The return of Brock Lamb from a fractured cheekbone wasn't enough to inspire the ISP Newcastle Knights to a win over the Wyong Roos on Saturday.
The Knights were no match for a Wyong side packed with NRL experience.
Former Australian Schoolboys halfback Mitchell Cornish pulled the strings.
Cornish and Jersey Flegg playmaker Sean O'Sullivan had a hand in every try as the Roos ran the Knights across the park.
Poasa Faamausili opened the scoring for the opposition, while Brendan Frei joined him six minutes later as the Roos upped the intensity.
After the short kicking game of O'Sullivan and Cornish forced multiple repeat sets, the Knights couldn't hold out Dean Matterson.
The younger brother of Roosters backrower Ryan Materson, Dean, crashed over for a double in the first half.
Leading 22-0 at the break, the Roos continued the pain when Chris Smith crashed over.
The forward is in his final season of his deal with the Roosters, before heading to Canterbury next season.
It took 72 minutes but the Knights finally penetrated the defence when five-eighth Hayden Loughrey sliced through and Lamb added the extras but it was too little, too late.
Match Summary:
Wyong 28 (Tries: Faamausili, Frei, Matterson 2, Smith. Goals: Mantellato 4)
d Knights 6 (Tries: Loughrey. Goals: Lamb 1)
