Who needs DCE? Savala shines as Roosters stun Sharks
George Clarke |
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.
“He was very clear with what he was going to do in this game and he spoke those words, and he got that result as well,” said Roosters coach Trent Robinson.
“He was very clear on what his role was tonight for the team and we needed it … he set the tone.”
Savala’s long-term future at the Tricolours has been subject to scrutiny this season, with his agent declaring he would explore loan options if Robinson lands the signature of Manly veteran Cherry-Evans.
But on the evidence so far this season – and with Sam Walker still not due back from injury for a further month – Savala and Sandon Smith have established themselves as bona fide NRL playmakers.
“I’ve been really clear with my intentions, and I also don’t think it’s the right time to talk about that,” Robinson said when asked about his club’s move for Cherry-Evans.
“On a night like tonight, to shift direction towards that, I don’t think it’s the right time – I think it’s right to celebrate the team and the players.”
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 with just his second touch in the NRL and while Iro and Mulitalo crossed in the second half, Tedesco and Young hit back to make sure of a Roosters win.
“Back down to earth with a thud,” said Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon.
“I don’t make excuses … we got outperformed, and it was a real attitude check for us that we’re going to have to work on.”
AAP
