Heat of the battle rattles Radley as young gun gets big test: Roosters Player Ratings

There was absolute carnage for the Roosters in their 30-14 elimination final loss to the Rabbitohs that kicked off when skipper James Tedesco copped a head knock in the 18th minute.

Star lock Victor Radley was sin-binned twice, while enforcer Jared Waerea-Hargreaves also got given his marching orders.

Angus Crichton scored the Roosters’ first try but suffered a head knock and Daniel Tupou succumbed to a groin injury at half time.

Halves duo Luke Keary and Sam Walker had their moments but were outplayed by their Rabbitohs counterparts.

Meanwhile, 19-year-old gun Joseph Suaalii was thrown into the deep end when Tedesco left the field.

Read on for the Roosters player ratings from their elimination final against the Rabbitohs.

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1. JAMES TEDESCO 4

Forced from the field for a H.I.A in the 18th minute and did not return. But before the head knock the skipper notched up 109 running metres and three tackle busts.

2. DANIEL TUPOU 4

Succumbed to a groin injury at half time, but prior to that was busy with 115 running metres, three tackle busts, two linebreaks and an offload.

3. PAUL MOMIROVSKI 6

Was relatively quiet in attack and was caught up out of the line as the Rabbitohs scored the match-sealer.

4. DREW HUTCHISON 6.5

Busted out of a tackle to keep the ball alive and then set up Angus Crichton for the Roosters’ first try. Got taken over the sideline by Latrell Mitchell later, but more than pulled his weight with 89 running metres, two tackle busts, a linebreak, two linebreak assists and an offload to go with his try assist.

5. JOSEPH SUAALII 6.5

Got his shot at fullback after James Tedesco copped a head knock. Had a golden opportunity before half time but his stray offload was picked up by a Rabbitoh. Smothered Alex Johnston’s grubber later in the game to save a potential Rabbitohs try. Wasn’t his best game but was busy with 164 running metres, five tackle busts, a linebreak and offload.

6. LUKE KEARY 6.5

Got his timing with Connor Watson wrong as he threw a forward pass off a scrum in a big opportunity for the Roosters. But when the game began slipping he set up Nat Butcher for a try with a grubber to keep them in the fight.

7. SAM WALKER 6.5

Missed his first two conversions but threw a harbour bridge pass out of dummy half to send Daniel Tupou over in the corner three minutes later.

FINALS PLAYER RATINGS

PANTHERS RATINGS: Cleary drops jaws with perfect return as flyer gets back to best

EELS RATINGS: Former Panther’s high ball horror show as danger man goes missing

STORM RATINGS: Melbourne half terrorised as Grant masterclass not enough

RAIDERS RATINGS: Canberra beast stuns with superhuman display, Wighton shines

COWBOYS RATINGS: Taumalolo’s stunning finals masterclass as cult heroes shine

SHARKS RATINGS: Hynes and Moylan’s playmaking display as flyer fails to fire

8. JARED WAEREA-HARGREAVES 7.5

Tread a very fine line and got away with it… until the second half when he got sent to the bin for force on Tom Burgess’ head. The fiery enforcer was otherwise outstanding with 123 running metres and 26 tackles with no misses.

9. SAM VERRILLS 6

Got palmed off by Latrell Mitchell in the lead-up to his try and seemed to get frustrated during the game when he was spotted rubbing his elbow into Mitchell in a tackle. Made an equal team-high of 39 tackles but also missed four.

17. MATTHEW LODGE 8

Made his intentions clear when he put a shot on Tom Burgess and drove him back with the help of some teammates. Was huge with ball in hand, getting 156 metres — the most of any forward on the field. He also made 18 tackles but missed three.

11. ANGUS CRICHTON 4.5

The star second-rower scored the Roosters’ first. But his day was cut short after he copped a head knock in the 32nd minute.

12. NAT BUTCHER 8

The always reliable second-rower continued his try-scoring form when he crossed for an important four-pointer in the 54th minute. He backed it up with 84 running metres and an equal team-high of 39 tackles and just one miss.

13. VICTOR RADLEY 6

Let emotions get the better of him and was sin-binned TWICE — for a punch and for running in. The Rabbitohs scored in the very next set after his first binning but ‘Victor the Inflictor’ made his presence known when he got back on the field with a shot on Siliva Havili. But it was a world away from his best performance, made 35 tackles but missed six.

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10. SIOSIUA TAUKEIAHO 8

Was pinged for a swinging arm on Latrell Mitchell, but other than that barely stepped a foot wrong with 136 running metres, five tackle busts, two offloads and 18 tackles with just one miss.

14. CONNOR WATSON 6

Forced to play left centre when James Tedesco and Daniel Tupou left the field so we didn’t get to see the best of him. Still notched up a solid 22 tackles with just one miss and 67 running metres.

15. EGAN BUTCHER 6

The young prop did well in a very heated environment. Played 41 minutes, got 67 running metres and made 25 tackles with just one miss.

19. KEVIN NAIQAMA 6

Thrown into the game earlier than expected, slotting in on the wing when Joseph Suaalii moved to fullback to replace Tedesco. Tried hard with 84 running metres but couldn’t provide the spark the Roosters desperately needed.