Players ratings from the Telstra Premiership qualifying final between Sydney Roosters and Cronulla Sharks.
Roosters
1. James Tedesco: another huge stint at the back with plenty of half breaks and a couple of line break assists and plenty of clean-up work. Stunning catch-and-pass for Tupou try. Team-high 240 metres and eight busts. 9/10
2. Daniel Tupou: poor error under no pressure in the 22nd minute after miscommunication with Tedesco, but huge second half. Wonderful tap-back for Mitchell try then scored one of his own. Finished with 191 metres. 7.5
3. Latrell Mitchell: A huge handful when running the ball, hit hard in defence, was on hand for a crucial second half try. Late try-saver on Luke Lewis was a beauty. However faces a nervous wait after being pinged for a crusher tackle with any charge to trigger a ban. Also had an off night from the tee. 8
4. Joseph Manu: questionable defensive decision for first try. Great effort to score his team's second but mostly quiet. 6.5
5. Blake Ferguson: went looking for work as he has all year and consistently got over the advantage line, racking up 189 metres. 6.5
6. Luke Keary: linked well with his left edge men and brought plenty of energy but not too much impact in how the game played out. 6
Match Highlights: Roosters v Sharks – Finals Week 1, 2018
7. Cooper Cronk: grubbered and regathered for team's first try. Controlled proceedings perfectly. Produced the biggest kick-metre tally of any player in any game this year with 685 and produced the game-clinching field goal. His best game of the year. 9
8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves: overeager early coming up with an error and a penalty. Better in second stint with plenty of sting in his work. His 171 metres were the most of any forward from either team. 6.5
9. Jake Friend: got through a mountain of defence with 61 tackles and provided reliable service. 7
10. Siosiua Taukeiaho: went off injured after eight minutes and did not return. 2
11. Boyd Cordner: Captain's knock on the left edge with relentless running and tackling netting him 158 metres. 7.5
16. Mitchell Aubusson: quietly went about his business as usual; unnoticed by casual observers but not by teammates with a reliable presence on right edge with 40 tackles made and none missed. 7.5
12. Isaac Liu: fairly quiet in his time on field with 76 metres and 24 tackles. 5.5
13. Victor Radley: dropped back to the bench in the final team list but made up for it once he got on with plenty of involvement and throwing some silky passes. 6.5
14. Lindsay Collins: just 17 minutes off the bench for 11 tackles and 52 metres. 3
15. Zane Tetevano: brought on early due to Taukeiaho injury and added impact with ball in hand with 147 metres. 7
17. Ryan Matterson: given roughly half the game and contributed 21 tackles and 83 metres. 5
Sharks
1. Valentine Holmes: Was dangerous on kick returns, especially late in the game, and Roosters did well to stop him when he split the line within try-scoring range. Ran for almost 300 metres. 8/10
2. Sosaia Feki: Scored the first try of the match but dropped a catchable second. Held his own against opposing winger Blake Ferguson. 6
3. Josh Dugan: Bombed a probable try when the Sharks were six behind, and was neither spectacular nor terrible in defence. Needed to step up in a big game and didn't. 5
4. Ricky Leutele: Was beaten to the line by the long arm of Joseph Manu, but was otherwise solid in defence. 5
5. Edrick Lee: Was solid under the high ball against Daniel Tupou. Did well to capitalise on Townsend's short kicking game to score a four pointer. 7
6. Matt Moylan: Was ineffectual in attack and couldn't compete with Cooper Cronk's game management. Was on the wrong side of a big moment when he put down a key pass late in the game. 6
7. Chad Townsend: Kicking game and game management couldn't compete with Cooper Cronk's. Still managed to set up Lee with a perfect grubber kick. 6
8. Andrew Fifita: Was a part of the defensive squeeze in the last 15 minutes that kept the Sharks in the game. Was almost as good in attack, running for 127 metres. 6
9. Jayden Brailey: Failed to engage the Roosters' forwards from dummy-half but did get his forwards on the front foot. Only 21 tackles in the middle so he definitely could have done more to take pressure off his forwards. 5
10. Matt Prior: Only ran for 17 metres in his 35 minutes of game time, meaning he was the weak link in the Sharks' forwards. 3
11. Luke Lewis: Needed to have a huge game with the absence of Wade Graham, and he went within inches of making it happen. His experience and skill added to the Sharks' attack but he never got his game-breaking moment. 7
12. Wade Graham: Was instrumental in setting up the Sharks' first try. Injured as the Roosters scored their first and left the field. 3
13. Paul Gallen: Ever consistent and never bad in defence, as told by his 47 tackles. His 111 run metres were an important contribution to the Sharks' strong finish. 7
15. James Segeyaro: More dangerous from dummy-half and made 43 tackles off the bench. 6
16. Aaron Woods: Strong defensively and with the ball in hand for his stint, helping keep the Sharks in the game either side of half-time. A big effort to put in 37 tackles, many of which kept a huge amount of pressure on the Roosters. 7
17. Jayson Bukuya: Neither here nor there off the bench, 26 solid tackles is what you need from your bench players, and he delivered without exceeding expectations. 5
18. Scott Sorensen: 99 metres in his 68 minutes and made 27 tackles. 5
