Match Centre

FULL TIME - Newcastle tried hard as always but the Roosters too classy, running out 24-6 winners! Thanks for joining us! Full wrap to come.

Sydney Roosters 24-6

Keary kicks it out now.

Sydney Roosters 24-6

Barnett offloads to Michael Gordon on the last. It's been that kind of night.

Sydney Roosters 24-6

Newcastle get the ball back off the kick-off.

Sydney Roosters 24-6

Watch out for the field goal but the way Newcastle is defending a try looks more likely.

Sydney Roosters 18-6

Gordon forces a drop out.

Sydney Roosters 18-6

BIG RUN CORDNER! ROOSTERS 10 OUT!

Sydney Roosters 18-6

Both sides continuing to trade sets. Newcastle needs something.

Sydney Roosters 18-6

Ferguson is now through but he drops it! Lucky break.

Sydney Roosters 18-6

Gagai drops it!

Sydney Roosters 12-6

40/20? Out on the full? Keary ruled to have kicked it out on the full... JUST!

Sydney Roosters 12-6

GAGAI DOWN THE SHORT SIDE BUT HE IS JUST SHORT! Now Hodkinson's kick is poor.

Sydney Roosters 12-6

ERROR by SKD 10 out!

Sydney Roosters 12-6

Ross goes so close! Now Elliott kicks but it is too short!

Sydney Roosters 12-6

Knights 20 out!

Sydney Roosters 12-6

Now a penalty! Friend pinned there for slowing down the play the ball.

Sydney Roosters 12-6

CRUNCH! Gordon is hit hard and the ball comes loose.

Sydney Roosters 12-6

Tupou and Sio go head to head in the air once more and a goal line dropout is forced by the Roosters.

Sydney Roosters 12-6

Play resumes, Matterson was helped off the field with a suspected ankle injury.

Sydney Roosters 12-6

Ryan Matterson is down and time is stopped.

Sydney Roosters 12-6

Gagai with a good tackle on Gordon and the Roosters start their set from their own 20.

Sydney Roosters 12-6

Nice set by the Knights and Manu ruled to have played at it on the last. Knights 10 out!

Sydney Roosters 12-0

Sio watches the Pearce kick JUST go dead.

Sydney Roosters 12-0

Newcastle shift on the last but the execution is awful! Gagai tries to tip it on but with defence rushing up it goes forward. Roosters start their set 40 out.

Sydney Roosters 12-0

GAME ON!

Sydney Roosters 12-0

HALF TIME - Newcastle really don't look like scoring at the moment. The Roosters, on the other hand, have taken their chances and lead 12-0. But the Knights fight hard so stay tuned!

Sydney Roosters 12-0

Yates drops it and that is a massive let down! Newcastle fans will be very disappointed to head into the sheds with no points. To be fair it was a poor pass from Lamb.

Sydney Roosters 12-0

And now a penalty! Knights need to score! They are 10 out with a full set to come.

Sydney Roosters 12-0

Ferguson now knocks down a Elliott pass!

Sydney Roosters 12-0

Turning point? Gordon has dropped it 40 out.

Sydney Roosters 12-0

Great kick by Keary traps Elliott 10 out.

Sydney Roosters 12-0

BUNKER: TOO EASY! Fantastic ball by Pearce and Gordon slides through with ease!

Sydney Roosters 6-0

CLOSE! Pearce chips and Lamb is away but it came off Sio. Penalty Roosters 10 out.

Sydney Roosters 6-0

Again a drop-out forced by Keary.

Sydney Roosters 6-0

Lamb kicks it too far on the last and Easts get a 7-tackle set!

Sydney Roosters 6-0

Now Nathan Ross gets the penalty with Zane Tetevano pinned. Lamb finds touch 35 out.

Sydney Roosters 6-0

But the Knights have survived with Elliott cleaning up a Pearce grubber.

Sydney Roosters 6-0

Keary forces the drop-out with Sio unable to escape this time.

Sydney Roosters 6-0

Sione Mata'utia has dropped the ball 40 out from Newcastle's line after each side traded sets following Manu's try. The Roosters now have a chance to build on their lead.

Sydney Roosters 6-0

MANU!

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The Knights looked very good in that set with Levi darting from dummy-half, giving Newcastle all the running but a last tackle lets them down.

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Starling has dropped it 10 out. Bad error! Ross looked good after breaking through a Manu tackle and linking with Elliott who was tackled late.

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Newcastle now earn another penalty inside their own 10 metre line with a number of Roosters pinned for being offside.

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A flurry of passes on the last for Easts and Pearce grubbers through and chases down Mata'utia, yet he evades the tackle and takes the risk, passing to Sio who gets out of the in-goal area!

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Peter Mata'utia finishes off the last tackle with a kick which is easily fielded by Ferguson but it was a promising set from Newcastle.

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Roosters struggle for as many metres with Pearce forced to kick long for Nathan Ross.

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Unlucky for Barnett, with the ball touching his elbow on the way down. The knock on is ruled and the Roosters escape that one!

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BUNKER - Hodkinson kicks in field and Barnett claims it!

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Roosters seem to be finding space in the middle of the field, with their big boppers getting good early metres. The Knights, on the other hand, are looking dangerous out wide and now have a good shot after Carter was penalised, gifting the Knights a set 40 out.

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Lamb throws it long on the last but Gagai is running out of room and offloads it over the side line.

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Pearce bombs for Tupou but Sio rises above and takes off before being taken by SKD!

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Lamb's kick is fielded safely by Gordon and the Roosters are already on their 40.

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JWH breaks the line and the Roosters are 20 out, Pearce grubbers through and there is a chance for Manu but he drops it 5 out.

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Great first set by the Roosters with Pearce bursting onto the ball on the last and kicking through the Newcastle defence. Knights working out from the own 10 metre line. As a result, Ferguson takes the Hodkinson kick 40 out.

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KICK OFF!

Likewise the Knights. I'll back the Roosters 20-16.

Roosters coming out now to a great crowd in the Hunter.

I think Easts will bounce back here, they have too much class in the halves, but I don't think there will be a lot in it.

Good evening and welcome to tonight's clash between the Knights and Roosters! Jake Friend has been benched for the Roosters with Paul Carter starting. Sio Siua Taukeiaho returns on the interchange bench from an ACL injury. Newcastle have switched Daniel Saifiti into the prop role with Jack Stockwell benched. Joe Wardle plays second row after Jamie Buhrer was omitted earlier in the week.