Fullback Todd Carney returned to haunt his former club when the Sydney City Roosters beat the Canberra Raiders at the Sydney Football Stadium last night.
Carney scored two of the Roosters' six tries and kicked four goals from as many attempts for a 16-point haul as they regained the momentumin their campaign with their fourth win of the season.
The Roosters took the initiative early and never relinquished it against a disappointing Canberra, who had no fluency or flow. The Raiders have not won at the ground since 1995 but they came into the game buoyed by an away win over the Eels. The Roosters were coming off a loss to the Panthers.
The Roosters led 12-0 in as many minutes. Anthony Minichiello scored from a chip by Mitchell Pearce and Shaun Kenny-Dowall finished off a long-range try.
Then it was Carney, dummying through some flimsy defence for a try which he converted to make it 18-0 after 27 minutes.
The Roosters were worth their significant halftime lead having dominated possession and territory.
The Roosters struck seven minutes into the second spell when, from a beautifully executed back move, Carney went over in the corner for his second and converted from the sideline.
It was a black night for the Raiders, who wore black armbands as a tribute to the father of club legend Laurie Daley. The Raiders scored 18 minutes into the spell when a Terry Campese chip bounced off a defender's foot into the arms of wing Joel Thompson, who scored.
But the Roosters restored and the sixth try came four minutes from the end.
Roosters 36 (A. Minichiello, S. Kenny-Dowall, T. Carney, 2, N. Kouparitsas, F. Paul tries, T. Carney 4 goals, B. Anasta 2 goals); Raiders 6 ( J. Thompson try, T. Campese goal). HT: 18-0.
