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Sandon Smith Stars as Roosters Dominate Dragons in ANZAC Day Clash
Sandon Smith delivered a standout performance to help the Sydney Roosters secure a much-needed 46-18 win over the St George Illawarra Dragons in front of a massive ANZAC Day crowd at Allianz Stadium.
The 22-year-old five-eighth was in fine form, scoring two tries, kicking seven goals, and collecting the Ashton-Collier Medal for best on ground. His 22-point personal haul powered the Roosters to only their third win of the 2025 NRL season, improving their record to 3-5.
More than 41,000 fans turned up for the annual ANZAC Day clash, and Smith didn’t disappoint. He opened the scoring in the third minute and played a key role throughout, despite spending 10 minutes in the sin bin for a high tackle.
"He was in the right spots, and you could see his vision was sharp," said Roosters coach Trent Robinson. "To come back from the bin and keep that level of play going was really impressive."
A Timely Statement from Smith
Smith’s performance came at a crucial time. With rumors swirling about the Roosters’ interest in veteran half Daly Cherry-Evans, the young playmaker’s future seemed uncertain. But his showing against the Dragons may have changed the narrative.
With Sam Walker also nearing a return from injury, Smith’s form offers hope for a strong halves pairing that could serve the Bondi club well in the long run.
Roosters Take Early Control
The Roosters wasted no time making their mark. Smith set the tone with a crafty setup and support play that led to his early try, capitalizing on a flick pass from winger Daniel Tupou.
While the Dragons responded quickly with a stunning 80-meter runaway try from Sione Finau, they struggled to keep pace for the rest of the first half. Mark Nawaqanitawase added to the Roosters' lead, and Smith followed up with a penalty goal and another try after picking up a loose ball and outsmarting fullback Clint Gutherson.
“The first half really hurt us,” said Dragons coach Shane Flanagan. “We barely had the ball — just 29% possession.”
Sin Bin Drama and a Roosters Surge
Despite a brief setback when Smith was sin-binned early in the second half, the Roosters didn’t lose momentum. Blake Steep fooled Gutherson with a slick dummy to extend the lead, and although Kyle Flanagan crossed for the Dragons, Smith wasted no time making an impact upon his return.
He set up James Tedesco immediately, with the Roosters fullback then scoring again and laying on a final try for Hugo Savala in the dying moments.
The win lifts the Roosters off the bottom of the NRL ladder and could mark a turning point in their season, with Smith now firmly in the spotlight as a future star in the halves.
