The Dyldam Parramatta Eels have got off to a strong start at the Dick Smith NRL Auckland Nines, with an 18-11 win over the Sydney Roosters.
Fijian winger Semi Radradra scored the first points in the fourth minute, cruising past the Roosters defence.
The “Semi-trailer” crossed for his second just a minute later to take the Blue and Gold to an early 10-0 lead.
The Roosters fired up with a quick-footed Mitchell Pearce scoring their first try under the posts, which counts as a five-point bonus try. With the conversion, the Premiers brought the score to 10-7.
Daniel Tupou scored for the Roosters right on halftime, with the Sydney outfit nudging in front 11-10 at the break.
The Eels came out of the blocks strongly in the second half, with rapid passing from Chris Sandow to Corey Norman and then to Vai Toutai on the wing - who finished strongly to put the Eels back in front.
Semi Radradra became the first player to score a hat-trick in the Dick Smith NRL Auckland Nines event - outrunning the Roosters for 50 metres to score his third try, putting the Eels out of reach 18-11.
Parramatta 18 (Radradra 3, Toutai tries, Sandow 1 goal)
def.
Sydney Roosters 11 (Pearce, Tupou tries, Pearce 1 goal)
