By David Riccio
From: The Sunday Telegraph
THIS match was supposed to be all about the comeback of dual international Timana Tahu with the Eels.
But in an individual display that indicates just how far Roosters ace Todd Carney has come, the former Canberra Raiders outcast last night produced another man of the match performance to overshadow Tahu and last season's grand finalists.
With Carney in this sort of form, last season's wooden-spooners are looking at a much brighter 2010 under new coach Brian Smith, while the Eels must be concerned about getting off to another tardy start.
For the second successive week, Carney recorded a 16-point haul, which included a try and six goals. In the process, he sent the Eels to their third straight trial loss in front of 18,111 fans in Gosford.
While last year's runners-up were out-gunned across the park, they were missing a host of stars including Jarryd Hayne, Justin Poore, Eric Grothe and Shane Shackleton.
Carney, with a licence to roam in the No. 1 jumper, combined brilliantly with halfback Mitchell Pearce to carve up the Eels and he was given an early rest by coach Smith with 15 minutes remaining.
The only downside for the Roosters came with five minutes left when Anthony Cherrington was stretchered from the field with a knee injury.
It all started well for Tahu. In the first eight minutes, he touched the football more times than he did in two years of rugby union.
He also announced himself back in the NRL with a shoulder charge on opposite number Shaun Kenny-Dowall, which knocked the ball free.
But that was about as appealing as it got for the Eels early, with Roosters half Mitchell Pearce and Carney coming to the fore.
First it was Carney, whose neat grubber kick allowed Anthony Minichiello to swoop from his wing to score out wide in the 11th minute for a try.
Then it was Pearce's turn just three minutes later. He combined with backrower Tom Symonds before Pearce finished off the movement with a try close to the posts.
With the Roosters leading 12-0 after 14 minutes, the Eels finally found their groove when Joel Reddy pounced on a Matt Keating kick in the 17th minute.
The Roosters bombed a try in the 33rd minute, when Minichiello finished off a 30m bust with a wayward pass.
Parramatta bridged the gap to two points at halftime when young backrower Brendan Oake dived over.
SYDNEY ROOSTERS 40 (A Minichiello 2, T Carney, A Guerra, M Pearce, T Symonds, S Tuigamale tries; T Carney 6 goals) PARRAMATTA 14 (J Reddy, F Mateo, B Oake tries; L Burt goal).
From: The Sunday Telegraph
THIS match was supposed to be all about the comeback of dual international Timana Tahu with the Eels.
But in an individual display that indicates just how far Roosters ace Todd Carney has come, the former Canberra Raiders outcast last night produced another man of the match performance to overshadow Tahu and last season's grand finalists.
With Carney in this sort of form, last season's wooden-spooners are looking at a much brighter 2010 under new coach Brian Smith, while the Eels must be concerned about getting off to another tardy start.
For the second successive week, Carney recorded a 16-point haul, which included a try and six goals. In the process, he sent the Eels to their third straight trial loss in front of 18,111 fans in Gosford.
While last year's runners-up were out-gunned across the park, they were missing a host of stars including Jarryd Hayne, Justin Poore, Eric Grothe and Shane Shackleton.
Carney, with a licence to roam in the No. 1 jumper, combined brilliantly with halfback Mitchell Pearce to carve up the Eels and he was given an early rest by coach Smith with 15 minutes remaining.
The only downside for the Roosters came with five minutes left when Anthony Cherrington was stretchered from the field with a knee injury.
It all started well for Tahu. In the first eight minutes, he touched the football more times than he did in two years of rugby union.
He also announced himself back in the NRL with a shoulder charge on opposite number Shaun Kenny-Dowall, which knocked the ball free.
But that was about as appealing as it got for the Eels early, with Roosters half Mitchell Pearce and Carney coming to the fore.
First it was Carney, whose neat grubber kick allowed Anthony Minichiello to swoop from his wing to score out wide in the 11th minute for a try.
Then it was Pearce's turn just three minutes later. He combined with backrower Tom Symonds before Pearce finished off the movement with a try close to the posts.
With the Roosters leading 12-0 after 14 minutes, the Eels finally found their groove when Joel Reddy pounced on a Matt Keating kick in the 17th minute.
The Roosters bombed a try in the 33rd minute, when Minichiello finished off a 30m bust with a wayward pass.
Parramatta bridged the gap to two points at halftime when young backrower Brendan Oake dived over.
SYDNEY ROOSTERS 40 (A Minichiello 2, T Carney, A Guerra, M Pearce, T Symonds, S Tuigamale tries; T Carney 6 goals) PARRAMATTA 14 (J Reddy, F Mateo, B Oake tries; L Burt goal).
