Jenna Brooks
Rugby League reporter @JennaBrooks
Inside the NRL: James Segeyaro makes his debut while Roosters claim derby spoils
Last Updated: 27/03/17 5:59pm
The Roosters beat rivals the Rabbitohs to claim the Sydney derby spoils while James Segeyaro made his Cronulla debut.
Roosters run
The Sydney Roosters' unbeaten start to the season continued with a 20-6 victory over South Sydney on Thursday.
It's the Roosters' best start to a campaign in 21 years, and not since 1996 have they won the first four rounds. This time last year the Roosters were without a win at the bottom of the ladder.
Tries from Latrell Mitchell, Daniel Tupou and Michael Gordon, who also converted all three, clinched the comfortable win.
Melbourne join the Roosters at the top of the ladder after they continued their unbeaten start to the season. The Storm recovered from trailing 14-0 to beat the Wests Tigers 22-14 on Sunday.
Billy Slater managed to play for the full 80 minutes in a game that clinched coach Craig Bellamy's 250th win as an NRL coach.
Burgess concussion
Sam Burgess was concussed in the Rabbitohs' 14-point loss to the Roosters, when he collided with Isaac Liu just before half-time.
After suffering the head knock, Burgess played on for another two and a half minutes before being replaced to undergo a head injury assessment, a test the England international failed.
Last week the NRL issued three clubs with fines for alleged breaches of the game's concussion protocols.
South Sydney general manager of football, Shane Richardson has called for independent doctors to be on the touchline. He insists the club couldn't have acted any faster than they did, as their South's doctor was already treating Siosifa Talakai, who also suffered concussion.
"If you've only got one doctor it's very difficult if you've got more than one player [possibly concussed]," said Richardson. "I don't think we could have handled it any quicker than we did.
"I just think that the only way you're going to improve the amount of time involved is by having an independent doctor there."
Canberra concerns
Canberra could be without star hooker Josh Hodgson for the next two weeks after he suffered a sternum injury in the Raiders' 13-12 defeat to Brisbane on Friday.
The England international was left clutching his chest after a hit-up from Broncos prop Herman Ese'ese early in the second half.
Raiders coach Ricky Stuart said he wouldn't risk Hodgson: "It's early in the season and we won't risk Josh next week if he needs a week or so off. He's too important to the team."
Meanwhile, Elliott Whitehead has been handed a one-game ban after pleading guilty to tripping Alex Glenn in Friday night's defeat to Brisbane.
Former Catalans Dragons forward Dave Taylor could be in line to replace Whitehead.
Segeyaro debut
James Segeyaro returned to the NRL on Saturday. The former Leeds hooker made his club debut for Cronulla in their 20-6 win over Parramatta.
Segeyaro, who negotiated a release from the Rhinos earlier this month, played 21 minutes, made 16 tackles, but gave away a penalty.
Watch this space
Reports in Australia have linked Bradford Bulls coach Geoff Toovey with the vacant coaching position at the Wests Tigers.
The Tigers sacked Jason Taylor last week after two heavy defeats and reports have put Toovey on a four-man shortlist to take charge at the Balmain club. Also on the list is Laurie Daley, Ivan Cleary and interim coach Andrew Webster.
The former Manly coach took charge of Bradford at the start of the season and has told The Daily Telegraph the Tigers have not been in contact with him.
"I don't know anything about it and no one has approached me so far," Toovey said. "And I have a job over here at the moment."
Sky sources understand Salford centre Josh Jones could be on the way to the NRL.
The 23-year old is out of contract at the end of the season, and we understand he has generated some interest Down Under.
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