ROOSTERS OUTLAST GIANTS IN THRILLER
Fremantle Roosters 28 Joondalup Giants 24
By PETER ROWE
Fremantle player-coach Duane Butler was a relieved man after his Roosters side hung on to defeat the Giants in their Round 4 Fuel to Go & Play Premiership at Treeby Oval on Saturday.
The undermanned Roosters were pushed all the way by the visitors, despite both sides losing a man (Blake Hignett and Nate Hodges) after an on-field ‘melee’ midway through the first half.
At the time the home side already had another player, Trent Grifin, sinbinned, so had to hold off their opponents with 11 men.
“Holes opened up everywhere and we had to defend,” Butler admitted.
“They pushed us really hard, so credit to them. I was just so glad we managed to stay in the game and take the points.
“We knew they would want to grind out the game and we didn’t want that to happen, but it did.”
12 v 12 for the entire second half proved entertaining for fans, although not for the coaches – but six tries saw them home – with Te Toa Parkinson (2) Joe Pouhila (2), Delane Edwards and Griffin all registering four-pointers.
For Giants coach Matt Gowland it was a day he thought they should have won.
“I was really proud of the boys, we came so close and there were so many positives to take from the game,” he said.
The Giants lost Joel Irvine with a potential season-ending knee injury early in the game and Phil Saunderson with an HIA before Mitch Achurch had to leave the field with a tweaked hamstring.
“We played for about 50 minutes with no bench, so the effort was massive,” Gowland said.
“At halftime it was 8-6 to Fremantle, so we knew we had a chance. The game was close.
“Players dug deep, many out of position because of our injury list. Brody Dunn our half played in the back row.”
Dunn, winger Taj Makene, Achurch, Tiger Williams and Jordan Russell all found the whitewash with winger Leon White their best on ground, closely followed by Eddison Silata and the evergreen Tauarean Sheehan.
“Taurean wouldn’t look at me when I was wanting him to take a rest, He was awesome, played the full 80,” Gowland said.