Morris and Cronk score milestone tries as Roosters run riot over lowly Titans

Sydney Roosters moved into second place in the NRL with a comprehensive 58-6 thrashing of bottom club Gold Coast Titans on Sunday.

With South Sydney Rabbitohs having slipped up against Cronulla Sharks on Saturday, the Roosters made light work of the Titans, who offered few positives for incoming coach Justin Holbrook.

After James Tedesco's early try, Brett Morris - now the 12th player to surpass 150 NRL career tries - helped himself to a 12-minute hat-trick before Daniel Tupou went over, with Latrell Mitchell adding the extras to make it 28-0 at half-time.

Any hopes of the Titans restoring some pride in the second half were ended when Tedesco doubled his tally, with Cooper Cronk racing over four minutes later for his 100th NRL try.

100 tries for the great Cooper Cronk #NRLRoostersTitans#TelstraPremiership pic.twitter.com/mNFsCUihxE

— NRL (@NRL) August 4, 2019

Ryley Jacks snatched a consolation for the Titans in between a pair of Mitchell scores, and the Roosters' Sam Verrills had the final say by touching down for the first time in his NRL career.

In Sunday's other match, Parramatta Eels consolidated their place in the top eight with a battling 12-4 victory away at St George Illawarra Dragons.

The visitors were 10-0 up by the 22nd minute and kept their lead intact heading into the break.

Mikaele Ravalawa's try seven minutes after the restart put the pressure on the Eels' defence, though, and they had to rely on a 70th-minute penalty from Mitchell Moses to halt the Dragons' momentum and hold on for what could prove a vital win in their bid to qualify for the Finals.