Tricolours outclass Rabbitohs in the rain

v BYE

The Sydney Roosters have taken advantage of a strong first half performance to down the South Sydney Rabbitohs 20-6 at ANZ Stadium in tonight's opening match of NRL Round 4.

A 14-0 hafltime lead had the chook-pen crowing at the change of ends. An early Latrell Mitchell try down an exposed left side got the visitors' tally moving, before a clever inside ball from Luke Keary put fullback Michael Gordon into a yawning gap, and the man they call 'Flash' managed to evade Alex Johnston's cover efforts to score out wide.

Gordon converted both tries for a 12-0 lead, where the Roosters held their nerve until just prior to the break, taking a penalty goal just before halftime. The Bunnies meanwhile looked quite lost in attack and only slippery conditions stopped their defence from being exposed repeatedly throughout the first forty.

The news wasn't great for the Bunnies the other side of halftime, either. Sam Burgess came flying out of the line just before the break and appeared to injure himself - a fact which was verified during the change of ends when he failed a Head Injury Assessment. This made the Rabbitohs' task all that much more difficult - but that didn't stop them from being the first team on the scoreboard in the 50th minute when Sitiveni Moceidreke scored in his debut match after a crafty pass by Talakai put him over untouched out wide.

At 14-6 the home side suddenly rated their chances but the Roosters moved quickly to re-establish a fourteen point lead, Daniel Tupou crossing after tip-toeing down the touchline - and just moments after being denied by the Bunker after failing to ground a grubber.

The 57th minute try to Tupou and subsequent conversion from Gordon - his fourth goal from as many attempts - was the last scoring play of the game as the rain set in, and, despite the hosts' best efforts, the Tricolours were never headed and took a fourteen point lead to the bank and walked away with the two points.

Souths now face a difficult challenge heading to Townsville to face the Cowboys on Friday week, while the Roosters are at home to the Sea Eagles at Allianz Stadium earlier the same evening.