NRL LIVE updates: Roosters go past 50 as Cowboys’ nightmare continues

Finally a bright moment for the Cowboys, an offload creating some space for Jaxson Purdue to run clear in centre field. The halfback then sends speedy centre Tom Chester over for the Cowboys’ second try of the night.

Scott Drinkwater has had a game to forget defensively but lands the simple conversion now.

Just 40 points to go for the Cowboys to make this one interesting.

Roosters 52, Cowboys 12 with 24 minutes left

Chances are the Roosters put the cue in the rack in this second half, but if things continue they could threaten a few scoring records tonight.

The Cowboys, let’s not forget, have only lost once this month and are a top-eight side going into this contest. They’re no easybeats, and they’ll be desperate to regain some dignity in the second half.

Uh oh … there goes that dignity. The Roosters end their first set of the second half with a Daly Cherry-Evans bomb, Murray Taulagi drops it, Robert Toia grabs it, and passes to Mark Nawaqanitawase who touches down in the corner.

There’s the 50 for the Roosters. Sam Walker finally misses a kick from the sideline.

Roosters 52, Cowboys 6 with 36 minutes left

It’s the final minute of the half and the Roosters are somehow still going, a Daly Cherry-Evans bomb finding the turf and bouncing into the arms of Egan Butcher, who gets an offload away, and a couple of passes later the ball is in the hands of Sam Walker who goes over for another try.

But referee Ashley Klein refers the try to the bunker, which spots a couple of offside players from Cherry-Evans’ kick. So the Roosters don’t quite make it to 50 points before half-time.

Still, that is an incredible 40 minutes from the competition powerhouses. How many can they score by full-time?

Roosters 48, Cowboys 6 at half-time

Is this the perfect half of footy?

The Roosters are just having fun now, Daly Cherry-Evans sending the ball wide to Robert Toia from inside his own half. The Maroons centre beats Zac Laybutt and runs clear, drawing Scott Drinkwater and sending a pass to James Tedesco who scores his second of the night.

Roosters 48, Cowboys 6 after 39 minutes

The bloodbath continues.

Braidon Burns gives away a penalty for an illegal strip, the Roosters are into the Cowboys’ red zone, and once again they convert territory into points – Sam Walker and James Tedesco combining to send Tommy Talau over in the corner.

It hardly matters at this point, but Sam Walker’s perfect night with the boot continues and he slots the sideline conversion.

Roosters 42, Cowboys 6 after 37 minutes

This is getting embarrassing for the Cowboys now.

North Queensland try a backline shift from around halfway, from the right sideline to the left, but Mark Nawaqanitawase rushes up in defence when Zac Laybutt lines up his pass for his winger and Nawaqanitawase takes the intercept. He’s off balance though and Scott Drinkwater gets to him, but Nawaqanitawase shrugs him off and runs clear for the Roosters’ sixth try of the first half.

Roosters 36, Cowboys 6 after 33 minutes

The Cowboys are in! Or are they?

A bomb goes up, with Mark Nawaqanitawase being challenged by a leaping Zac Laybutt, the ball hits some hands and bounces free for Murray Taulagi to run across the tryline.

But the play is referred to the bunker and replays show Laybutt knocked the ball on.

And the Roosters punish the Cowboys almost immediately, splitting them up the middle on tackle four when Sam Walker sends second-rower Salesi Foketi through a yawning gap. Foketi fools Scott Drinkwater with a dummy and runs himself, going round to score behind the posts.

Walker converts to take the Roosters to 30 points in as many minutes.

Roosters 30, Cowboys 6 after 30 minutes

This is becoming a cakewalk for the Roosters, who have been red hot in this first half. A penalty against Jeremiah Nanai gets the Tricolours into attacking territory and this time there’s no sharp passing or kicking necessary – Sam Walker takes a pass from the right, then steps hard off his left foot to beat his defender, slips between two others and scores beside the posts.

Walker and James Tedesco have been brilliant so far, but the Roosters have been pretty slick across the board really.

Roosters 24, Cowboys 6 after 26 minutes