Match Centre

28 seconds, tackle three. They're at halfway... STRIPPED ONE ON ONE! Egan Butcher redeems himself and the visitors will win!

Egan Butcher spills it with 60 seconds left. Newcastle have a scrum and 95 metres to travel to win the game.

Ponga loses it inside his own half and with no challenges left that's it. Roosters attack with 1:55 left and could seal it here.

End to end stuff across this last ten minutes. Four to go and Newcastle are coming out of their own 20m.

Newcastle's repeat attacking raids have borne no fruit since the Young try. Roosters looking gassed though...

The Roosters burn a challenge on a knock-on call which was ultimately correct.

Tuala finds a hole then kicks ahead but Egan Butcher is back there and able to get to it first. Newcastle getting closer but no cigar.

Newcastle with a long-range raid, then tackled, last tackle... Dane Gagai tries some gridiron-style between-the-legs stuff and it goes into touch.

Dom Young's foot catapulted into touch and the Roosters are off the hook. 

Newcastle survive that first set on their own line defending, and come away with it as far as halfway - Gagai throws a wide ball which opposition winger Tupou touches and it goes over the sideline. Fresh set for the hosts.

Dom Young spills it to start the second half, tackle two. Eek.

OK, the clock was wrong - there's a full minute remaining.... Newcastle lose the ball, then concede a penalty and the Roosters will go for goal.

TRY? Drew Hutchison charges over out wide and the visitors skip out to a big lead... or do they? Bunker review... checking grounding. Bunker says NO. Knights ball with 22 seconds remaining.

Manu hit high by Jack Hetherington and the Roosters have a penalty inside Newcastle's 20m.

Into the last four minutes. Newcastle captains challenge after Tuala is ruled to have knocked on - but the challenge is unsuccessful. Not great for the hosts.

Fitzgibbon loses it now coming out from his own end and now the Roosters will get another stab at attack.

Manu sends a wide ball to Pauga who loses it and Newcastle are off the hook.

High contact penalty against the Knights, looked a bit of a harsh call on replay. More attacking footy for the Tricolours.

Roosters force a drop-out with Ponga trapped under the sitcks.

The Keary injury seems to have sucked some air out of the contest in the last few minutes. Regulation end to end stuff at the moment.

Luke Keary is off. Fractured jaw is the word from the broadcasters.

Dom Young scores - after another Roosters error. Simple stuff on the right edge. Bunker might inspect it... and it does - NO TRY, Newcastle ruled to have lost it in the end through Gagai.

Atkins' hands in the air. Time off, to the Bunker we go.

Now Newcastle lose it.

Junior Pauga spills it inside his own 20m and Newcastle have more attacking footy.

Roosters attack breaks down with Tupouniua spilling it. Ponga comes away with the ball.

Gagai tries to score in the opposite corner but he's taken touch in-goal. Roosters 20m restart.

Bradman Best goes close, but Pauga steals it from him while standing; penalty Knights.

Jacob Saifiti goes close, but no cigar. Roosters come away with it.

Repeat sets for Newcastle here, first a drop-out and then a penalty against JWH for crowding the ruck.

Game on. Nat Butcher takes first hit up and the Roosters - in white with the red and blue chevrons - are first users of the footy.

A quick look at team news: Newcastle lost Daniel Saifiti to a chest injury during the week, his brother Jacob is the replacement prop. Brodie Jones joins the bench. The Tricolours meanwhile are 1-17.

A sombre mood to open proceedings at McDonald Jones Stadium, with a moment of silence for the victims of last weekend's Greta Bus Crash.