Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson bemoaned the lack of ruthlessness from the premiers after they moved into the NRL’s top four on Saturday courtesy of a 26-12 win over Canberra.
After a slow 2-4 start to the season, the Roosters have won five of their past six games to climb their way up the NRL ladder.
On the back of a man-of-the-match effort from axed NSW playmaker James Maloney, who had a hand in all of the Roosters’ tries, including scoring one himself, and a hat-trick from Blues winger Daniel Tupou, the tricolours led 18-0 at halftime before easing off in the final quarter of the game.
That drew the ire of the premiership winning coach.
“We set it up in the first half, we did a good job for 10,15 minutes there, then we fell off. We were not ruthless enough at the end there to finish it off,” Robinson said.
“That wasn’t quite what we wanted tonight, that was about 25 minutes short of that.
“We had the bad week against the Cowboys and we have worked our way out of that.
“We can get better, it’s a long season we are happy with where we are at.
“We are in a good position but can’t be satisfied with what we have done so far, the boys are hungry.”
Backing up from his State of Origin debut on Wednesday night, Tupou scored tries in the ninth, 19th, and 58th minutes, with Maloney earning a try assist for each touchdown, the third a trademark leap from the 195cm flyer.
Maloney scored himself in the 33rd minute when he stepped his way through the Raiders’ goal line defence.
Tupou’s third try put the home side ahead 24-0 and effectively ended the round 12 contest before 11,815 fans at Allianz Stadium.
Jack Wighton and Paul Vaughan crossed late in a consolation offering for the visitors.
A penalty goal after the fulltime siren gave Maloney five goals from as many attempts for a personal haul of 14.
The Raiders have copped a number of hidings this year and coach Ricky Stuart said he was proud of the effort from his side in preventing another one, when it looked a real possibility on the hour mark.
“Obviously we were disappointed with the scoreline but I see a squad of players there improving,” Stuart said.
“That scoreline at halftime, a team that lacks a bit of heart and team spirit, I believe the Roosters would have gone on with it.
“It was a very, very committed performance against a very classy football team, they didn’t fluke their competition win last year.
“What we did tonight showed improvement in where we are going and a fair bit of courage and commitment.”