Tedesco ruled out of Roosters-Dragons clash after Pereira high shot

The Roosters lost superstar fullback James Tedesco to a failed HIA but teen prodigy Sam Walker stepped up to lead them to a 34-10 win over the Dragons in their Anzac Day clash. 

Tedesco didn’t return after copping a high tackle from Dragons winger Jordan Pereira six minutes before the break. 

Pereira was placed on report and sent to the sin bin, a move which opened the door for Roosters’ 18th man Matt Ikuvalu to come into the match. 

Australian coach Mal Meninga said Pereira should’ve been sent off.

“The question is could he have pulled out of that tackle, and I think he could have,” Meninga told Fox League.

“He’s gone through with the tackle, the ball’s gone past Tedesco with a touch of the hands to the winger.

“It’s late, and I think it should have been a send-off.”

With Tedesco off and the Dragons down to 12 men, the Tricolours scored two tries in the final six minutes of the first half to wrest control of the match. Walker was to the fore.

Before scoring the decisive try of the match in the 50th minute, he had set up Sitili Tupouniua for the Roosters’ second try and also had a line break assist while kicking strongly in the opening 40 minutes.

Five minutes after play resumed, a Cody Ramsey ankle tap prevented Roosters five-eighth Drew Hutchison from scoring.  

Seconds later the Roosters were down to 12 men themselves when hooker Ben Marschke was sin-binned for a professional foul.

Walker steps through to set up Butcher

That had little impact on the Roosters, with Walker’s try coming while his side was a man down. 

Tries to Linsday Collins and Joseph Manu followed on a day that quickly turned sour for St George Illawarra. 

The loss was the second in a row for a Dragons side that had won their previous four matches. 

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