The Sydney Roosters produced one of the most remarkable attacking displays in premiership history on Thursday night, running in 14 tries to crush the North Queensland Cowboys 82-12 in Townsville.
Trent Robinson’s side equalled the highest half-time score in premiership history before finishing with the third-highest points tally ever recorded, handing the Cowboys the heaviest defeat in the club’s history.
Roosters Equal Half-Time Record
The Roosters were unstoppable from the opening whistle, piling on eight first-half tries to take a staggering 48-6 lead into the break.
Their 48 first-half points equalled the premiership record for points scored by a team in one half, while Sam Walker amassed 24 points before half-time through two tries and eight conversions, matching the record for the most individual points scored in an opening 40 minutes.
James Tedesco crossed for two early tries before being rested at half-time, while Walker orchestrated the attack brilliantly alongside Daly Cherry-Evans as the Cowboys struggled to contain the relentless Roosters.
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Walker Stars in Historic Victory
Walker finished with a personal haul of 36 points, scoring a hat-trick and kicking 12 goals from 14 attempts.
Mark Nawaqanitawase also grabbed three tries, while Hugo Savala scored twice as the Roosters continued to pile on points well into the second half. James Tedesco, Tommy Talau, Salesi Foketi, Robert Toia and Cody Ramsey also crossed in a comprehensive team performance.
Cowboys Suffer Biggest Loss in Club History
North Queensland had few answers after briefly levelling the scores at 6-6 through Braidon Burns early in the contest.
From that point, the Roosters scored 76 of the next 82 points, exposing the Cowboys across the park with clinical execution and relentless support play.
The 70-point margin was the biggest defeat the Cowboys have suffered, while the 82 points conceded also set an unwanted club record.
One of the Greatest Attacking Performances Ever Seen
The Roosters’ 82-point haul was the most scored by any team since the club defeated Canterbury 87-7 in 1935 and ranks as the third-highest score in premiership history.
The victory also reinforced Sydney’s credentials as genuine premiership contenders, with Walker and Cherry-Evans producing one of the most dominant halves combinations seen this season.
For North Queensland, the focus now shifts to responding after one of the darkest nights in the club’s history, while the Roosters head into the remainder of the season full of confidence after a performance that will be remembered for years to come.
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