Big spray lifts play of Chooks

A HALFTIME spray from Sydney Roosters Holden Cup coach Anthony Barnes set the stage for a great grand final comeback yesterday.

The Roosters trailed 28-6 at the break before scoring four unanswered tries to triumph 30-28 against red-hot favourites Penrith at ANZ Stadium.

The result was a wonderful way to finish what was otherwise a miserable season for the NRL-level Chooks.

Fans should keep an eye out for captain Nat Butcher, who made his NRL debut against the Brisbane Broncos in the final regular season round, as well as Vic Radley, the 18-yearold who did a superb job jumping in at dummy-half after a shoulder injury to Grant Garvey.

Radley was reminded at halftime by his teammates to “play simple, run when it’s on, and don’t try and flick it out of your arse’’.

Barnes admitted afterwards he started to have doubts about stopping Penrith winning their second successive title.

He said he may have got a bit carried away when addressing the players in the sheds.

“I started off pretty calm, I pointed out a few things, then it was about rolling the dice and having a go,’’ Barnes said.

“There was nothing to lose at that point.

‘‘Then I let the emotion take over and I got a bit fiery.’’

Barnes praised Butcher’s man-of-the-match performance at lock.

The coach was dunked with Gatorade after the match, but only after overzealous security tried to stop players from taking a bucket on to the field in Sydney.

Barnes also had a black eye after a training mishap with Brendan Frei on Saturday.

Rugby league Immortal Andrew ‘‘Joey’’ Johns praised Radley during his Channel 9 commentary, and likened him to a young Kurt Gidley.

Radley, a rare Roosters junior, is 18 and eligible for another two seasons in the juniors.

The makeshift hooker was glad to pounce on a Panthers kick and eventually send winger Johnny Tuivasa-Sheck racing 50m for the winning try.