The Sydney Roosters have put on a second half demolition job of the Cronulla Sharks to progress to within a game of the grand final.
The first half was a tight affair despite the Sharks losing Nicho Hynes and Mawene Hiroti to injury, but only having two players on the bench caught up with the Shire-based outfit and they utlimately fell well short of the tearaway Roosters who now get set to face the Dolphins next weekend in a preliminary final.
Here is how we ranked every player on the park during Saturday night's semi-final.
1. James Tedesco (Sydney Roosters) - A brilliant performance from the Roosters fullback, although we have come to expect nothing less of him. Involved in everything for the Roosters' attack.
2. Reece Robson (Sydney Roosters - Exceptional work with the ball in hand for the Roosters hooker. Robson ran the ball well, gave excellent service and came up with some cracking tackles.
3. Daly Cherry-Evans (Sydney Roosters) - Stood up again in the absence of Walker. Led the kicking game, ran the ball well, scored a try. He is going to go down as an excellent signing.
4. Mark Nawaqanitawase (Sydney Roosters) - Was the Roosters best last week, and among them tonight. Cracked 150 metres, great in the air. Freakish talent, and will be missed next week.
5. Braydon Trindall (Cronulla Sharks) - The Sharks best by a long, long way despite playing with a single shoulder. He has to be the number seven next year. End of story.
6. Salesi Foketi (Sydney Roosters) - The form of Foketi over the final weeks of the season will give the Roosters reason to believe Angus Crichton's departure isn't a disaster. Enormous again.
7. Daniel Tupou (Sydney Roosters) - Hasn't re-signed yet, but the Roosters need to get that deal over the line in a hurry. Phenomenal again, particularly in the air.
8. Blayke Brailey (Cronulla Sharks) - It was a good night for the NSW Origin dummy half battle, with Brailey holding his end of the deal for the Sharks. Defended and attacked well.
9. Addin Fonua-Blake (Cronulla Sharks) - Ran big metres and led the way through the middle for the Sharks in a tough losing effort.
10. Robert Toia (Sydney Roosters) - Did it all in the centres for the Roosters. A stack of tackle breaks, big metres, and a threat all night.
11. Hugo Savala (Sydney Roosters) - Was almost the worst player on the field last week, but the same can't be said tonight. A couple of try assists as part of an excellent performance.
12. Jesse Colquhoun (Cronulla Sharks) - Huge minutes in the middle third for the Sharks, and proved again why he will be the starting lock next year.
13. Lindsay Collins (Sydney Roosters) - Collins played like he has an Australian jersey on the line tonight. Led the way through the middle for the Roosters.
14. Siua Wong (Sydney Roosters) - Big effort on the edge. Looked a threat with the ball and came up with some strong defensive plays.
15. Ronaldo Mulitalo (Cronulkla Sharks) - Rocks and diamonds for Mulitalo as per what has almost become usual. Still, not a bad performance.
16. Nat Butcher (Sydney Roosters) - Big effort off the bench again. Whether there or starting, he has been huge this year.
17. Thomas Hazelton (Cronulla Sharks) - The big concern around Hazelton is his speed in the modern game, but he had big metres and never stopped trying tonight.
18. Billy Smith (Sydney Roosters) - A strong performance on the edge for the injury-prone Smith. Plenty of metres, some strong tackles.
19. Victor Radley (Sydney Roosters) - Made some big tackles throughout the game, impacting the contest through the middle.
20. Siosifa Talakai (Cronulla Sharks) - Sharks best last week, and never stopped trying again tonight after coming off the bench. Could easily make an argument he deserves a spot further up the ranks here.
21. Connor Watson (Sydney Roosters) - Solid again off the bench. Not a heap of impact, but didn't miss his job.
22. KL Iro (Cronulla Sharks) - Defensive issues present for Iro, who almost seemed as if he has been playing through an injury in recent weeks.
23. Teig Wilton (Cronulla Sharks) - Never stopped trying, but lacked impact at either end of the park.
24. Angus Crichton (Sydney Roosters) - Returned from injury with some strong carries off the bench. Will be better for the run.
25. Briton Nikora (Cronulla Sharks) - Solid enough night for Nikora, but again, lacked impact at either end of the park.
26. Naufahu Whyte (Sydney Roosters) - Had one stint early in the game, and then sat on the bench for the entire second half. Odd one.
27. Sione Katoa (Cronulla Sharks) - Out-leaped in the air. Hard to criticise a winger for his height, but that's the modern game.
28. Spencer Leniu (Sydney Roosters) - Some strong carried, but will need more impact next week if the Roosters are to go with the Dolphins.
29. Cameron McInnes (Cronulla Sharks) - No impact with the ball in hand, missed his assignment more than once in defence.
30. William Kennedy (Cronulla Sharks) - Tough night for Kennedy. Not enough with the ball in hand - not nearly enough.
31. Niwhai Puru (Cronulla Sharks) - Came off the bench early due to injury. Couldn't inspire his team.
32. Billy Burns (Cronulla Sharks) - Not a great night for Burns. Only had 37 minutes, 7 runs and not enough impact on any of them.
33. Mawene Hiroti (Cronulla Sharks) - Knee injury in the first half.
34. Nicho Hynes (Cronulla Sharks) - Concussed early. No impact.
