Sensational Stig ruffles Roosters' feathers in Newcastle

THE Newcastle Knights will jump to sixth on the competition ladder after downing the Sydney Roosters 18-10 in front of a 22,326 strong crowd at Ausgrid stadium.

The loss of captain Kurt Gidley prior to kick off appeared to have no adverse affect on his side as rookie halfback Ryan Stig put his skills on display. 

The Roosters started the match firing. Capitalising on some good field position to score through Justin Carney in the ninth minute to give the Roosters the early lead. However Todd Carney failed to add the extras after missing his first conversion of 2011. 

A knock on from the Roosters on the first tackle after the restart gave the home side an opportunity to hit back quickly and the Knights did not disappoint their home crowd. 

Winger Junior Sau strolled over the line in the 13th after the Roosters' defence was caught napping. Wes Naqaima had no problems adding the extras to give Newcastle the lead.

The remainder of the half saw the Roosters to everything they could to give Newcastle the match with the Chooks making numerous errors and conceding soft penalties. 

The Knights finally made them pay in the 30th with winger Peter Mata'utia finding the Roosters' defence napping and scooting over for another soft try. Naqaima added the extras again to put the home side in front by more than a converted try.

Brian Smith's boys were given numerous opportunities to hit back before the end of the half, however some poor last tackle options and inspired Newcastle defence kept the Roosters scoreless for the remainder of the half.

The away side came back from the break firing creating several opportunities in the first 20 minutes of the second half but a lack of vision from the Roosters' halves and some excellent one on one defence from the Knights kept them out. 

Points finally were finally scored again in 64th minute with Akuilla Uate taking five would be defenders with him over the line to score. Naqaima kicked the conversion from the side line to give his side a 14 point lead.

Some excellent kicks from rookie half back Ryan Stig kept the Knights on attack however the Roosters' defence were up to the task.

The Roosters finally hit back five minutes from full time courtesy of a Todd Carney line break on half way. The 2010 player of the year then offloaded to a soaring Anthony Minichiello who scored. Carney quickly added the extras to give the Roosters a sniff of victory. 

However the Roosters' hopes were dashed, with Nate Myles knocking on during the first tackle. The Knights had no trouble holding on from there as the ball was kept in the Roosters' half for the remainder of the match.

The Knights will leap to sixth on the competition ladder after that win while the Roosters will stay at 14.

On a positive note for the Roosters, fullback Anthony Minichiello broke the clubs' try scoring record with his try in 75th minute.  

Halftime: Newcastle Knights 12 Sydney Roosters 6

Match Details
Newcastle Knights 18 defeated Sydney Roosters 10
National Rugby League - Round 16 (Women in League Round) - Sunday June 26, 2011 3:00pm
Venue: Ausgrid Stadium
Referee: Ben Cummins and Adam Devcich
Video Referee: Chris Ward
Touch Judges: Steve Carrall and David Munro
Crowd: 22,326

Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 Points - Ryan Stig
2 Points - Peter Mata'utia (1 Try)
1 Point - Isaac De Gois

NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS (18)
Tries: Junior Sau, Akuila Uate, Peter Mata'utia
Conversions: Wes Naiqama (3/3)

SYDNEY ROOSTERS (10)
Tries: Anthony Minichiello, Justin Carney
Conversions: Todd Carney (1/2)

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary Good Afternoon folks and welcome to Ausgrid Stadium Newcastle where the Knights take on the struggling Roosters.
A win for the home side will see them jump to sixth on the competition ladder where as a lost will ensure they finish the round outside the top eight.
The Roosters will be fielding their strongest side in weeks today, welcoming back their Origin stars in Nate Myles, Anthony Minichiello and Mitchell Pearce as well as a few of their injured players in Sam Perrett, Kane Linnett and Mose Masoe.
Both sides have announced a few late changes today. For the home side skipper Kurt Gidley has succumbed to hamstring injury, he will be replaced by Tyrone Roberts in the halves. Winger James McManus has also failed a fitness test, Peter Mata'utia replaces him on the wing. Cameron Ciraldo has also been ruled out and will be replaced by Steve Southern. Matt Hilder will also move to the bench with Issac De Gois starting.
For the Roosters Shaun Kennedy Dowell has been ruled out and will be replace with Kane Linnett. Tom Symonds has also been dropped from the side and will be replaced by Anthony Mitchell who makes his début for the Roosters.
In the Toyota Cup the Sydney Roosters have defeated the Newcastle Knights 24-14.
1 min: Braith Anasta takes the kick off and the game is on.
1 min: Braith Anasta takes the kick off and the game is on.
1 min: We have the first mistake of the match with Tyrone Roberts knocking on, on his own 20.
3 min: Mitchell Pearce is smashed by Neville Costigan as he kicks on the last and the ball rolls dead. Knights off the hook.
5 min: The Roosters have been penalised for being inside the 10 to give the Knights a piggy back up the field.
6 min: Neville Costigan knocks on 40 out from the Roosters' line.
7 min: Both sides are making good metres here, but the kicking games from both halfbacks have been ordinary.
8 min: Pearce intercept on halfway, he stumbles on the 20 and passes to BJ Leilua who steps inside before being tackled.
9 min: TRY
The Roosters' spread out wide to Justin Carney who gives Akuilla Uate and don't argue to dive over the line to score. However Todd Carney fails to add the extras from the sideline to keep the Roosters' lead to 4.
Sydney Roosters 4-0
11 min: Jason Ryles fumbles while playing the ball on the first tackle to give the Knights an opportunity.
12 min: TRY
Newcastle have no problem getting through some soft Roosters' goal line defence. Scoring on the second tackle through Junior Sau. Wes Naiqama adds the extras from the sideline. Knights lead 6-4.
Newcastle Knights 6-4
14 min: Now Newcastle come up with an error right after a try after Issac De Gois coughs up the ball.
16 min: Roosters bomb an absolute sitter there with BJ Leilua knocking on only 10 metres out with the line open.
18 min: Todd Carney attempts a 40/20 but the ball bounces out only a metre out from the 20 metre line.
19 min: Sam Perrett knocks on on halfway after Nate Myles affected a one on one strip.
21 min: De Gois knocks on again this time only 30 out from the Roosters' line.
24 min: Lovely kick from Jake Friend on halfway, the ball bounces one10 metres out from the Knights line before going out. Best kick of the match so far.
26 min: Sam Perrett chooses to use his feet to diffuse a Knights' kick however he fails to get back to the ball before the Newcastle players do.
27 min: Line dropout to the Knights after BJ Leilua is ruled to have batted a Ryan Stigg grubber dead.
29 min: Another line dropout to the Knights after Kane Linnett grounds a Wes Naqaima grubber.
30 min: TRY
Try to Newcastle after some more soft goal line defence from the Roosters the line was just wide open for Peter Mata'utia. Absolutely atrocious stuff from the Roosters. Conversion attempt by Wes Naqaima is successful. Naqaima's conversion attempt is spot on again. Newcastle lead 12-4.
Newcastle Knights 12-4
34 min: Joel Edwards fumbles the ball 40 out from the Roosters' line. To give the Chooks some decent field position.
36 min: Terrible attacking set from the Roosters which is matched only by the poor last tackle option which results in a penalty for the Knights.
37 min: Matt Hidler knocks on after a massive bomb from Ryan Stigg.
38 min: The Roosters get a penalty to put them on the attack.
39 min: A little more creativity from the Roosters this time. They spread it to the right quickly on the last but it does not pay off after Kane Linnett attempts to take on the line himself before flicking it out the back into the hands of Junior Sau.
40 min: Double knock on from both sides as the half time hooter goes off.
41 min: Naqaima kicks off to bring the second half under way.
43 min: Braith Anasta knocks on only 30 out from the Newcastle line following a nice set from the Roosters.
45 min: Roosters are making some good metres here, however, their forwards seem a little shy when it comes to taking the ball up within their half.
48 min: Roosters penalised only 10 from their own line for an accidental offside after a good break from Joel Edwards.
49 min: Tyrone Roberts knocks on on only the first tackle for the Knights.
50 min: Roosters make 60 metres up the field on that set, however a poor last tackle kick from halfback Mitchell Pearce bounces over the sideline without troubling the Newcastle defence.
51 min: De Gois is pinned for a forward pass from dummy half on his own 40. Let's see if the Roosters can come up with some creativity here.
51 min: Nice tackle from Akuilla Uate to deny his State of Origin team mate Anthony Minichiello from scoring.
52 min: Anasta goes to the air on the third and the Knights are forced to clean it up. Line drop out.
54 min: Mitchell Pearce tries to go himself on the fourth and loses the ball after being tackled. Poor effort from the Roosters. They are having no problem creating opportunities but have no imagination.
55 min: Roosters concede a penalty to give the Knights a piggy back out of their own half.
56 min: Evarn Tuimavave knocks on after being tackled metres from the Roosters' try line. Better defence from the Roosters there.
60 min: Crazy passage of play there after Pearce breaks the line and offloads to Justin Carney only 10 metres from the Knights' line. Carney passes to Leilua who is only just denied. The Roosters spread it out wide on the next tackle only for Peter Mata'utia to intercept the ball but he is ruled to have knocked on.
61 min: Roosters come so close to scoring again but Linnett is ruled to have passed forward when offloading the ball to Perrett.
62 min: Roosters give the Knights another piggy back up the field after they penalised for not allowing Fa'aso to play the ball.
64 min: TRY
Try for Akuilla Uate here after a good run from Richard Fa'aso who brushes off five would be defenders before offloading to Naqaima who flicks it out the back to Uate who takes 4 tacklers with him over the line. Conversion attempt by Wes Naqaima is successful. Newcastle lead 18-4
Newcastle Knights 18-4
67 min: Line drop outs to the Knights after Ryan Stig boots it down the field from halfway. Uate traps Leilua in the in goal.
69 min: Another line drop out to the Knights after Minichiello is trapped in goal.
70 min: Stigg kicks it straight into the arms of Todd Carney and the Roosters are off the hook.
70 min: Roosters get a penalty.
71 min: Todd Carney bombs into the in goal but the chase from the Roosters is non existent and Mata'utia has no problem diffusing it. Boyd Cordner has limped off the field for the Roosters.
73 min: Stig is pinned for a forward pass 30 out from the Rooster's line.
70 min: Stig is pinned for a forward pass 30 out from the Rooster's line.
76 min: TRY
Roosters finally get over the line again after a beautiful linebreak from Todd Carney. Carney kicks a quick conversion. Knights lead 18-10.
Newcastle Knights 18-10
76 min: Would you believe it the Roosters knock on on tackle one after scoring again?
77 min: The Roosters manage to hold strong and deny the Knights.