NRL.com Wrap | Fast-starting Knights run down at Allianz

Press conferences

Full-time: Parramatta complete a massive turnaround to defeat the Bulldogs 38-20 to close out Round 7. Beaten by 50 last week against the Titans, the Eels regrouped in impressive fashion to out-enthuse and outplay their rivals. 

Injury alert - Ronald Volkman comes from the field for a HIA.

78th min: Fight left in the Bulldogs who score another try before full-time with Xerri showing his strength - and his good reach - getting his arm free to dot the ball down near the left sideline. Burton misses the conversion and the score is 38-20.

77th min: A Bulldogs captain's challenge is successful, with the Bunker overturning a call of a knock on. 

76th min: Eels get one back with Will Penisini the beneficiary of a scrappy Bulldogs attempt to bring down a Moses kick. The ball hits the deck, the centres picks it up and run away to score. Moses converts and yells in celebration and the Eels extend their lead to 38-16. 

74th min: This time, the short kick off works a treat for the Dogs and they score in reply in no time, with replacement winger Sua finishing off a backline play. Burton's conversion attempt is successful and the score narrows again to 32-16.

71st min: A short kick off goes wrong for the Bulldogs. They go up and bat it back, but it ends up with Tallyn Da Silva scooping the ball up and sprinting away to score another Parramatta try. Moses kicks the conversion and it's 32-10 to the home side. 

Injury alert - Parramatta hooker Ryley Smith is out of the game with a sternum injury. 

58th min: Parramatta edge back in front again with Dylan Walker scooping up a lost ball from Josh Curran who was trying to catch a Moses kick in front of the post. The ball comes loose and the Eels pounce. Moses converts for 24-10. 

Injury alert - Jacob Preston leaves the field for a HIA. Update - he has passed.

51st min: The Bulldogs fight back to start the second half with Lachlan Galvin getting a pass outside of Matt Burton and running his way to the line, forcing the ball despite the attention of a number of Eels defenders. Burton converts and the score narrows to 18-10. 

Injury update - Bulldogs winger Jacob Kiraz came from the field only moments into the second half with a reported knee issue. He was inconvenienced in the first half, but played on and was hopeful of continuing in the second, but could not play on. Jonathan Sua comes on in his place. 

Half-time: The Eels are ahead at the break after scoring some impressive tries to be up 18-4 over the Bulldogs. The visitors started the better, but Parramatta were able to turn the momentum around for their lead. 

40th min: An exciting finish to the half with a long-range chase from Papalii and Bulldogs utility Kurt Mann on a kick from Moses.

35th min: Joash Papalii finishes a nice try for the home side. Off the scrum, the Eels attack and go out wide to the right to Brian Kelly who runs and puts in a kick ahead that's chased by the fullback to touch down and score. Volkman is successful with his conversion for an 18-4 lead. 

33rd min: Big hit alert. The Foxx times his defence perfectly and gives Curran, normally a forward but playing in the centres for his return game, a whack, dislodging the ball and getting possession back for his side. 

29th min: The Eels extend their lead with a fine individual try to a hot-stepping Ronald Volkman. Showing great footwork at the line, the Parramatta five-eighth backed himself and ran through to score. He converts his own try for a 12-4 lead. 

14th min: Eels hit back with Josh 'The Foxx' Addo-Carr somehow finding space down the left touchline and stays inside the field of play to touch down. Ronald Volkman's kick from the sideline is a great one and it's 6-4 to Parramatta. 

11th min: First points of the day to the Bulldogs with a nice backline play, including a late flick out from Bronson Xerri to Jacob Kiraz who runs it back around and puts the ball down to score. Burton is unsuccessful with the kick and score remains 4-0. 

8th min: An unsuccessful captain's challenge from Parramatta, with the replay confirming Connor Tracey's foot was on the sideline before taking possession of a Mitch Moses kick. It was a close-run thing, but the Bulldogs fullback timed it to perfection. 

Kick-off: Matt Burton boots the ball to Parramatta to start the final match of Round 7. 

Late Mail

Eels: A late switch on game day with Dylan Walker dropping to the bench with Jack De Belin to start at lock. Earlier, Sean Russell will have to wait another week to make his return from a concussion and dropped out of the side in Saturday's 24-hour update. Araz Nanva comes into the centres as a result in the only change to the starting side. Lorenzo Talataina has been added to the six-man bench as a result of the change. Kelma Tuilagi and Sam Tuivaiti have both been ruled out due to head knocks. Jack Williams and Charlie Guymer are the new starting back-rowers, with debutant Saxon Pryke and Toni Mataele the new faces on the bench.

Bulldogs: Josh Curran has been named to return from a rib injury at centre in a game-day change. Enari Tuala drops out after being ruled out with a hamstring strain was suffered during captain's run. Lipoi Hopoi has been added to the six-player bench. Earlier, inspirational skipper Stephen Crichton has fallen short in his bid to make a shock early comeback from a shoulder injury suffered on Good Friday and dropped out of the squad in Saturday's 24-hour update. New recruit Leo Thompson is also set for his first game for the Bulldogs after recovering from a calf injury suffered in the pre-season.

Stat Attack

• The Eels have conceded 122 points in three straight losses at CommBank Stadium.
• The Bulldogs have won their last three games against the Eels.
• Eels winger Josh Addo-Carr has scored 11 tries in his last eight games at CommBank Stadium.
• Bulldogs centre Enari Tuala has scored six tries in six games against the Eels.
• Eels centre Will Penisini has scored six tries in eight games against the Bulldogs.

Roosters v Knights at Allianz Stadium

Press conferences 

Knights

Roosters

Tedesco to the rescue: Massive performance from the skipper to help guide the Roosters to a win. Posting 270 run metres with three line breaks and three try assists - as well as a try of his own - the fullback was a cut above. 

Full-time: The Roosters complete an impressive comeback, keeping the Knights scoreless in the second half to record a 38-24 win. Trailing 24-12 at the break, the home side came out firing in the second and didn't let up the pressure on the Knights who in the end only had 46 percent of the possession. 

69th min: The home side have all the running on the scoreboard and are over again out wide, with Nawaqanitawase getting his second. Some good play in the lead-up, with Robson and DCE combining, with a nice dummy from the five-eighth before passing out to the wing. Walker can't convert again and it's 38-24. 

65th min: Roosters captain's challenge is unsuccessful with Angus Crichton penalised for a dangerous act, trying to kick the ball out of the hands of Dylan Brown. 

64th min: Nawaqanitawase goes high and taps a ball back with Nat Butcher picking up the scraps and touching down. However, the Bunker takes a look and overrules, with the Roosters winger deemed to have knocked on. Score remains 34-24. 

61st min: Roosters on a roll! From a scrum in their own 10, the Roosters go out to their right again and this time Nawaqanitawase makes no mistake, touch the ball down. Walker's conversion from the sideline just misses and score remains 34-24. 

56th min: And three in a row for the Roosters with James Tedesco running his way over. The Roosters had tried to get over down the right side with a slight delay as the Bunker checked for a Nawaqanitawase knock on, but he maintained control. From there, the Roosters swung out to their left and their skipper finished the job. Walker converts and it's 30-24 to the home side. 

51st min: Back-to-back for the Roosters with Hugo Savala getting his double, chasing through on a clever kick into the in-goal from James Tedesco. The Knight gave up a penalty in possession, with Harrison Graham not getting back onside before he was passed a ball while the Knights were trying to get out of their own end. Roosters make them pay and Walker converts the try to lock scores at 24-24. 

Injury alert - Spencer Leniu comes from the field for a HIA after copping a knee to the head when trying to tackle Cody Hopwood. Update - HIA cleared. 

44th min: Ideal start for the Roosters, scoring first after the half-time break. A messy attempt to collect a kick from the Knights backfires, with Sam Walker at the right spot at the right time to clean up and dot the ball down next to the posts. He converts his own try and the scores are narrowed to 24-18. 

Half-time: A strong showing from the Knights in the first half, with centre Fletcher Hunt scoring a hat-trick. The Roosters had all the early running, before the two sides went blow-for-blow with tries. But then Newcastle were able to turn up the heat, capitalising on some below-par defence in the middle of the field from the Roosters, with coach Trent Robinson no doubt wanting to see that tightened up. Newcastle lead 24-12. 

37th min: An almost spectacular try for Mark Nawaqanitawase - but his foot is just on the line and the Roosters are denied a try before the half-time break. Score remains 24-12 to the Knights. 

29th min: A first-half hat-trick for Fletcher Hunt, with a strong run from Francis Manuleleua setting up his fullback. Manuleleua, brought in to start for Thomas Cant for his second game, found it far too easy to burst through the middle of the field, but was glad to see Hunt in support who ran through. Smith converts and it's 24-12.  

26th min: Successful captain's challenge from Newcastle, with the Bunker finding that Angus Crichton from the Roosters was the player to knock on before Fletcher Sharpe as was originally adjudicated. 

21st min: Hunt has a first-half double, flying higher that the Roosters in the in-goal to bring down a Dylan Brown kick to score. A great effort from the Newcastle centre in traffic. Smith goes 3/3 and the score pushes out to 18-12. 

15th min: Tit-for-tat at the moment, with Trey Mooney steaming onto a Mat Croker pass and through a massive hole in the middle of the Roosters defence, running from 25 metres out to dive under the posts. Smith slots the conversion again and it's 12-12.

14th min: An almost instant reply from the Roosters, with Daniel Tupou going high to bring down a kick, offloading on his way down to the ground to Hugo Savala, playing centre, who catches the ball and runs it over for a try. Walker converts again to take the Roosters out to a 12-6 lead. 

10th min: The Knights strike back quickly, with Fletcher Hunt running through after the Roosters undid their good early work with an error, a penalty and a ruck infringement. Sandon Smith converts and it's 6-6.

3rd min: Early points to the Roosters with Siua Wong crashing over. A nice set from the home side, with plenty of passing, starting with a ball from Reece Robson to Daly Cherry-Evans who goes for a run before Wong eventually finishes it off. Sam Walker converts for a 6-0 lead. 

Kick-off: The home side the Roosters get us going with the first use of the ball. 

Roosters: The Roosters are 1-18 on game day, with Benaiah Ioelu dropping from the extended squad. Centre Billy Smith has fallen short in his bid to return from a knee injury suffered in Round 4 and dropped out of the reserves in Saturday's team update. 

Knights: Tom Cant comes out of the side in a late game day change, with Francis Manuleleua coming into the starting team in the back-row, with Elijah Salesa-Leaumoana taking his place on the six-man bench. Star recruit Dylan Brown remains on track to complete his comeback from a knee injury suffered in Round 2 and will line up in the No.7 jersey alongside five-eighth Sandon Smith. Brown's return will force Fletcher Sharpe to shift to fullback and Fletcher Hunt into the centres as coach Justin Holbrook continues to navigate the absence of Kalyn Ponga and Bradman Best. Dylan Lucas was not named after he suffered a nasty throat injury, with Tyson Frizell (ribs) also unavailable. In the 24-hour update Tyson Gamble and James Schiller dropped out of the squad.