Sydney City posted their best start to a Australian Rugby League season since Dave Brown's legendary Roosters of 1935 with yesterday's 62-0 thumping of Souths.
Not since Eastern Suburbs' premiership-winning teams of 1935-37 have the Roosters begun a season with six straight wins. And Sydney City did the job in emphatic style yesterday, beating a hapless Souths by a record score before a good Anzac day crowd of over 15,000.
The loss was the Rabbitohs' worst ever, eclipsing a 54-0 thrashing from Manly in 1975. At a time when questions are being asked about the Rabbitohs' future, Souths could not have put in a worse performance. An 11-try barrage left no doubt that the Roosters are the team to beat for the title in 1996. After wearing down the initial Souths resistance, the Roosters charged to a 28-0 lead at half-time.
The dismissal of Rabbitoh prop Corrin Ridding for a high tackle just before the break added to Souths' woes and the Roosters went right on with the job in the second half. 'It was a day to forget,' said Souths prop Craig Salvatori, playing his first local derby on the other side of the fence after over a decade with the Roosters. With lock Brad Fittler and halves John Simon and Andrew Walker at their attacking best, the Roosters cut Souths apart.
Wingers Darren Junee and Peter Jorgensen revelled out wide, scoring four tries between them. Jorgensen was most impressive, bagging a hat-trick in a performance that should clinch him a City spot when the team to meet Country is named on Sunday night.
