Joey Aukuso-Suaalii stepped up as Sydney Roosters overcame the loss of Kiwi superstar Joey Manu to keep their finals hopes alive with 32-8 defeat of Wests Tigers.
The fate of the Roosters' season will now be decided in a local derby clash with South Sydney next Friday night, but they are likely to be without Manu after he limped from the field in the 24th minute with a hamstring injury.
Prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves also faces an anxious wait to learn if he will be available for the clash after being sin-binned for a late tackle on Wests Tigers playmaker Api Koroisau and an alleged head butt on Stefano Utoikamanu.
Waerea-Hargreaves sent to the bin
Waerea-Hargreaves was given his marching orders in the 66th minute and did not return after the 10-minute stint in the sin bin, with Roosters coach Trent Robinson opting not to risk further drama by sending forward Terrell May on instead.
Roosters halfback Sam Walker made a successful return to first grade after being dropped earlier in the season, but he was also forced from the field before passing a HIA test and Aukuso-Suaalii stepped up in his absence.
The 20-year-old moved from the wing to fullback in Manu's absence and finished with 16 points from a try and six goals, while running 204 metres with the ball and producing two line breaks, two line break assists and 10 tackle breaks.
Manu off injured
The Roosters win has ended any slim hope Parramatta had of playing again this season, while Wests Tigers are set to receive the wooden spoon.
To make the finals, the Roosters need to beat the Rabbitohs and hope the Panthers down the Cowboys on Saturday.
Wests Tigers started where they left off in last weekend's 24-23 triumph against the Dolphins when rookie centre Triston Reilly opened the scoring in the eight minute.
Triston Reilly Try
The former NSW Waratahs representative swivelled his way through several Roosters defenders after halves Api Koroisau and Daine Laurie combined with fullback Jahream Bula close to the line.
Walker hit back for the Roosters soon after when he backed up a break from dummy half by Brandon Smith and stepped his way through a handful of Wests Tigers defenders to score.
Sam Walker Try
A 25th minute Koroisau penalty goal put the Tigers ahead 8-6 but with Manu hobbling off moments earlier they may have regretted the decision not to maintain the pressure on the Roosters and attempt to score a try.
Joseph Aukuso Suaalii, who moved to fullback in place of Manu, drew the scores level with a 30th minute penalty goal and further ill discipline proved costly when Tongan winger Daniel Tupou scored to give the Roosters a 14-8 halftime lead.
Daniel Tupou Try
Roosters interchange forward Terrell May scored just eight minutes after halftime to extend the home team's lead and Aukuso-Suaalii sealed the win when he crossed out wide in the 62nd minute.
However, while the home side always seemed in control, they had to overcome further disruptions when halfback Walker and centre Billy Smith were sent for HIAs and prop Waerea-Hargeaves was sin-binned.
Victor Radley completed the scoring in the 72nd minute.
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Match Snapshot
- Roosters winger Daniel Tupou has scored 19 tries in 14 appearances against Wests Tigers.
- The loss has consigned Wests Tigers to consecutive wooden spoons.
- Roosters forward Egan Butcher and Wests Tigers centre Asu Kepaoa were placed on report for dangerous contact.
- The Roosters have won 17 of their past 18 games against Wests Tigers.
- Wests Tigers have won only one of their past 11 games at Moore Park venues.
- The Roosters have scored 182 points in their past four games against Wests Tigers.
- Wests Tigers winger David Nofoaluma has never beaten the Roosters (12 games, 12 losses).
Play of the Game
The Roosters dominated the second half but were struggling to put the result beyond doubt until Joey Aukuso Suaalii decided to take on the Wests Tigers defence himself and scored in the 62nd minute.
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii Try
What They Said
"We asked for effort from the boys tonight and to play tough and I thought they did that but we just lacked a little bit of class and a bit of a reading game with what the defence was doing. When they were one man down, we actually looked worse so they're just moments we've got to be better at.
Jared (Waerea-Hargreaves) is one of those players that crosses the line and turns into this beast and demon on the field and plays on the edge. I've been in a team with him and you love having him in your team but I thought he crossed the line tonight." - Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall.
"I felt like we gave them field possession but I didn't think we looked under threat defensively for the most part. I felt like we moved really well, defended really well and created a lot of opportunities. They (Sam Walker and Luke Keary) were constantly looking for opportunities and picking the eyes out of the defence at different times and the try for Sam was outstanding." - Roosters coach Trent Robinson.
NRL Press Conference: Roosters v Wests Tigers - Round 26, 2023
What's Next
Wests Tigers finish their season with a trip to Manly to play the Sea Eagles on Friday night, while the Roosters finals hopes will be decided a few hours later when they take on the Rabbitohs at Accor Stadium.
Roosters captain James Tedesco is expected to return after missing the clash with Wests Tigers due to the NRL11-day mandatory HIA stand-down but Joey Manu is likely to miss the match after injuring his hamstring.
There are also concerns about the availability of prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves after he was sin-binned for a late tackle on Wests Tigers playmaker Api Koroisau and an alleged head butt on Stefano Utoikamanu.