Roosters overrun depleted Bulldogs

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THE Origin script dictates NRL matches to be played almost in secret, without the publicity, the stars, and, most shamefully of all, the attention.

Reduced to sideshow spectacles, these second-rate contests are not known for producing a smorgasbord of spite and skill capable of upstaging the biggest show in Australian sport.

But without a total of seven Origin players between them, the Roosters and Bulldogs did exactly that before 19,088 riled-up fans at ANZ Stadium on Friday night.

The Bulldogs can't stop SBW flying over the line to score. Source: Getty Images

The most hostile encounter of 2014 finished with victorious Roosters coach Trent Robinson challenging opposition teams to treat the new concussion laws with "integrity" after accusing Bulldogs skipper Michael Ennis of staying down to win a penalty just before halftime.

The incident sparked a melee after Roosters prop Sam Moa abused Ennis while he lay on the turf, and even uglier scenes beckoned when a furious Frank Paul Nuuausala waited for the opposing captain as the teams left the field.

David Klemmer kicks off after a high challenge from Sam Moa on Michael Ennis. Source: Getty Images

If not for the intervention of a female high performance manager from Canterbury, Ennis and Nuuausala might have come to blows in the tunnel.

Canterbury prop David Klemmer was also a magnet for much of the mayhem, targeting Roosters spearhead Jared Warea-Hargreaves on numerous occasions.

Their final confrontation was the most provocative, with Klemmer placed on report for kicking up his boots in aggressive fashion as he charged toward the Kiwi enforcer.

The Roosters get to grips with Greg Eastwood. Source: Getty Images

Fresh video referee controversies, the redemption of fallen Blues halfback Mitchell Pearce and Sonny Bill Williams continuing his routine torment of Canterbury were other highlights of an incident-packed 80-minutes that catapulted the premiers back into the top eight.

But the result was not sealed until Williams stepped up midway through the second half, when scoreboard was on a 14-12 knife edge thanks to the relentless attitude of a Canterbury side missing regular halves Trent Hodkinson and Josh Reynolds to Origin duty.

Sonny Bill Williams gives Michael Ennis's headgear a tug. Source: Getty Images

Rookie halfback Moses Mbye was magnificent in their absence, setting up both his tries and being robbed of his maiden NRL four-pointer by a contentious video referee call in the 12th minute.

Ennis, who appeared to suffer a shoulder injury that prevented him from attending the post match press conference, was also at his niggling best.

But those efforts were reduced to naught when Williams seized the game in his deft hands with 16 minutes left.

Jake Friend and Dylan Napa have the tough task of trying to stop Sam Kasiano. Source: Getty Images

The dual International sent Shaun Kenny-Dowall across for the game's most crucial try with a questionable pass, before scoring his second just moments after Bulldogs centre Tim Lafai was sin-binned.

Having whipped his men into shape following last week's mauling in Townsville, Robinson was delighted at the fight his players showed in the face of such aggression from Klemmer & co. He refused to fault Nuuausala for baiting Ennis at halftime, adding: "You can't go overboard. If you ask them to go to the edge that's going to happen every now and then.

"We went to the edge. We have not shown it enough this year."

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Robinson then turned his attention to Ennis, and also Bulldogs fullback Sam Perrett, who received a first half penalty after staying down. Roosters skipper Anthony Minichiello also accused his opposite of "gamesmanship".

"It's disappointing but you can't change that," Robinson said. "There was no way he (Ennis) was concussed."

"We've got to have some integrity about using it (the concussion rule) properly."

Anthony Minichiello beats Josh Jackson to the ball. Source: Getty Images

Bulldogs coach Des Hasler recoiled at suggestions that Ennis and Perrett had taken a dive. "They're not those types of players," Hasler said.

Although the match was not decided until the final 15 minutes, Robinson felt his team's ability to withstand an onslaught of seven straight penalties and sets of possessions before halftime.

"As soon as we went into halftime with them kicking a penalty goal we knew that set character and we were going to be strong in defence," Robinson said.

SYDNEY ROOSTERS 32 (A Minichiello 2 S Williams 2 S Kenny-Dowall N MacDonald tries J Maloney 4 goals) bt BULLDOGS 12 (M Brown 2 tries K Inu 2 goals) at ANZ Stadium. Referee: Ashley Klein, Adam Gee. Crowd: 19,088

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