The nib Newcastle Knights were picked apart 48-10 at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday afternoon by a clinical Sydney Roosters side.
It was a solid start for the visitors with Mitchell Pearce controlled things well with his kicking game but the hard work came undone when the Roosters scored a try in the eighth minute.
While they’d just lost hooker Jake Friend to an arm injury, their attack was razzle dazzle.
Moga too strong in the corner
The ball went through eight sets over the course of 70 metres which finished with James Tedesco crossing under the posts.
With the Roosters leading 6-0, the Knights heaped the pressure on themselves with errors in their own half but they were almost away when a Mitch Barnett offload sparked an attacking raid.
Kurt Mann found Kalyn Ponga in support who put Jesse Ramien away, only for the centre to spill the ball.
With seven minutes left in the first half, Connor Watson made a play for the line but was denied by James Tedesco only millimetres from the chalk.
Having secured a repeat set and the clock winding down, the Knights spread the ball to the edge and Tautau Moga did the rest.
With Ponga unable to convert, the Knights went into the break down by two.
The second half couldn’t have started any worse.
A Ramien cook 10 metres from the Roosters’ line hit the legs of Latrell Mitchell and the centre raced away.
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Down 12-4, the Knights responded in brilliant fashion courtesy of a Watson break.
Ponga found Herman Ese’ese on the inside the following play and the Knights were in.
This time Ponga made no mistake with the shot at goal and the difference was back to two.
When Tedesco breezed past Mitch Barnett, the home team were back on attack.
Moments later Boyd Cordner crashed over to create some distance and when Siosiua Taukeiaho muscled his way over, the Tricolours extended their lead 24-10.
With 15 minutes left on the clock, a short side play finished in a try to Victor Radley and the pain continued for the Knights.
The Roosters claimed their biggest win of the season after Cronk went on a spree, sending over Radley and Aubusson in succession.
A suspect handle off the kick-off was deemed knocked back by the bunker in review and Nat Butcher ran the length of the field to bring the home side in front by 32.
Just when the Knights were were hoping the worst was over, Tupou scored for the Roosters on the death, and with Mitchell converting, the Roosters nabbed the win at the SCG 48-10.
