by elbowing a player laying on the ground was worse than the latrelle Mitchell tackle #NRLStormSouths #NRLRoostersDragons — kane wilson (@kanewillow1990) April 25, 2025 @BuzzRothfield I hope Angus Crichton is cited for that crap. You can make comment on that as much as you do about the Bulldogs. — Greg Hancock (@GregHancock2905) April 25, 2025 i see angus crichton is continuing his grubby ways against halfbacks — abby | aang lovebot (@lowkeyabby) April 25, 2025 Angus Crichton goes the triple fend to the face, then an elbow to Ilias on the ground and somehow gets rewarded with a six again?You beauty — Scott Pryde (@sk_pryde) April 25, 2025
News.com.au
25-04-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
NRL baffled by Sandon Smith's sin bin in Roosters' win over the Dragons
The NRL world has reacted with more confusion after the latest ruling on a high tackle in the Roosters' 46-18 thrashing of St George Illawarra on Anzac Day. The inconsistencies from the referees and the NRL's Bunker are plaguing the sport and baffling those watching on, with vastly different calls being made on similar incidents on a weekly and even daily basis. FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE in 4K with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. Part of the problem stems from the NRL head office issuing a 'crackdown' on high shots that only seemed to last for a week or two. But it's deeper than that, with incident such as Bulldogs star Matt Burton's high shot on Brisbane's Billy Walters on Thursday night leading to plenty of confusion. Burton was placed on report and handed a one-match ban by the judiciary for his high tackle, but allowed to stay on the field. Fast forward to Anzac Day and just over four minutes into the second half at Allianz Stadium, Dragon Lachlan Ilias took off for a run on the fifth tackle and was brought down by Sandon Smith and Egan Butcher No one picked up any issues with the play and the Dragons were handed a penalty for a separate infringement before referee Todd Smith appeared to receive a message in his ear about a swinging arm. 'OK earlier in this set, it's Sandon's contact on Lachlan Ilias, it's direct contact and moderate force,' Smith said. 'On report, in the bin.' It left the Fox Footy commentators stunned before they saw a replay. 'Oh wow, let's go back and see this on Ilias,' Andrew Voss said. Greg Alexander then commented: '(Ilias) just drops his head fractionally and that's enough. The arm swinging from Sandon Smith. 'Slow motion it looks terrible, but it happens in a split second. 'I've got no problem with it (the sin bin), there was force in it, contact was unintentional but there we go.' It was the only low point on a stunning day for 22-year-old Smith, who scored a double and nailed a series of conversions and penalty goals. But the lack of refereeing consistency left fans baffled as they took to X to comment. After the sin bin ruling, Matt Baseley asked: 'Then why didn't Burton get sent to the bin retrospectively last night? 'This game is so hard to be a fan of.' Account Eels Guru wrote: 'Last night they couldn't go back on the play to send Burto off tho. 'No rules in this sport, just all made up s**t by the ref.' Brandon Ryan offered: 'Sandon Smith binned. I get that it's contact to the head but does any genuine rugby league fan want to see that being sin binned? I know it's the current standard but it is so s**t.' The MRC on Friday morning announced Josh Curran, Burton and Sitili Tupouniua are facing suspensions after several ugly moments in the team's 42-18 loss to the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium on Thursday night. Canterbury had a night to forget with three players sent to the sin bin — but they were lucky Tupouniua wasn't sent from the field for a second time. Tupouniua has been hit hardest, receiving a three-match ban for his first half shoulder charge high tackle on Broncos defender Brendan Piakura. He has been hit with an additional two match ban for a second foul act where he raised his knees while running at Piakura in the second half. It is Tupouniua's dangerous knee lift that got most people talking on Thursday night. Replays showed the Bulldogs' second-rower collected Piakura in the head with his knee and then followed up with another kicking motion that also collected Piakura again as he slumped in the tackle attempt. Referee Gerard Sutton spotted Tupouniua's act and immediately awarded the Broncos a penalty and put Tupouniua on report. After reviewing the incident the video match official in the Bunker informed Sutton that the incident warranted no further action. The NRL's much maligned video referee system is under fire again with the MRC's punishments showing just how wrong the call was that allowed Tupouniua to remain on the field. Leading rugby league journalist Phil Rothfield posted on X: 'How the f*** is Tupouniua not in the sin bin. Kneed a bloke in the head.' He went on to write: 'This actually could have been a send off. Sin bin at very least. The NRL has completely lost the plot with the bunker.' Roosters legend Brad Fittler said on Nine: 'You can't have that.' Bulldogs cult hero Michael Ennis also said Tupouniua was 'lucky to stay on the field'.
