Round Fifteen
Fremantle Roosters 56 – Joondalup Giants 6
By PETER ROWE
Fremantle’s run to the NRLWA Fuel to Go and Play Premiership finals stayed on course on Saturday evening with a big 56-6 victory over the Giants in their final regular season home game of the year at Treeby Oval.
On Old Boys Day, the Roosters saw the return of Delane Edwards for a performance that had player-coach Duane Butler feeling quietly confident.
“The boys responded very well, showed me a lot, but we are staying level-headed. There’s still a lot of work to to,” he said.
Taurean Sheehan showed he still can get it done / Photo – Dave Van Heek
The Roosters jumped to a three-try lead before Joondalup’s Taurean Sheehan showed he still has plenty of gas in the tank despite his veteran status, skipping past a host of defenders to score.
“He woke us up, still a quality player,” Butler added.
“But we came back well and our forwards controlled much of the game. Delane came off the bench and did what Delane does. He can play one to 13.”
Luke-David Wells-Talamaivao opened the scoring for the home side, playing at hooker as Sonny Kerr returned to join the young Lewis Goodsell in the halves.
Winger Wiremu Paki and Ezra Taomia added two more before Sheehan’s superb solo effort, but from there it was a procession of tries from the home side.
Delane Edwards is still dangerous on the field / Photo – Carmel Potter-Green
Wells-Talamaivao added another, as did Paki before a Nick Riggs double, a Butler effort and one from Kerr saw forward Julian Wilson Wyllie end the scoring for the day.
“There’s a good vibe in the sheds right now,” Butler said.
“Sonny (Kerr) had a superb game, he’s the best half in the comp right now and Eli Beattie and Julz (Wilson Wyllie) were also in my top three.
“We need to win at Willagee next week to get a home final – it’s going to be a battle, but the boys are listening and becoming a lot more coachable going into the finals.”
For the Giants it was a disappointing end to a disruptive week.
“The council closed all the grounds during the week because of the weather so we couldn’t train until Friday,” captain Sheehan said.
“And then we had a couple of players drop out on Saturday morning with illness.
“It’s been a tough season and fair play to Fremantle, they always seem to come good at this time of the year, but despite the result, we will take positives from the game.
“A learning curve for many of our young players who will be much better next season.”
