Round 6, 2020: Sydney Roosters 24 Parramatta 10

NRL.com

Roosters v Eels: JWH to come back; Evans banned

It shapes as the blockbuster of the round - premiers Sydney Roosters against the undefeated Parramatta Eels at Bankwest Stadium.

The Tricolours have roared to life following the season's restart last month, posting three consecutive thumping wins over the Rabbitohs, Broncos and Bulldogs to sit just outside the top four.

And Parramatta have continued to find a way to win, beating Manly and Penrith in thrillers over the past two rounds.

If they can upstage the Roosters, you'd have to think the Eels have removed any doubt about them being the real deal in 2020.

The Rundown
Team News
Roosters: Prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (back) should suit up after being close to playing the Bulldogs on Monday. Lindsay Collins goes back to the bench and Sam Verrills replaces Mitchell Aubusson on the interchange, though Verrills was also named in the 17 last week but was dropped for the veteran back-rower. The Roosters have won seven of their past nine games against the Eels.

Eels: Prop Kane Evans is unavailable after being suspended for one game for dangerous contact in the win over Penrith. Oregon Kaufusi replaces Evans on the Parramatta bench. Eels centre Michael Jennings requires one try for 150 tries in the top grade.

Key Match-Up
There'll be some heavy contact if opposing locks Victor Radley and Nathan Brown directly clash. Renowned as aggressive enforcers, both men are integral links in imposing packs.

NRL.com

Roosters flex muscle without Tedesco in brutal win over Eels

Parramatta damn near defended their way into the blue and gold record books, only for the Roosters to flex their premiership muscle without James Tedesco in a brutal 24-10 win.

As the Eels chased the first 6-0 start to a season in 73 years, their gutsy denials of a rampant Tricolours outfit at one point looked headed for a famous Parramatta win.

Instead it was the back-to-back premiers with plenty of grit themselves, recovering from the loss of Tedesco under the Fijian freight train Maika Sivo to laugh last.

There was serious concern for Tedesco in the 58th minute after Sivo steamrolled the Dally M medallist, with the Roosters No.1 not moving for several minutes after being run over enroute to a critical Eels try.

Tedesco eventually rose and walked from the field with a definite headache, but at least under his own steam.

From there the Roosters drove home with the class of proven winners, Boyd Cordner scoring soon after to turn a 10-8 deficit into a four-point lead.

A high shot from Nathan Brown on Victor Radley will likely have repercussions for the Eels enforcer with the Match Review Committee.

A penalty goal from that incident, and then the 69th-minute sin-binning of Michael Jennings, saw Kyle Flanagan calmly slot points from the tee that put the premiers beyond reproach.

Both these sides will feature come finals time, and they put on a high-octane contest worthy of post-season billing.

That Parramatta remained in it for so long was a credit to their own desperate defence in the first 40.

Not that they helped themselves with seven first-half errors.

But with the Roosters repeatedly turned away despite throwing plenty at Parramatta, their 8-0 half-time lead was a credit to the challengers.

Despite making 215 first-half tackles, Brett Morris was the only Rooster to get past them in the 20th minute, courtesy of a dribbling Tedesco pass out to his right flank.

Former teammate Blake Ferguson provided one of Parramatta's few first-half chances, only to find himself unceremoniously dumped into touch with his first attempt at the corner, then instantly denied for tackling Daniel Tupou in the air.

Instead it was another familiar face out Bondi way to eventually turn the tables, with ex-Rooster Michael Jennings touching down in the 43rd minute.

Having defended themselves to a standstill, the Eels found Joey Manu wanting with a flimsy effort as Jennings sped past from close range.

The Roosters themselves then muscled up, but would've needed an elephant gun to halt Sivo when they came calling again down the left.

Instead the Tricolours went to another level in attack and Parramatta's discipline slipped in turn.

With Flanagan's three penalties the premiers had their breathing room.

And when Josh Morris exploited a left edge overlap to put Tupou over in the 75th minute, they had another two competition points.

Parramatta still have a lead atop the NRL ladder.

But the Roosters retain premiership favouritism, showing the Eels exactly what it will take to end their 33-year title drought.