Sandon Smith puts on masterclass as 'relentless' Roosters dismantle Dragons

A sensational attacking display by Sandon Smith was marred by a 10 minute spell in the sin bin as the Roosters flogged the Dragons 46-18 in the traditional Anzac Day clash.

Smith's high shot on Dragons half Lachlan Ilias initially went unpunished by on-field referee Todd Smith, before the Bunker stepped in.

The contact was labelled direct and moderate force, and was then put on report and binned.

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"The man who has been a standout performer is off to the sin bin," Nine caller Mat Thompson said.

"Well there's your big moment," Phil Gould added.

Even with the advantage, the Dragons were unable to find the line in the set as the Roosters cleared the ball down the field with ease.

The hosts then found an opportunity to put two points on the board after Ilias was pinged for late contact on Hugo Savala.

Though, Blake Steep was hungry to add more for the Roosters as he made a beautiful dummy to draw Clint Gutherson off his mark and scored.

"I don't know where that speed came from, or that dummy ... but I've never seen someone more deserving of a try," Brad Fittler said.

Earlier this year, Steep's father suffered a heart attack when the pair were out fishing. He managed to get his old man back to the shore where he was able to be given medical assistance.

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The Dragons desperately worked to narrow the margin through Kyle Flanagan, who darted over the line following some sensational playmaking from Valentine Holmes.

But Smith's return to the field proved too strong for the Dragons as he orchestrated a sensational playmaking effort to put James Tedesco over twice.

"He never ever gives up," Thompson said of Tedesco.

Gould stated: "He is absolutely relentless."

Tyrell Sloan put his name on the board in the 73rd minute for the visitors before Savala crossed for his second on the stroke of fulltime to seal the scores at 44-18.

"It's going to be a good night in the Eastern suburbs tonight," Fittler said.

"They are all smiling."

Earlier, it didn't take long for tensions to ignite as a melee between Victory Radley and David Klemmer spilled over the sidelines in the opening minute.

Smith opened the scoring in the next set before Sione Finau powered 80m to score his first career try and level the scores.

The 22-year-old Rooster then sent Mark Nawaqanitawase over in the corner to extend his side's lead, with the rugby convert forced to brush off two incoming defenders.

"Nearly impossible to stop there," Gould said of Nawaqanitawase.

"Isn't he (Smith) growing as a playmaker," Andrew Johns added.

Smith followed his teammate's effort with another four points as he powered through a gap in the line and ran 50m catch the Dragons defence napping.