“I thought we opened them up a lot. We could have grabbed one or two more,” he said. “I didn’t see the combination as the issue. It will improve for sure.
“It’s footy, it’s round one; disappointing obviously first half and how it went. [But] I really enjoyed the fightback. In the second half, momentum lifted. We just didn’t execute well enough.”
Roosters fullback James Tedesco.Credit: Getty Images
In fine conditions in front of a boisterous crowd of 24,112, it was the home side who scored first as Tanah Boyd spied a gap, sold an easy dummy and zipped through after 12 minutes.
The Roosters quickly replied as Billy Smith went through weak tackles to set up James Tedesco from 20 metres out, and with Sam Walker’s conversion the score was locked at 6-6 after 18 minutes.
After the Tricolours had a Benaiah Ioelu try disallowed, Adam Pompey crossed out wide before quick hands reached Kurt Capewell on the burst to cross for the home side.
Chanel Harris-Tavita then scored in the corner after a messy couple of passes and Boyd converted for a 22-6 halftime lead.
The Roosters started the second half with a Daly Cherry-Evans try not given and the Warriors added their fifth four-pointer as Leka Halasima pulled down a Boyd kick near the posts.
Billy Smith then ran in a try for the visitors after shifting through some sub-standard defence to give the Roosters hope.
Their momentum continued with Naufahu Whyte opening the defence wide to get Angus Crichton over.
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However, the visitors’ run was stopped by a Boyd penalty goal and finally Harris Tavita scampered across for his second as any faint hopes of a Roosters comeback faded.
“Lots to be happy about, but lots to tidy up. I think the scoreline probably flattered us a little bit,” said Warriors coach Andrew Webster.
“But at the same time, happy to score a couple of tries at the end.”
AAP
