Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles forced their way into the top five with a 28-18 win over the Sydney Roosters at Wentworth Park today in round 23 of the NSW Cup.
The Sea Eagles ran in five tries to three to move into fourth place with three rounds remaining. The top five teams contest the finals.
Blacktown Workers play their final three matches away against Penrith (eighth), Warriors away (second) and the Bulldogs (third).
The Roosters opened the scoring in the 31st minute when winger Jaxson Paulo, who heads to Manly next season, backed up a break by prop Josh Bevan to score next to the posts for a 6-0 lead.
Blacktown Workers hit back eight minutes later when prolific try scoring winger Clayton Faulalo backed up a sensational 80 metre run by Jackson Ferris to score in the corner after Ferris brushed off five defenders in a superb run. Cooper Johns converted from the sideline for a 6-all scoreline at the break.
Sea Eagles half-back Latu Fainu then grabbed his first try when he showed his class by throwing a dummy to slice through the defence to score a 25 metre try next to the posts. Johns converted for a 12-6 lead after 52 minutes.
Seven minutes later, Johns extended the lead to 18-6 after converting a try to Ferris after the winger crashed over from two short passes from Johns and Zac Fulton to score in the corner.
NSW Cup Highlights | Roosters v Sea Eagles - Round 23
The Roosters got back to 18-12 in the 64th minute after half-back Joseph Whitikama Temara Taipari swooped on a loose pass to score a converted try next to the posts.
Blacktown Workers got some breathing space when centre Morgan Harper took the defence on to stroll his way to the corner to score for a 22-12 lead after 69 minutes.
Fainu then secured victory for Blacktown Workers when he backed up a break down the left side by his brother Samuela Fainu for Faulalo to pass back inside for Fainu to score out wide. Johns converted for a 28-12 lead.
The Roosters then crossed two minutes from full-time through Ethan Clark-Wood for Paulo to convert for the 28-18 scoreline.
