Magic Round: Roosters v Dolphins; Sharks outlast Eels

These two sides played a memorable contest in the opening round of the 2023 season when the Dolphins stunned the Roosters in their first ever match and they'll have plenty of hometown support cheering them on for a repeat.

The Roosters will look to build on the momentum from ANZAC Day when they take on a Dolphins outfit sure to be smarting after letting an 18-point half-time lead slip in Canberra.

Another standout display from Will Kennedy and another double for the prolific Sam Stonestreet was enough to get the Sharks home 28-18.

The festival of football has kicked off with the Cronulla Sharks getting the job done in a tight contest with the vastly improved Eels.

Felise Kaufusi and Kurt Donoghoe were both withdrawn on Thursday morning, joining Daniel Saifiti who was sidelined with a shoulder injury. Hooker Jeremy Marshall-King returns from his leg laceration. Mark Nicholls moves to prop, Connelly Lemuelu starts in the second row and Sean O'Sullivan and Oryn Keeley join the bench. Harrison Graham is 18th man.

The Roosters are 1-17 with no late changes, rolling out the same 17 that enjoyed a commanding victory over the Dragons on ANZAC Day. Ethan King is 18th man.

6 min: A superb kick out of dummy half by Connor Watson pins the Dolphins deep in their own territory and the Roosters look to muscle up in defence.

7 min: Roosters playmaker Sandon Smith leaves the field for a HIA after he was bumped off by Herbie Farnworth and fell backwards onto his head.

8 min: A blow for the Roosters with Sandon Smith ruled to have suffered a Category One head knock and out for the game.

11 min: The Roosters strike first after Siua Wong's flick pass puts James Tedesco into space and the No.1 finds Robert Toia and the centre shows speed and footwork to score. Hugo Savala misses the conversion. Roosters 4-0.

17 min: The Roosters go further ahead when Victor Radley surges onto a pass from Zach Dockar-Clay and powers through three defenders to score. Hugo Savala's conversion makes it 10-0.

20 min: A simple error by Dolphins winger Jack Bostock puts his team under pressure but he makes amends by cleaning up a James Tedesco grubber and the Dolphins go long with the dropout.

23 min: The Roosters' blitz continues with Mark Nawaqanitawase producing an acrobatic finish in the right corner after receiving a brilliant offload from Robert Toia. Roosters 14-0.

27 min: The Roosters are denied one of the tries of the season after replays show Zach Dockar-Clay had lost the ball on the way to the ground after a passing movement that featured some freakish passes from Mark Nawaqanitawase, James Tedesco and Victor Radley.

34 min: The Roosters threaten again when Victor Radley picks up Egan Butcher close to the line but the ball is dislodged from Butcher's hands as the defence closes in.

35 min: Roosters winger Daniel Tupou does a superb job to get up and knock the ball back into play as the Dolphins fail to find touch from a penalty.

37 min: Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow comes up with a piece of magic to get the Dolphins back into the game after chasing an Isaiya Katoa kick and soaring above James Tedesco to bring the ball down and score. Jamayne Isaako converts. Roosters 14-6.

39 min: Zach Dockar-Clay is penalised and placed on report for a high shot on Connelly Lemuelu. The Dolphins draw closer when Jamayne Isaako bangs over the penalty goal. Roosters 14-8.

Half-time: With Hugo Savala controlling the game well and James Tedesco and Victor Radley adding some classy touches the Roosters take a six-point lead to the break. They completed 17 of 20 sets at 85 per cent and came up with three line breaks to the Dolphins' one. Young centre Robert Toia also stood tall with three tackle breaks, a try assist and 110 run metres.

Up Next / Cancel Replay Play Next Sharks: Round 9

Up Next / Cancel Replay Play Next Eels: Round 9

Foxx on the run: Josh Addo-Carr grabbed yet another double to take his career tally to 147 tries and his Magic Round tally to eight. He ran for 191 metres and had seven tackle breaks in a typically dynamic display.

Full-time: Dally M leader Will Kennedy racked up another 173 run metres and two try assists while Ronaldo Mulitalo ran for 160 metres and came within inches of one of a spectacular try after pulling down a bomb and twisting his way to the line but just losing the ball on the way down.

80 min: An offside penalty against Ryley Smith hands Nicho Hynes an easy shot at goal and the Sharks get home 28-18 in front of 44,613 fans.

79 min: The Eels launch one last raid but Sam Stonestreet does well in defence and Jesse Ramien comes up with an intercept to ensure the Sharks will come away with the points.

Up Next / Cancel Replay Play Next Samuel Stonestreet 2nd Try

70 min: A mistake by Isaiah Iongi as he tries to catch a bomb is punished by the Sharks who put together a slick right side raid with Nicho Hynes and Will Kennedy combining to put Sam Stonestreet over for his double. Hynes misses from wide out. Sharks 26-18.

68 min: Ronaldo Mulitalo soars through the night sky and brings down a bomb and attempts a spectacular put-down but loses the ball inches from the ground. Eels winger Bailey Simonsson is penalised for a mid-air tackle on Mulitalo despite the protests of Mitch Moses who is adamant his winger was simply contesting the ball.

67 min: The Sharks launch a successful captain's challenge after Ronaldo Mulitalo was initially ruled to have knocked on while flying for a bomb but replays showed the Eels had touched the ball first and the Sharks got a scrum feed.

Up Next / Cancel Replay Play Next Dylan Brown Try

63 min: On the back of a Junior Paulo offload and great work by J'maine Hopgood the Eels go 50 metres to make it two tries in two minutes as Mitch Moses finds Dylan Brown and the No.6 races 25 metres to touch down. Sharks 22-18.

60 min: Mitch Moses, Dylan Brown and Sean Russell combine beautifully on the left edge to put Josh Addo-Carr over for his second try of the night. 'The Foxx' takes his Magic Round tally to eight tries, two clear of Selwyn Cobbo, who gets his chance on Sunday to add to his tally. Sharks 22-12.

Up Next / Cancel Replay Play Next Cameron McInnes Try

56 min: Braydon Trindall launches a huge 40-20 to put the Sharks into the Red Zone and Cameron McInnes gets across the line in the next set for his first try of the season. Nicho Hynes converts his lock's try and the Sharks lead 22-6.

55 min: The Eels go close in the left corner but great scramble by Will Kennedy and Sam Stonestreet turns them away.

Up Next / Cancel Replay Play Next Colquhoun sent to the bin

53 min: Mitch Moses explodes into space and his final pass goes astray but Shark Jesse Coplquhoun goes to the bin for a professional foul after dragging Dylan Brown back as he tried to support Moses.

Up Next / Cancel Replay Play Next Samuel Stonestreet Try

50 min: The Sharks grab their third try through Sam Stonestreet courtesy of a neat grubber by Will Kennedy into the corner. Nicho Hynes misses the conversion. Sharks 16-6.

50 min: Eels bench forward Sam Tuivaiti leaves the field for a HIA which he passes.

43 min: A high tackle penalty against Oregon Kaufusi invites the Eels into the Red Zone and Josh Addo-Carr flies high for a bomb but can't control the catch and the Sharks come out of danger.

Half-time: Both sides completed 17 of 21 sets at 80 per cent in a tight first half. Eels young gun Isaiah Iongi racked up 126 metres from 11 runs while his Sharkls counterpart Will Kennedy ran for 96 metres. Sharks lock Cameron McInnes worked the house down with 23 tackles and also broke seven tackles with some incisive runs up the middle.

Up Next / Cancel Replay Play Next Briton Nikora Try

39 min: Sharks back-rower Briton Nikora runs a great line from 12 metres out and takes a pass from Nicho Hynes to cross for his sixth try of the season. Hynes adds the extras. Sharks 12-6.

Up Next / Cancel Replay Play Next Josh Addo-Carr Try

34 min: The Eels go wide to the left and Dylan Brown produces a long ball over the top of Sam Stonestreet to put Josh Addo-Carr over to get the blue and golds on the board. Addo-Carr is now the leading tryscorer in the history of Magic Round with seven tries. Sean Russell converts to make it 6-6.

34 min: Sharks five-eighth Braydon Trindall is placed on report for late contact on Mitch Moses after the Eels No.7 had passed the ball.

33 min: Sharks benchman Siosifa Talakai leaves the field for a HIA just moments after entering the game for the first time. Talakai is ruled a Category One after showing concussion signs while on the ground and is out for the night.

32 min: More good attack from the Eels with Mitch Moses and Dylan Brown calling the shots but the Sharks' defence refuses to buckle and they come away on the back of an offside penalty.

25 min: Oregon Kaufusi comes up with a poor offload for the Sharks and another chance is lost.

23 min: Eels fullback Isaiah Iongi is bundled into touch by KL Iro as the Sharks continue to defend strongly.

20 min: Another chance goes begging when J'maine Hopgood puts the ball down 10 metres out from the line.

16 min: The Eels mount some pressure but Will Kennedy comes up with two big plays with a strong tackle in Isaiah Iongi and a grubber clean-up to keep the line intact.

Up Next / Cancel Replay Play Next KL Iro Try

10 min: A superb pass by Nicho Hynes puts KL Iro into a hole on the left edge for the opening try of Magic Round 2025. Hynes adds the extras. Sharks 6-0.

8 min: A 'roll ball' penalty against Eels winger Josh Addo-Carr puts his team under enormous pressure.

7 min: A dropped ball by Braydon Trindall puts an end to the Sharks' raid.

6 min: Back-to-back penalties against the Eels piggyback the Sharks out of their end and present Craig Fitzgibbon's men with an early chance.

Late Mail

The Sharks have made two late changes for the opening game of Magic Round. Forward Jesse Colquhoun will join the interchange for his first NRL match of the season in place of utility Daniel Atkinson, who is now the 18th man. Tom Hazelton has been promoted to start in the front row for his 50th NRL appearance, with Oregon Kaufusi switching to the bench.

One change to the Eels team before kick-off with Matt Doorey replaced on the bench by Jordan Samrani. Earlier in the week Charlie Guymer received a recall to the side in place of Kelma Tuilagi, who was suspended prior to last week's bye. Veteran Ryan Matterson's hopes of making his second NRL appearance of the season were dashed after he was one of the players cut when the squad was trimmed 24 hours before kick-off.

Magic Numbers

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