NRL.com Wrap | Knights fall just short in Melbourne thriller

74th min: Another no try to the Roosters, with Weekes doing just enough to keep Billy Smith from getting the ball down, instead forcing an error. 

64th min: A try disallowed to Naufahu Whyte by the Bunker with an obstruction ruled in the lead-up. 

61st min: An inconclusive captain's challenge from the Roosters, with James Tedesco deemed to have knocked on in attempting to bring down a kick. 

60th min: No change to the score, with the Raiders still unable to break through the wall of Roosters defence, despite throwing some desperate hot-potatoe passing them in their attacking line. 

49th min: That resolve didn't last long for the Raiders unfortunately for their fans, with Mark Nawaqanitawase stepping his way over for his hat-trick in his injury return. The Raiders put down a kick in front of their goal posts and with their scrum, the Roosters swing the ball out wide to their winger to do the rest. Walker can't convert this time and it's 26-0. 

45th min: No score in the second half from either side, but plenty of action so far, with the Roosters continuing to look threatening early. However, the Raiders have regrouped at the break and have managed to withstand them to start the half.

Half-time: The half-time break can't soon enough for Canberra who have been thoroughly outplayed by the Roosters who have a 22-0 lead. Roosters have had 56 percent of the possession and have made it count, with halves Sam Walker and Daly Cherry-Evans pulling the strings.

40th min: A messy end to the half, but the Raiders get a penalty after Angus Crichton is pinged for being offside in a back-and-forth error show. They have a chance to do something positive after a poor showing in the first half, but Roosters hold them out.

35th min: It's getting ugly for the Raiders who just can't keep the Roosters out. A relatively simple try this time for the visitors with Reece Robson just running straight to the line after getting an offload from Walker who was skipping his way to the line. Walker converts and it's a huge 22-0 lead. 

32nd min: Three in a row for the Roosters with a remarkable second try to Marky Mark. Attacking the Raiders line, Walker puts in a little kick behind and Rob Toia charges through to chase, flings the ball back into the in-goal before his feet touch the ground and it's Mark Nawaqanitawase there in support to touch the ball down. Walker converts and the lead goes out to 16-0. 

25th min: Centre Hugo Savala hot steps his way through some defence to indeed get back-to-back tries for the Roosters. A lost ball attacking the line at the other end of the field by the Roosters proves costly, with the experience and class of the Roosters able to make them pay. Walker converts this time and it's 10-0 to the visiting team. 

21st min: Almost back-to-back tries for the Roosters, with a kick from Daly Cherry-Evan from behind his 40 chased by Victor Radley, who is able to get to the ball first and put the ball down over the line. However - he was offside from the kick, saving Raiders blushes. Kaeo Weekes wasn't in position after making a long run up the field previously. 

15th min - injury update: Raiders winger Savelio Tamale is off for a HIA. Update: he has failed his HIA and won't return tonight. 

11th min: Welcome back Mark Nawaqanitawase! First try of the night out on his right wing. He had very little room to move but was still able to find a way to get the ball down. Sam Walker can't convert so score remains 4-0. 

Kick off: The Raiders kick off and the Roosters have first use of the ball. 

Match preview:

Late Mail

Raiders: No late changes on game day. Utility Daine Laurie is set to line up in the centres after Seb Kris was placed in the concussion protocol. Laurie started at lock last week, in another sign of his versatility. Jayden Brailey is on track to start at lock in his return from a concussion, but Joe Roddy, who was hoping to make his NRL comeback after a hand injury, was cut from the squad in the 24-hour update. Vena Patuki-Case joins the 19.

Roosters: Two swaps to the starting side on game day. Connor Watson will start at hooker for Reece Robson and Spencer Leniu at prop for Lindsay Collins, with both moving to the bench. Earlier, a major boost for the Roosters, with star winger Mark Nawaqanitawase cleared to return from an ankle injury. Nawaqanitawase comes into the starting side, with Cody Ramsey ruled out due to illness. "[Wednesday] was the real test for us to make sure he was right to tick off everything he needed after that syndesmosis. It's looking good for him to play tomorrow," coach Trent Robinson said. Tom Rodwell also joined the interchange in the 24-hour update in place of Reece Foley. 

Storm v Knights at AAMI Park

Press conferences

Knights 

Storm

Fulltime: The Storm just hold on 32-30 in a thoroughly entertaining match. Both sides went try-for-try for much of the game, but crucial try where Maroons team mates Harry Grant and Trent Loiero combined at the line with just over 10 minutes to go proved decisive. 

80th min: A captain's challenge from the Knights to end the game with a desperate slap of the ball from Gagai successful in seeing Josh King lose possession as he was trying to wind down the clock - but he's knocked on in the attempt to strip.

73rd min: Still so much time in this game and the Knights have clawed one back again from some Ponga magic. A long kick off has a perfect bounce for the visitors, swinging back to the chasing Knights to give them the ball. Attacking the line, Ponga puts in a little kick behind the line and it's big Jacob Saifiti who is chasing, putting on some footwork at the line to go in untouched. Ponga converts for 32-30. 

70th min: The Storm's experienced players step up to help set up this next try for the home side with Grant passing a short ball at the line to Origin forward Trent Loiero putting himself in the right spot to get the ball and score. The Storm got their attacking chance after the Knights put down a kick, allowing Melbourne repeated goes at their line. Fa'alogo - who has taken off his head gear now - slots the converts from just to the left of the posts. Storm lead 32-24. 

61st min: The Knights take no time to hit back, with Gagai setting up another try, running through some poor Storm defence on their left, passing back in for Jermaine McEwen to run the rest of the way to score. Hughes complains to the referee as they had a defender down with Joe Chan clutching at his ribs with a training back before where the break was made. But it was play on and Ponga converts to narrow scores to 26-24. 

56th min: Back-to-back tries for the first time all game, with Moses Leo chasing hard and touching down on a well-executed kick from Cameron Munster into the left corner. The Bunker has a long, hard look at the put down, but gets the all clear. Again - their opportunity to score came from a Knights error. Fa'alogo converts probably the toughest attempt of the evening for a 26-18, the biggest lead of the night. 

Injury update: Knights forward Pasami Saulo comes from the field for a Category 3 HIA.

46th min: The seesawing game continues with Jahrome Hughes running his way through the line after the Knights drop the ball coming out from their line. Some concern with Ponga going down clutching at his left shoulder after being fended heavily but Hughes on his run, but he has rejoined his time and played on. Fa'alogo converts from in front for 20-18 to Storm. 

44th min: Lucas is denied a second try from the on-field referee after a second effort to get the ball over the line and the Bunker agrees it is a second movement. However, troubling signs for the Storm with how quickly the Knights have been able to progress up the field and attack their line. 

43rd min: Bad to worse for Storm who kick out on the full after Young takes the ball with his foot on the line. 

41st min: The Knights are off to a flyer to start the second half with a break on the right edge from Gagai finding Dom Young who runs away, before getting the ball back inside to a support Dylan Brown who scores to put the Knights back in front. Ponga converts and it's 18-14. 

Half-time: Storm head into the sheds with a 14-12 advantage after scoring three tries to two. It's a game with plenty of feeling, with Melbourne looking to build on their past few weeks, while Knights are looking to maintain their spot near the top of the ladder. The Storm however would have wanted to be further in front after they enjoyed 60 percent of the possession that half. The visitors suffered an injury blow early in the half, with hooker Phoenix Crossland assisted from the field and taken to hospital after a nasty head knock. 

38th min: Storm get back in front, with Will Warbrick flying onto a Hughes pass out to his right, hugging the ball tightly as he crashed through over the line and getting over. Fa'alogo can't convert from out wide and Melbourne hold a slender 14-12 lead. 

33rd min: It's all happening! A Ponga error becomes a penalty against Cameron Munster after him flying in to shove his Origin team mate becomes a scuffle with his former Origin team mate Dane Gagai getting involved and physical.

30th min: The Knights go in front despite being behind in possession. A good little offload from Ponga while still in their own half finds Dylan Lucas who charges away to score. Ponga converts from in front and Newcastle lead 12-10. 

23rd min: A show of strength at the line from centre Manaia Waitere - in for the injuryed Nick Meaney - gets the Storm their second try of the night. Fa'alogo misses the conversion attempt and the home side are up 10-6.

17th min: Somehow the Knights have hit back with Fletcher Sharpe going over near the posts. A error from Warbrick coming out of his own end proves costly, with Newcastle pouncing on the dropped ball. Ponga converts and it's 6-6. 

14th min: Storm attack looking sharp, but the Knights defence is holding on. Jahrome Hughes kicks a 40/20 to put the pressure on and Joe Chan thinks he has scored, only to put the ball down on Dylan Brown's leg over the line. At the other side of the field, Will Warbrick is destined to score in the corner, but Kalyn Ponga comes flying in and dislodges the ball from him and the Knights go on the attack. 

8th min: Opening try of the game to big forward Stefano Utoikamanu who muscles his way over after getting a short ball close to the line from Harry Grant. Sua Fa'alogo converts the try for a 6-0 lead. 

Injury update - 5th min: Knights hooker Phoenix Crossland is assisted from the field via medicab after suffering a head knock in a collision with oncoming Storm attacker Joe Chan. With concern shown by players on both sides, great care was taken on the field to get the Kiwi rake off the field safely. 

Kick off: Storm have first use at the ball at home. 

Match preview:

Late Mail

Storm: No late changes on game day. In earlier news, another backline blow for the Storm with Jack Howarth ruled out in the 24-hour team update due to a quad contusion. Joe Chan has been elevated from the interchange to start in his place. Shawn Blore comes on to the bench as he looks to make his return from a concussion. Manaia Waitere will take on a greater role on Friday night, named on Tuesday in place of the injured Nick Meaney, who is gone for 4-6 weeks with a calf strain.

Knights: No late changes on game day. In previous news, Fletcher Sharpe is set to return to the halves to account for the loss of Sandon Smith to a calf injury. After starting the year at five-eighth, Sharpe has spent the last couple of weeks at centre. Fletcher Hunt will fill the void in the centres. The Knights remained 1-20 as named in the 24-hour team update.