NRL Highlights: Roosters v Cowboys
Sydney Roosters take on the North Queensland Cowboys in Round 16 of the 2025 NRL Premiership at Allianz Stadium, Sydney.
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The Advertiser
2 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Lawton facing ban for tackle that injured Rooster
The NRL referees' handling of foul play is back in the spotlight, with Karl Lawton handed one of the most serious charges of the year despite not being penalised for a third-man in tackle that injured Siua Wong. Sydney Roosters second-rower Wong will miss up to six weeks after scans confirmed a medial ligament tear, following contact from Lawton on Sunday. The North Queensland forward was not reprimanded during the 42-8 loss, despite referee Ashley Klein and bunker officials having time to review the incident. Lawton was then hit with a grade-three dangerous contact charge on Monday, the highest possible grading without referring him straight to the judiciary. Lawton's charge is only the second grade-three charge for any offence this season, after Dolphins veteran Felise Kaufusi copped the same punishment for dangerous contact on Cowboy Tom Duffy last week. Only Manly prop Tof Sipley has been given a higher grading this NRL season, referred straight to the judiciary for a hip-drop tackle that injured St George Illawarra's Mat Feagai in April. With a clean recent record, Lawton can accept a two-match ban with an early plea or risk a third game on the sidelines if he elects to fight the grading. But the significant difference in the way the tackle was viewed is likely to raise eyebrows. Roosters coach Trent Robinson refused to delve into his thoughts on Sunday saying he hadn't seen it properly. In the Nine Network's coverage, Andrew Johns was highly critical of the contact. "It's dangerous, I hate it," Johns said. "If you have two players in the tackle, and momentum is pretty much (stopped), that third man shouldn't be able to go in like that. "A couple of years ago we saw Liam Knight get hit from behind and it pretty much destroyed every ligament in his knee. "The player cannot see it coming. And what's come into the game is they back into the tackle so they can see the third man coming in and spearing at the knee. "And what's happened with that happening is we have crushers coming into the game, because of players turning and twisting looking for that third man." In better news for the Tricolours, five-eighth Sandon Smith has been cleared of any knee damage after leaving the field early in the win over the Cowboys. The Roosters have the bye this week, but Smith will be fine to face Wests Tigers in a fortnight. Elsewhere, Parramatta have copped a double blow at the judiciary with hooker Ryley Smith and centre Will Penisini both facing suspensions. Smith is set to cop a two-week ban for his dangerous throw on Phillip Sami in the win over Gold Coast, while Penisini is facing three matches out for one on Beau Fermor. Both were handed grade-two charges with Penisini sin-binned for his tackle. Penisini's extra week is due to a prior charge on his record. The NRL referees' handling of foul play is back in the spotlight, with Karl Lawton handed one of the most serious charges of the year despite not being penalised for a third-man in tackle that injured Siua Wong. Sydney Roosters second-rower Wong will miss up to six weeks after scans confirmed a medial ligament tear, following contact from Lawton on Sunday. The North Queensland forward was not reprimanded during the 42-8 loss, despite referee Ashley Klein and bunker officials having time to review the incident. Lawton was then hit with a grade-three dangerous contact charge on Monday, the highest possible grading without referring him straight to the judiciary. Lawton's charge is only the second grade-three charge for any offence this season, after Dolphins veteran Felise Kaufusi copped the same punishment for dangerous contact on Cowboy Tom Duffy last week. Only Manly prop Tof Sipley has been given a higher grading this NRL season, referred straight to the judiciary for a hip-drop tackle that injured St George Illawarra's Mat Feagai in April. With a clean recent record, Lawton can accept a two-match ban with an early plea or risk a third game on the sidelines if he elects to fight the grading. But the significant difference in the way the tackle was viewed is likely to raise eyebrows. Roosters coach Trent Robinson refused to delve into his thoughts on Sunday saying he hadn't seen it properly. In the Nine Network's coverage, Andrew Johns was highly critical of the contact. "It's dangerous, I hate it," Johns said. "If you have two players in the tackle, and momentum is pretty much (stopped), that third man shouldn't be able to go in like that. "A couple of years ago we saw Liam Knight get hit from behind and it pretty much destroyed every ligament in his knee. "The player cannot see it coming. And what's come into the game is they back into the tackle so they can see the third man coming in and spearing at the knee. "And what's happened with that happening is we have crushers coming into the game, because of players turning and twisting looking for that third man." In better news for the Tricolours, five-eighth Sandon Smith has been cleared of any knee damage after leaving the field early in the win over the Cowboys. The Roosters have the bye this week, but Smith will be fine to face Wests Tigers in a fortnight. Elsewhere, Parramatta have copped a double blow at the judiciary with hooker Ryley Smith and centre Will Penisini both facing suspensions. Smith is set to cop a two-week ban for his dangerous throw on Phillip Sami in the win over Gold Coast, while Penisini is facing three matches out for one on Beau Fermor. Both were handed grade-two charges with Penisini sin-binned for his tackle. Penisini's extra week is due to a prior charge on his record. The NRL referees' handling of foul play is back in the spotlight, with Karl Lawton handed one of the most serious charges of the year despite not being penalised for a third-man in tackle that injured Siua Wong. Sydney Roosters second-rower Wong will miss up to six weeks after scans confirmed a medial ligament tear, following contact from Lawton on Sunday. The North Queensland forward was not reprimanded during the 42-8 loss, despite referee Ashley Klein and bunker officials having time to review the incident. Lawton was then hit with a grade-three dangerous contact charge on Monday, the highest possible grading without referring him straight to the judiciary. Lawton's charge is only the second grade-three charge for any offence this season, after Dolphins veteran Felise Kaufusi copped the same punishment for dangerous contact on Cowboy Tom Duffy last week. Only Manly prop Tof Sipley has been given a higher grading this NRL season, referred straight to the judiciary for a hip-drop tackle that injured St George Illawarra's Mat Feagai in April. With a clean recent record, Lawton can accept a two-match ban with an early plea or risk a third game on the sidelines if he elects to fight the grading. But the significant difference in the way the tackle was viewed is likely to raise eyebrows. Roosters coach Trent Robinson refused to delve into his thoughts on Sunday saying he hadn't seen it properly. In the Nine Network's coverage, Andrew Johns was highly critical of the contact. "It's dangerous, I hate it," Johns said. "If you have two players in the tackle, and momentum is pretty much (stopped), that third man shouldn't be able to go in like that. "A couple of years ago we saw Liam Knight get hit from behind and it pretty much destroyed every ligament in his knee. "The player cannot see it coming. And what's come into the game is they back into the tackle so they can see the third man coming in and spearing at the knee. "And what's happened with that happening is we have crushers coming into the game, because of players turning and twisting looking for that third man." In better news for the Tricolours, five-eighth Sandon Smith has been cleared of any knee damage after leaving the field early in the win over the Cowboys. The Roosters have the bye this week, but Smith will be fine to face Wests Tigers in a fortnight. Elsewhere, Parramatta have copped a double blow at the judiciary with hooker Ryley Smith and centre Will Penisini both facing suspensions. Smith is set to cop a two-week ban for his dangerous throw on Phillip Sami in the win over Gold Coast, while Penisini is facing three matches out for one on Beau Fermor. Both were handed grade-two charges with Penisini sin-binned for his tackle. Penisini's extra week is due to a prior charge on his record.
News.com.au
6 hours ago
- News.com.au
Roosters dominate Cowboys in huge win
NRL: Sydney Roosters beat the North Queensland Cowboys 42-8 at the Allianz Stadium in Sydney.
The Advertiser
11 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Payten threatens axe on 'bullied' Cowboys
Todd Payten has warned he could swing the axe after admitting North Queensland were bullied by the Sydney Roosters as they fell to a second straight thrashing. Payten described the Cowboys' 42-8 loss as looking like boys against men at times, as his team conceding four tries in the space of 10 minutes in the second half. Halfback Tom Dearden also conceded he was "horrible", backing up four days after winning his first State of Origin game wearing the Queensland No.7 jersey. Semi-finalists last year, the Cowboys are now in an almighty rut. Payten's men have won just one match since Magic Round, dropping five and drawing one to Penrith. They have let in an average of 36 points a game through that period, including 100 points alone in the past fortnight to the Dolphins and Cowboys. Questions also remain around the halves pairing of Dearden and Jaxon Purdue, with the latter moved from centre to five-eighth a month ago. But their biggest issue has been a woeful completion rate through that period, with Payten labelling them the NRL's worst team for errors out of their own end. Adding to that is the fact the Cowboys have completed at above 75 per cent just twice in their past seven games. Asked after the loss to the Roosters whether changes were possible, Payten indicated it was on his mind. "We'll be considering it, definitely, off the back of the past few weeks," he said. "We'll have a look at what is underneath and then reassess and get to work." Payten also refused to use the Origin period as an excuse, with the Cowboys having four players coming in and out of camp in the past month. "It's not an excuse, far from it," Payten said. "Not a contributing factor one little bit. "You look at some other teams across the competition (who) have handled it perfectly and we have done so in the past. So it's irrelevant. "It's disappointing, and far from good enough. "We got bullied, it was men against boys there for a little bit and that's concerning." Payten's threat came as Dearden also made a scathing assessment of his own performance, which included conceding an intercept pass for a Mark Nawaqanitawase try. The Cowboys had balls hitting the ground in attack, while Dearden was responsible for five missed tackles. "The body felt good, I was ready to go," Dearden said of backing up from Origin. "I'm really disappointed in my performance. I thought I was horrible tonight." Todd Payten has warned he could swing the axe after admitting North Queensland were bullied by the Sydney Roosters as they fell to a second straight thrashing. Payten described the Cowboys' 42-8 loss as looking like boys against men at times, as his team conceding four tries in the space of 10 minutes in the second half. Halfback Tom Dearden also conceded he was "horrible", backing up four days after winning his first State of Origin game wearing the Queensland No.7 jersey. Semi-finalists last year, the Cowboys are now in an almighty rut. Payten's men have won just one match since Magic Round, dropping five and drawing one to Penrith. They have let in an average of 36 points a game through that period, including 100 points alone in the past fortnight to the Dolphins and Cowboys. Questions also remain around the halves pairing of Dearden and Jaxon Purdue, with the latter moved from centre to five-eighth a month ago. But their biggest issue has been a woeful completion rate through that period, with Payten labelling them the NRL's worst team for errors out of their own end. Adding to that is the fact the Cowboys have completed at above 75 per cent just twice in their past seven games. Asked after the loss to the Roosters whether changes were possible, Payten indicated it was on his mind. "We'll be considering it, definitely, off the back of the past few weeks," he said. "We'll have a look at what is underneath and then reassess and get to work." Payten also refused to use the Origin period as an excuse, with the Cowboys having four players coming in and out of camp in the past month. "It's not an excuse, far from it," Payten said. "Not a contributing factor one little bit. "You look at some other teams across the competition (who) have handled it perfectly and we have done so in the past. So it's irrelevant. "It's disappointing, and far from good enough. "We got bullied, it was men against boys there for a little bit and that's concerning." Payten's threat came as Dearden also made a scathing assessment of his own performance, which included conceding an intercept pass for a Mark Nawaqanitawase try. The Cowboys had balls hitting the ground in attack, while Dearden was responsible for five missed tackles. "The body felt good, I was ready to go," Dearden said of backing up from Origin. "I'm really disappointed in my performance. I thought I was horrible tonight." Todd Payten has warned he could swing the axe after admitting North Queensland were bullied by the Sydney Roosters as they fell to a second straight thrashing. Payten described the Cowboys' 42-8 loss as looking like boys against men at times, as his team conceding four tries in the space of 10 minutes in the second half. Halfback Tom Dearden also conceded he was "horrible", backing up four days after winning his first State of Origin game wearing the Queensland No.7 jersey. Semi-finalists last year, the Cowboys are now in an almighty rut. Payten's men have won just one match since Magic Round, dropping five and drawing one to Penrith. They have let in an average of 36 points a game through that period, including 100 points alone in the past fortnight to the Dolphins and Cowboys. Questions also remain around the halves pairing of Dearden and Jaxon Purdue, with the latter moved from centre to five-eighth a month ago. But their biggest issue has been a woeful completion rate through that period, with Payten labelling them the NRL's worst team for errors out of their own end. Adding to that is the fact the Cowboys have completed at above 75 per cent just twice in their past seven games. Asked after the loss to the Roosters whether changes were possible, Payten indicated it was on his mind. "We'll be considering it, definitely, off the back of the past few weeks," he said. "We'll have a look at what is underneath and then reassess and get to work." Payten also refused to use the Origin period as an excuse, with the Cowboys having four players coming in and out of camp in the past month. "It's not an excuse, far from it," Payten said. "Not a contributing factor one little bit. "You look at some other teams across the competition (who) have handled it perfectly and we have done so in the past. So it's irrelevant. "It's disappointing, and far from good enough. "We got bullied, it was men against boys there for a little bit and that's concerning." Payten's threat came as Dearden also made a scathing assessment of his own performance, which included conceding an intercept pass for a Mark Nawaqanitawase try. The Cowboys had balls hitting the ground in attack, while Dearden was responsible for five missed tackles. "The body felt good, I was ready to go," Dearden said of backing up from Origin. "I'm really disappointed in my performance. I thought I was horrible tonight."
