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Sport Nation
Sandon makes a statement on Anzac Day as Roosters down Dragons
Sam Kosack • April 25th, 2025 8:41 pm
Sandon Smith has played the defining game of his young career to steer the Sydney Roosters to a 46-18 win over the St George-Illawarra Dragons in the traditional Anzac Day clash.
Smith was awarded the Ashton-Collier medal for his career-best performance of two tries, six goals, three line breaks, and a try assist; the only blight on the five-eighths day was a sin bin for a high shot, not that it slowed his team’s assault on the Dragons.
The 22-year-old, playing in his 37th NRL game, recorded a personal haul of 22 points, the scoring frenzy starting when he scored the opening try of the game, receiving a pass back on the inside from winger Daniel Tupou.
A fortunate falcon by Dragons’ centre Valentine Holmes allowed winger Sione Finau to run the length of the field for the first try of his NRL career; sprinting downfield to the sound of deafening cheers and boos of 41,021 fans heavily invested in the Anzac Day contest.
It was all the Roosters from that point forward, with Sandon Smith stamping his authority on the game.
The win is the Roosters’ biggest of the season, elevating them to three wins in 2025 and keeping them out of last place.
Fullback James Tedesco also starred in his 100th game as Roosters’ captain, while runaway tries to rookies Blake Steep and Hugo Savala showed why the Roosters’ strategy to trust their youth in 2025 is set to pay off long-term.
This year's Anzac Day clash marked the 110th anniversary of the Gallipoli landing, with a moving and rousing pre-match ceremony paying respects to all service men and women from Australia and New Zealand, past and present.
The Roosters will be hoping to build on their win when they take on the Dolphins for the Artie Legacy Medal at Magic Round, while the Dragons will look to bounce back against the Wests Tigers.
