NRL playoffs: Sydney Roosters advance to semifinals vs Brisbane, victor to

“The referee went with his call”.

The match was full of tension, following the controversial referee decision to award a try to the Roosters, which swung the game heavily in their favour.

The Sydney Roosters have booked themselves a preliminary final showdown with Brisbane after defeating Canterbury 38-12 in a drama-charged semi-final at Allianz Stadium on Friday night, with Shaun Kenny-Dowall scoring three tries. “Maybe. It’s all speculation now”.

It was a bitter blow for the Dogs but there was no doubt about the Roosters’ try in the very next set and again Evans was involved, popping a handsome late offload to send Tuivasa-Sheck streaking into space, getting around Brett Morris to score and all of a sudden an 8-4 arm-wrestle was 20-4 to the Roosters.

“I thought it looked like no try but when he gave it… happy days”.

Roosters coach Trent Robinson was pleased with the way his side withstood the early Bulldogs onslaught. If he awarded a “no try” it would have been a no try. I think that’s our system.

“That was a big moment”.

On the Channel Nine broadcast, Sutton said: “There was insufficient evidence to overturn the decision”.

As many players before him have done, Evans stood up claiming the try and referee matt Cecchin ruled a try before sending it upstairs double check with the video referees.

It was a win for the Roosters to earn the first points after absorbing a huge amount of punishment to start the game, and they quickly made it 8-0 when a pinpoint Hastings bomb was batted back into the hands of Kenny-Dowall who streaked away to the right hand corner.

KEY QUOTE: “You need to have conviction as a ref”.

The loss sent the Bulldogs packing, while the Sydney Roosters outfit continue in their run for the premiership title, lining up against the Brisbane Broncos next Friday night for a grand-final qualifier.

For just the second time this year, the Bulldogs coughed up more than 14 turnovers in a match.