Roosters race past Dolphins to end seven-year wait for NRL grand final

Sydney Roosters beat the Dolphins 36-20 at Suncorp Stadium on 25 September to reach their first NRL grand final in seven years. The preliminary final, league's last-four tie that sends the winner straight to the season decider, was played in Brisbane in front of 52,286 supporters. The Guardian

The start was brutal. Sydney led 16-0 inside 27 minutes and never gave up that cushion. In league, where teams get six tackles to make ground before handing over the ball, that kind of lead forces the chasers to take risks.

The scores came quickly. Mark Nawaqanitawase crossed in the 17th minute, Victor Radley followed in the 23rd and Daniel Tupou added a third in the 26th. NRL A try, grounding the ball over the tryline for four points, is the main way to score, and that burst gave the Roosters control of field position and momentum.

Nawaqanitawase finished with two tries and set the tone out wide with his running and timing. The Dolphins refused to fold. Winger Jamayne Isaako scored on either side of half-time to keep the home crowd loud and cut the gap.

The fightback fell short. The Dolphins arrived on an eight-match winning run and were playing in the club's first preliminary final. Defeat ended that surge at the final hurdle in front of their own supporters at Suncorp, which had listed the tie as the Dolphins' home preliminary final.

Sydney's night was sharpened by the return of halfback Sam Walker. He played just 27 days after a syndesmosis injury, damage to the ligaments that hold the ankle joint together, equalling a record for the fastest return of its kind. He had left the field injured against the same Dolphins side in Round 26 in August.

There was a cost for the Roosters. Connor Watson failed a category one head injury assessment in the first half and will miss the grand final. That is the game's standard concussion check after a visible head knock, and a category one result brings an automatic stand-down. It was reported soberly by staff, with no attempt to keep him on the field.

For fans, this means a week of waiting. The Roosters will meet the winner of Penrith and Newcastle in the grand final. After seven years away, they are now one win from the title.