The Roosters finished the game one-man down after Joseph Manu was sin-binned for a high shot. The Dolphins capitalised on the advantage a minute later as Jack Bostock crossed.
The twists and turns didn’t stop there with Jamayne Isaako being forced off in the final six minutes with an ankle concern. He initially got it strapped up and intended on playing through it but the orders from referee Gerard Sutton were that because play was stopped he had to leave the field.
An off-side penalty allowed the Dolphins to slot a penalty goal to take the scoreline to 40-34 and set up a thrilling finish. But the Roosters hang on.
Sam Walker has at his devastating his best against the Dolphins with his instinctive style of play setting himself up for a first-half double.
Walker noticed Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow was up in the defensive line so chipped over the top for himself to score the Roosters’ second try of the night.
He backed it up seven minutes later with — can you believe it – another chip and chase. Walker escaped the grasp of Felise Kaufusi, span around and put the ball up for him to secure his second career double.
Fox League expert and four-time premiership-winner Cooper Cronk declared Walker was “the reason they won that (game)” and was in awe of his big plays.
“This is tremendous,” he said as he watched a replay of the tries.
“We spoke his instinct and his reaction to play before the game and that is top shelf from one of the rising stars in our competition. There’s not many other players that can do what Sam Walker’s done in the first half.”
Michael Ennis was equally impressed.
“Gee I love watching this boy play… What a season he is having,” he said.
“The fans here in Perth are being given a treat, you don’t see that every week. He doesn’t even hesitate, he just backs his skill. He turned on an absolute clinic in the opening 20 minutes.”
Walker’s goalkicking was also on point with the 22-year-old nailing six conversions from six attempts and two penalty goals to finish with 24 individual points.
The bye couldn’t have come at a better time for the Roosters who will be sweating on the availability on a couple of star players.
Lindsay Collins’ night ended early due to a concussion but the representative prop is expected to be good to go for the Roosters’ Round 24 clash with the Eels.
The same can’t be said for Dom Young and Nat Butcher, who both picked up injuries on Friday night.
Young injured his right hamstring early in the second half and was seen on the bench with his ice taped to his leg. Meanwhile, Butcher left the field in visible pain after sustaining what looked to be a rib injury.
Throw in the fact Joseph Manu was placed on report for a high tackle and coach Trent Robinson could be hit with a tough backline head ache.
It gets worse with Michael Jennings — who could be an option at centre with Joseph Sua’ali’i shifting to wing — not due back from a suspension until Round 25.
Roosters coach Trent Robinson had a positive update on Young post-game, saying his injury is “not a long-termer.” He also confirmed Butcher had suffered “popped rib cartilage.”
Dolphins playmaker Sean O’Sullivan is adamant his teammates have the “belief” to play finals — but that might not be enough after suffering another close loss.
The Dolphins sit eighth following the Roosters loss and if the Dragons or Dragons win later this weekend they’ll drop to ninth.
Speaking to Fox League post-game O’Sullivan conceded it was a “disappointing” result considering they “don’t stop fighting.”
And fight they did. The Dolphins were forced into late changes with Kodi Nikorima ruled out due to an illness and Tevita Pangai Junior dropping to 18th man because he had a calf injury but there weren’t enough players in Perth to fulfil the reserve role.
O’Sullivan said that disruption meant nothing because “our team is built off no excuses” and declared the Dolphins can still play in their first finals series.
“We’ve got the team to do it, we’ve got the belief we just need to execute better,” he said.
But with games against the Warriors, Bulldogs, Storm, Broncos and Knights it’s not going to be easy.
In fact, Fox League expert Cooper Cronk fears they could end up missing the eight.
“This is a team that was entrenched in the top four for majority of the season,” he said.
“I really hope they do (play finals) but it looks as though with that run home and dropping the last two games they might just slip straight out of there.”
1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Jake Averillo 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Jack Bostock 17. Sean O’Sullivan 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Max Plath 18. Oryn Keeley 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Connelly Lemuelu 13. Kenny Bromwich 14. Josh Kerr 15. Mark Nicholls 16. Ray Stone 19. Tesi Niu. 18th man: 10. Tevita Pangai Junior
1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii 4. Joseph Manu 5. Dominic Young 6. Luke Keary 7. Sam Walker 8. Spencer Leniu 9. Brandon Smith 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Angus Crichton 12. Victor Radley 13. Connor Watson 14. Sitili Tupouniua 15. Naufahu Whyte 16. Nat Butcher 17. Terrell May. 18th man: 20. Ethan King
