Roosters should be crowing

IMAGINE if James Tedesco played. Eclipsing their embarrassing 2019 NRL finals exit, a depleted Brisbane crashed to their worst loss in club history after being routed 59-0 by the Sydney Roosters last night.

The two-times defending premiers had no problem overcoming the late withdrawal of superstar fullback Tedesco, running in 10 unanswered tries to notch their first win at Suncorp Stadium since 2014.

In a display resembling a training run, the Roosters secured the result by the break, jumping to a 29-0 lead — the biggest halftime deficit in Broncos history.

The records didn’t stop there as the Roosters snapped a six-game losing run at the venue with their biggest win over Brisbane, eclipsing their previous best of 36-4 in round four 2019.

Brisbane fans had flashbacks of their 58-0 finals loss to Parramatta last year as the Roosters tore up the Broncos’ defence that has now conceded 93 points in their last two games.

“They have no resolve, they had nothing tonight,” NRL great Paul Gallen said of Brisbane on the Nine Network.

Yet the early signs didn’t look good for the Roosters with Tedesco left in Sydney after waking up with flulike symptoms. There was more drama when halfback Kyle Flanagan, centre Joey Manu and veteran Brett Morris failed their first temperature check before being cleared to play.

Brett Morris comfortably filled the shoes left by Tedesco at fullback, defying his 33 years to set up three tries and combine with his brother Josh to help the Roosters run amok from the outset.