Joseph-Aukuso Sua'ali'i has put a week of headlines behind him to help pilot the Sydney Roosters to a 28-20 win over Parramatta, after being switched to fullback to cover for a concussed James Tedesco.
Tedesco was ruled out of the match in the first half following a high hit from Bailey Simonsson, with Sua'ali'i rising to the challenge to be among the Roosters' best in one of his first NRL matches at fullback.
The 19-year-old had a hand in the three tries for the Roosters at the Sydney Football Stadium, almost a week after announcing he will switch to rugby union once his NRL contract expires at the end of the 2024 season.
His performance helped the Roosters claim their biggest win of the season, with their attack looking slick through a willingness to move the ball though the middle.
Tedesco's injury is likely to have longer-term ramifications, with the Roosters skipper set to miss next Thursday's clash with Melbourne after Simonsson hit him high after a pass.
Joey Manu will return for that match from suspension, with Roosters coach Trent Robinson having to make a call on whether to play the New Zealand international at fullback or keep Sua'ali'i in the key position.
Canterbury supremo Phil Gould claimed this week every time Sua'ali'i did anything from now on it would produce free advertising for rugby union.
If that was the case, rugby union had plenty to gain from Thursday night's match.
Playing at centre to start the match, Sua'ali'i was instrumental in the Roosters' first try when he put them on the attack by stepping past Mitch Moses to break into space.
From the ensuing plays, Sam Walker threw a long harbour-bridge ball for Jaxson Paulo, who put Drew Hutchison over.
With the Eels down to 12 players, Sua'ali'i and Luke Keary played their role in the Roosters' second try, scored by Daniel Tupou.
Sua'ali'i's third big involvement came when he swept around to the right and produced a flick pass for Paulo to score after seven straight sets on the Eels' line.
Keary also bagged a double for the Roosters with his first off the back of a Walker bust back through the middle and his second following a Tupou break.
The Eels were gutsy after being reduced to 12 players twice in the first half, but are still with just one win from their opening five matches.
Clint Gutherson and Moses both pulled off brilliant try-saving tackles in the first half that typified their resolve to trail 16-2 at the break.
But they desperately missed Junior Paulo in the middle, while the Roosters' weight of possession meant Reagan Campbell-Gillard spent most of his time defending.
Gutherson briefly put the Eels back in the match at 16-8 early in the second half off the back of a Will Penisini flick pass.
But otherwise their tries came late with Simonsson and Maika Sivo both crossing in the final four minutes.
AAP
