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Not even one of the freakiest tries rugby league has ever seen – from a man with little more than half a season playing NRL – could stop yet another Canterbury comeback.
Former Wallaby Mark Nawaqanitawase didn’t just tiptoe down the right-hand touchline in scoring a game-breaking chip and chase try in Friday night’s thrilling Roosters win over the ladder leaders.
The Fijian flyer danced. Hopped. Skipped. Kicked. Had Raygun beat to rights as he somehow stayed aware of the sideline several times, contorting his body to somehow stay in the field of play.
And yet the Bulldogs not only reeled in the Roosters 14-0 half-time lead. They absorbed Nawaqanitawase’s miracle try and responded in kind.
Canterbury are on top of the ladder for a reason after all. Their ruthless targeting of Nawaqanitawase under the high ball for four mistakes either side of his stunning try is just one pointer to how well Cameron Ciraldo coaches this side.
They can’t keep relying on audacious comebacks, of course. Phil Gould already barely sleeps as it is. And it’s not as if the Bulldogs masses needed another reason to lose their collective minds.
But when 30,166 turn out to a soggy Accor Stadium, well, it’s just reward. And a lot of fun.
Throughout the opening 40 minutes, the Bulldogs looked to be finally lagging without a slew of first-choice forwards including Sitili Tupouniua, Jacob Preston, Josh Curran (suspended) Jaeman Salmon and Sam Hughes (injured). Hence the double-figure deficit at half-time.
Spencer Leniu fielded three kick-offs in the first 17 minutes, coming off the back fence as usual. He trampled over Max King once, lost the ball twice and knocked Daniel Suluka-Fifita out of the game, adding to the Bulldogs’ bulging casualty ward.
The Roosters completed at 58% and made nine first-half errors. Yet in between Leniu’s kick-off carries, Nawaqanitawase stepped through from close range and Sandon Smith knocked over a penalty goal for a surprise 8-0 Roosters lead.
Viliame Kikau scores for the Bulldogs.Credit: Getty Images
A 90-metre intercept of a kick from Smith followed with a superb length of the field chase from Stephen Crichton. His try-saving effort, and another from Kurtis Morrin, only briefly kept the Roosters at bay – Lindsay Collins crossing this time one-off the ruck for a 14-0 half-time lead.
Canterbury dominated after the break. But the Roosters held strong for the best part of 10 minutes before Bailey Haywood found space around the ruck and sent Viliame Kikau over to start the comeback.
A fumble from Egan Butcher coming out of trouble landed with Toby Sexton and he gleefully scurried over. At 14-12 Matt Burton unfurled one of his rainmaking bombs, rarely seen in recent times to have Nawaqanitawase all at sea and knocking on.
Bronson Xerri’s probing, stepping run back through battling ruck defence had the Dogs in front with 18 minutes to play.
Nawaqanitawase then did his thing.
“That might be the most freakish try we’ve ever seen,” Greg Alexander mused in commentary.
“Best finish I’ve ever seen … just ridiculous. It gets more special every time you watch it,” Shaun Johnson added.
When Smith nailed the sideline conversion afterwards for a 20-14 lead, Roosters legend and Channel Nine sideline eye Brad Fittler simply held his arms aloft on the sideline.
Not even one of the freakiest tries rugby league has ever seen – from a man with little more than half a season playing NRL – could stop yet another Canterbury comeback.
Former Wallaby Mark Nawaqanitawase didn’t just tiptoe down the right-hand touchline in scoring a game-breaking chip and chase try in Friday night’s thrilling Roosters win over the ladder leaders.
The Fijian flyer danced. Hopped. Skipped. Kicked. Had Raygun beat to rights as he somehow stayed aware of the sideline several times, contorting his body to somehow stay in the field of play.
And yet the Bulldogs not only reeled in the Roosters 14-0 half-time lead. They absorbed Nawaqanitawase’s miracle try and responded in kind.
Canterbury are on top of the ladder for a reason after all. Their ruthless targeting of Nawaqanitawase under the high ball for four mistakes either side of his stunning try is just one pointer to how well Cameron Ciraldo coaches this side.
They can’t keep relying on audacious comebacks, of course. Phil Gould already barely sleeps as it is. And it’s not as if the Bulldogs masses needed another reason to lose their collective minds.
But when 30,166 turn out to a soggy Accor Stadium, well, it’s just reward. And a lot of fun.
Throughout the opening 40 minutes, the Bulldogs looked to be finally lagging without a slew of first-choice forwards including Sitili Tupouniua, Jacob Preston, Josh Curran (suspended) Jaeman Salmon and Sam Hughes (injured). Hence the double-figure deficit at half-time.
Spencer Leniu fielded three kick-offs in the first 17 minutes, coming off the back fence as usual. He trampled over Max King once, lost the ball twice and knocked Daniel Suluka-Fifita out of the game, adding to the Bulldogs’ bulging casualty ward.
The Roosters completed at 58% and made nine first-half errors. Yet in between Leniu’s kick-off carries, Nawaqanitawase stepped through from close range and Sandon Smith knocked over a penalty goal for a surprise 8-0 Roosters lead.
Viliame Kikau scores for the Bulldogs.Credit: Getty Images
A 90-metre intercept of a kick from Smith followed with a superb length of the field chase from Stephen Crichton. His try-saving effort, and another from Kurtis Morrin, only briefly kept the Roosters at bay – Lindsay Collins crossing this time one-off the ruck for a 14-0 half-time lead.
Canterbury dominated after the break. But the Roosters held strong for the best part of 10 minutes before Bailey Haywood found space around the ruck and sent Viliame Kikau over to start the comeback.
A fumble from Egan Butcher coming out of trouble landed with Toby Sexton and he gleefully scurried over. At 14-12 Matt Burton unfurled one of his rainmaking bombs, rarely seen in recent times to have Nawaqanitawase all at sea and knocking on.
Bronson Xerri’s probing, stepping run back through battling ruck defence had the Dogs in front with 18 minutes to play.
Nawaqanitawase then did his thing.
“That might be the most freakish try we’ve ever seen,” Greg Alexander mused in commentary.
“Best finish I’ve ever seen … just ridiculous. It gets more special every time you watch it,” Shaun Johnson added.
When Smith nailed the sideline conversion afterwards for a 20-14 lead, Roosters legend and Channel Nine sideline eye Brad Fittler simply held his arms aloft on the sideline.
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