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Pearce back with a bang as Roosters tame Tigers

Pearce back with a bang as Roosters tame Tigers

Mitchell Pearce returned from injury to play the starring role as Sydney Roosters demolished Wests Tigers 40-18 to jump to second on the NRL ladder.

Star half-back Pearce suffered a concussion in the State of Origin series opener so severe that he was unable to remember scoring his first-half try in NSW Blues' 28-4 triumph.

However, he was back to his influential best at Campbelltown Stadium on Sunday as the Roosters ran in seven tries.

Tigers scores from Tui Lolohea and James Tedesco bookended the first half to keep the hosts in contention, but Sydney ran away with it after the break, Pearce scoring twice inside 17 minutes to establish a firm advantage.

From there, it was one-way traffic. Aidan Guerra and Connor Watson followed up-first-half touchdowns to complete their own doubles, backed up by Michael Gordon's six-conversion show from the tee as Sydney secured a fourth win in five games.

A fifth defeat on the spin leaves the Tigers second from bottom, with a trip to title contenders Cronulla Sharks next up.