The Sydney Roosters have kept their NRL finals hopes alive with a resilient 20-4 win over Manly at a wet and wild Brookvale Oval.
With torrential rain falling for much of the evening, and with hail blanketing the field at one point in the second half, both teams struggled to keep their footing and hold onto the ball throughout an error-strewn encounter.
However, through the storm, a dogged Roosters put together one of their most impressive defensive displays of an up and down season.
Although Tolutau Koula went over for the game’s first try in the 16th minute, the Sea Eagles would not score again, with Roosters captain James Tedesco making two try saving tackles to headline an inspired rearguard action.
Up the other end of the field, Sam Walker’s kicking was instrumental for the Tricolours.
The diminutive halfback slotted all three of his conversions plus a penalty goal, and was at the heart of a try of the season contender from Angus Crichton in the 33rd minute.
Egan Butcher scored the second half’s only four-pointer as the Roosters stood firm to leapfrog their hosts into ninth on the ladder.
A hip injury to Jazz Tevaga only compounded the Sea Eagles’ misery, with the prop hobbling from the field late on in Sydney.
“He can’t put any weight on his hip, he felt a pop in his hip. It doesn’t sound good,” Manly coach Anthony Seibold said post-game.
Now two points from eighth with five games to play, the Sea Eagles require an almost perfect home stretch to finish on the right side of a congested mid table.
“From where I’m sitting, I’m very confident we can still get there,” Manly veteran Daly Cherry-Evans said post-game.
“It could take until the last round but that’s all you need.”
Earlier, the Dragons scored a shock 18-12 victory over the first-placed Raiders after Penrith’s Blaize Talagi scored a stunning 65m try to thwart a miraculous Gold Coast comeback in golden point.
A try of the year contender?! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/uDJH7Vb9vC
— NRL (@NRL) August 2, 2025
It came after the Titans scored five straight tries to lead 26-24 to erase a 24-0 half-time deficit, only for Nathan Cleary to slot a stunning 41m field goal to send the game to extra time.
Meanwhile, the Roosters’ NRLW clash with the Tigers was halted by lightning as the rain bucketed down after the Titans played out the first draw in competition history against Canterbury to kick off Magic Round in Newcastle.
