Source: The Sydney Morning Herald
Burt fires to help Eels crush Roosters
March 1, 2008 - 9:30PM
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Parramatta fullback Luke Burt has shone in his first game back from a knee reconstruction in the Eels' 34-18 NRL trial victory over the Sydney Roosters at Bluetongue Stadium.
Both sides were missing about a third of their best line-ups and the Eels were the much slicker unit, their outside backs outclassing the Roosters in the six-tries-to-three win.
Burt started the match with a 40-20 kick in the opening minute of the clash and barely put a foot wrong, scoring a try and landing five from six with the boot.
Jarryd Hayne set up the first try for Parramatta in the fifth minute.
He showed a liking for the centres by punching a hole through the Roosters' defence and scooting for 40m before offloading 5m out to winger Eric Grothe who touched down.
Hayne proved elusive again in the 22nd minute with a slick combination with Grothe securing Parramatta's second touchdown of the game, but Burt missed the conversion this time.
Hayne's strong performance showed enough to suggest he will be able to fill the void left by the explosive Timana Tahu's crossing of codes to the NSW Waratahs in the off-season.
Just before halftime, the Eels were at it again with a slick 50m movement that started with Mark Riddell finding Feleti Mateo and ended with Josh Cordoba crossing near the posts.
The Roosters finally put a neat attacking raid together just before halftime with Amos Roberts finishing off and skipper Craig Fitzgibbon converting to cut the Eels' lead to 16-6 at halftime.
The Eels continued to be the much cleaner side with the ball, backrower Weller Hauraki juggling the ball before slipping through the Roosters' defence close to the line eight minutes after the break.
Parramatta tried to put their foot down in the 62nd minute with back-up hooker Matt Keating setting up Burt to cross under the sticks.
But the Roosters scored two tries in four minutes with Anthony Minichiello and Roberts crossing.
Mark Riddell ended the Roosters' resurgence by barging his way over the line with six minutes to go to wrap up the match.
The Roosters open their NRL season Friday week against Souths at ANZ Stadium while the Eels play the Bulldogs the following evening at the same venue.
© 2008
AAP
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