The Sydney Roosters have demolished a helpless South Sydney Rabbitohs side 36-10 in the Ron Coote Cup at ANZ Stadium on Sunday afternoon, in meeting 200 between the foundation clubs.

The Roosters entered their New Beginning with a New Attitude that saw them dominate from the outset in a six tries to two rout, after leading just 12-6 through the first 40 minutes of play.

23,149 fans watched on as Brian Smith’s troops opened their 2010 season account with a commanding win that erased memories of the corresponding fixture last year.

With five club debutant s – one of those on NRL debut – the visitors embarrassed a loud Rabbitohs side that had promised big things for the New Year by scoring 24 unanswered second half points.

Aided strongly by new recruit Todd Carney with a 12 point haul of his own, it was familiar faces Nate Myles, Mitchell Pearce and Shaun Kenny-Dowall that were the chief destroyers for the visitors.

Pearce posted the first points of the game after he wrestled free from the close attention of a defender to slam the ball down over the line in the 12th minute.

The Roosters halfback benefitted from second phase play close to the line after Frank-Paul Nuuausala kept the ball alive before Nick Kouparitsas promoted the football for the playmaker to cross. Todd Carney continued his impressive trial form with the boot, converting the try for a 6-nil lead.

The Roosters went over again in the 20th minute through Pearce but it was called back after Kouparitsas collected an offload from Daniel Conn and put Carney into a gap before his pass went forward.

Not long after Roosters captain Braith Anasta endured a head clash while making a tackle, which resulted in him suffering a concussion.

Anasta shook off the knock and his side doubled the advantage 12 minutes from the half time break when Kenny-Dowall intercepted a Rabbitohs pass to race 93 metres to score untouched.

League Unlimited

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Mar 14, 2010 4:57pm

The Sydney Roosters have announced themselves to be a threat for the rest of the competition with a complete domination of South Sydney this afternoon at ANZ Stadium.

The Roosters opened their account early in the tenth minute when Nick Kouparitsas kept the ball alive for Mitchell Pearce to score in the corner, and Todd Carney continued his golden run with the boot and kicked the conversion.

The Roosters compounded their advantage when an errant Souths pass was snapped up by Shaun Kenny-Dowall who strolled in to make it 12-0. Souths clawed their way back slightly, when a pinpoint kick by Chris Sandow found Nathan Merrit in the cornerr, making it 12-6 going into halftime.

Tom Symonds was the only injury to come from the first half, leaving the field on a stretcher after hyperextending his left knee. Braith Anasta had a headclash with Fetuli Talanoa but refused to leave the field.

Souths came out after half time determined to fight their way back into the game in the second half, but it was the Roosters who drew first blood, with Todd Carney slotting a penalty kick to take their advantage to 8.

From then on, the Sydney Roosters weren't going to be stopped. A magical tap-back from Todd Carney gave Sam Perrett a miracle try to break Souths spirits. This opened the floodgates for the Roosters who dazzled the crowd with tries to Aiden Guerra, a second to Mitchell Pearce and finally another to Shaun Kenny-Dowall. Todd Carney missed his first goal in Roosters colours, but by this stage it was of little consequence, with the score blowing out to 36-6.

Nathan Merrit collected his second try in a consolation for the Bunnies who were throughly out-played and out-muscled by the lesser known Roosters pack - leaving the final score of 36-10.

Next week South Sydney are back at ANZ Stadium taking on the Gold Coast Titans on Friday night and the Sydney Roosters head back down the road to take on the West Tigers.