A superb first half performance from halfback Brett Finch spearheaded the Sydney Roosters to a 42-20 victory over Manly in the NRL match at Brookvale Oval.

Finch had a hand in four of the five tries scored in the opening half by the Roosters, who skipped to a 28-4 lead at the break on the back of some poor Manly defence.

Stirred by a bumper crowd of 18,674, Manly lifted in the second half.

Sydney winger Todd Byrne ensured an 18 point victory when he scored with two minutes remaining off a Chris Flannery grubber kick.

Roosters prop Jason Cayless scored two first half tries but his dream run ended in the 27th minute when he limped off the field with suspected medial ligament damage, which could sideline him for a month.

Injury-prone teammate Ryan Cross was assisted from the paddock midway through the second half with a leg injury.

Manly's loss left the huge crowd at Brookvale disappointed after their team produced a stirring comeback last week to beat North Queensland in Townsville.

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