Group 4: Roosters beat Magpies 46-6 in season opener at the Creek | PHOTOS

In the first Group 4 action since Kootingal-Moonbi's 2019 grand final loss to North Tamworth, a good crowd turned up to David Taylor Park on a temperate and sunny autumn afternoon.

However, it soon looked like the Roosters might have too much firepower for the hosts as they raced to a 16-0 lead on the back of two tries to No 9 Kurt Hartmann - close-range efforts from dummy half - and a try to No 12 Ryley Mackay, who streaked down the left side of the field.

Hartmann was named Kooty's players' player.

It remained 16-0 at the break. But when Mackay and centre Liam Hatch conspired for a well-worked try to the former and then second-rower Josh Kevill strolled over, with both tries converted by No 7 Sam Taylor, Kooty led 28-0.

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At the final drinks break in the second half, Magpies player-coach Cody Tickle pleaded with his troops to show resolve, but they kept leaking points.

Roosters No 1 and captain Jordan Sharpe also bagged a try double.

It was not until the dying minutes of the match that Werris Creek finally troubled the scorer, with No 9 Dylan Porter scoring.

Veteran prop Beaton came off the bench on Saturday to make his first Group 4 appearance since 2018, when he played for the Roosters in what was their debut first-grade season.

The club's development was impressive, he said.

"They've got the foundations there, for sure, to build a good season," he said. "And there's a bit of depth as well with the reggies ... You can't just win it with 17 blokes: you're gonna need a good squad."

It was a great day for the Roosters: their reserve-graders won 62-6, their league-taggers prevailed 64-0 and their under-18s won 44-10.

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