Rejuvenated Roosters skipper James Tedesco led from the front as his side played what he said was their “best footy of the year” to dismantle the Titans in a dominant first half that showcased their until now dormant attack.
The Roosters ran in five first-half tries to lead the home side 30-0 at the break, with Tedesco – who was given last week off by coach Trent Robinson to freshen up following a taxing State of Origin period – crossing for his side's second try.
“It’s not about me, it’s about the team. I just wanted to play good as a team and I think that first 40 minutes was probably our best footy of the year so really happy with that," Tedesco after the game.
"It's about everyone doing their role and playing their best footy and I feel like we did that for 40 minutes, but we have just got to put in an 80-minute performance."
After a number of questions about resting his captain following's the team’s loss to the Storm in Round 20, Robinson was pleased to see Tedesco – who not only scored a try but made 246 metres with two try assists and two line break assists – step up in the important win that keeps them in the finals hunt.
James Tedesco try 13th minute
“That was always going to be the case," Robinson said when asked if his captain would return in good form.
“It is easy to say from my point of view, but it is really disappointing the commentary around that. It was my call. That was it. He came back and he played the way he plays. He was a bit fresher and he was the biggest difference in the game today.
“It is disappointing when someone gets personally attacked for what they are doing right by the club.
“I feel like what we did last week at the start of the game we were right up to it in our eyeballs [but] because you lose, you are going to be asked those questions.
“Because you win, you are vindicated. We don’t really work like that. You’ve got to predict the future and what you think is best for your team.
“You get them right sometimes and you don’t at others. It was just great to see him playing that way and he dominated that game.”
Tedesco was one of a number of big-name Roosters to click into top gear, with the Tricolours' forward pack dominating through the middle.
“I felt like we played with a bit more freedom than we have in a while, that was really positive and then we also had to dig deep defensively to take the game away," Robinson said.
Lindsay Collins try 28th minute
“I felt Lindsay [Collins] and Jared [Waerea-Hargreaves], they bossed the game there. They kept going and they just know where the front door is and they know what their role is to defend it and attack it.
“It's pretty simple and it's really hard, that's what a front rower's job is.
It's not complicated but to do it over and over again, it takes some special guys and I felt like they were great today.
Roosters coach Trent Robinson
Brandon Smith, who had also come in for some criticism following the Storm loss also had one of his best games for the Roosters to date, with an energetic performance that included a linebreak and three tackle breaks.
“The fact for us was he ended up obviously having a hand injury and ended up having to get repaired. He trained really hard in that break... and then it was time to start him and get him going, so that was a really good start to the back end of the year for him,” Robinson said.
“And, that's the way that he plays so it was good to see.
“He's got a quite unique style of playing nine, so that's important to get him going because he is such a bullocking style.
The Roosters will remain in Queensland for their next match on Thursday night against the top-of-the-table Broncos, who have lost five of their past six games against Robinson's side.
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