Roosters out last Knights in thriller

The Sydney Roosters have justified their tag as competition favourites after defeating the Newcastle Knight 38-12 in an exciting match at Hunter Stadium in front of 22,847 fans.

The match hung in the balance until the 73rd minute when Boyd Cordner scored to extend the Roosters' lead to 10.

The intensity of the match was apparent from the opening minutes with the forward packs from both sides clearly lifting.

Sonny Bill Williams and Willie Mason made apparent there was no love lost. between the two former teammates. The two clashed on several occasions early culminating in Williams being placed on report for a shoulder charge on Mason.

Shaun Kenny Dowall opened up the scoring the 18th minute of a Mitchell Pearce bomb which was too much for the Knights'. James Maloney added the extras to give the Roosters a six-point-lead.

It was opposition player Darius Boyd scoring off a Pearce bomb only three minutes later, Boyd plucked the Pearce bomb out of the air 15 out from his own line before racing 85 metres to score. Tyrone Roberts added the extras to level the scores.