The Roosters have toppled Newcastle by the skin of their teeth, escaping McDonald Jones Stadium with a crucial 23-22 victory.
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The loss came at a big cost for the Knights, who lost both Dylan Lucas and Dylan Brown to potentially serious injuries.
Lucas suffered a dislocated and suspected fractured left ankle while Brown went down with a left knee injury and the early diagnosis there is “not good”.
“The docs and physios are not thinking it is good. We’ll cross our fingers we get some good news with the scans, but it’s not looking good,” coach Justin Holbroook said post-game.
“Potentially yeah, hopefully not,” he added when asked specifically if it could be a torn ACL.
An integral clash for both sides heading in on Friday night, a Roosters’ win would secure a finals berth for the tricolours as well as push them closer to locking in a top four, while Newcastle need to keep winning to stay in the eight.
After dropping Dane Gagai through the week, the Knights would lose Kalyn Ponga to a quad strain following the captain’s run, leaving their backline inexperienced and undermanned against a back three of James Tedesco, Mark Nawaqanitawase and Daniel Tupou.
Despite being under assault via Sam Walker’s towering bombs early, Newcastle would hold firm, Greg Marzhew streaking 50-metres upfield after taking one of the hoisted kicks on his try-line. However, relief would be short-lived for the home side.
‘They’re fighting til the end’ | 05:27
James Tedesco, who hasn’t featured on-field since being knocked out in the Origin decider, cut back inside following a Sam Walker sweep, finding a yawning gap between Cody Hopwood and Mat Croker to stroll over for the opener.
It would take just a matter of minutes for the Knights to return serve though, a peach of a pass from Dylan Brown handing Francis Manuleleua a 30-metre untouched run to the line to cross for his maiden four-pointer.
However, things went from good to awful rapidly for Newcastle, losing one of their superstars to an apparent season-ending ankle dislocation.
A routine hit-up from recent Origin debutant Dylan Lucas ended with the back-rower on a medi-cab, his ankle awkwardly caught up underneath several Roosters and his season seemingly over after having his ankle popped back in on-field.
Dylan Lucas of the Knights is attended to by team medical staff. (Photo by Scott Gardiner/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
The injury seemed to galvanise the depleted home side though, crossing for points immediately after the injury through Mat Croker, however it was an unlikely hero setting up meat pie.
A staunching run from Brodie Jones near the try-line, in just his second NRL game of the season, was able to get his arm free and pop a pass to Crossland, immediately dumping it to Croker to bump off Tedesco on his way to the line.
It would be the second time this season that Newcastle would lead the Roosters at the break, however Holbrook would be wary after losing 38-24 the first time around, collapsing in the back end of the Round 7 affair.
Tedesco wasted no time in the second stanza, doubling up, stepping inside former Roosters’ half Sandon Smith to level it up at 10-all, while Newcastle troops were depleting, and depleting fast.
‘A tough struggle’ | 03:46
Manuleleua’s night ended seconds into the second-half after catching Egan Butcher’s shoulder to his noggin, while brother Nat clipped veteran Tyson Frizell high, causing the 34-year-old to jog off the park, and leave the Knights down three forwards.
However it isn’t about the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of fight in the dog, and Newcastle went on their way to prove it.
After repelling the Chooks again and again, Newcastle finally found some field position, and they didn’t waste their opportunity.
A shift to their right finally got Dom Young on the scoreboard after a spectacular bat-on from Hunt, however it ended cruelly for Roosters’ stalwart Daniel Tupou, leaving the field with an arm injury after jamming in on Hunt.
The pendulum swung back away from Newcastle however, losing yet another superstar, this time Dylan Brown to a suspected ACL tear.
Dylan Brown leaves the field. (Photo by Scott Gardiner/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
After growing into the No. 7 jersey throughout 2026, it’s a horror blow for the home side, just six weeks away from finals and clinging to the spot in the eight.
Tedesco had his hat-trick moments after the blow, a flat Walker pass sending Nat Butcher into open pasture, drawing Sharpe before sending his skipper over the line for his 13th try across his last 11 clashes against the Knights.
A valiant Newcastle side just couldn’t find that killer blow in attack without either Dylan on the park, but the Roosters just stayed the course, and stayed patient with the football after that.
A harbour bridge pass from Walker finally gave the Roosters their first lead since Tedesco’s opener, Billy Smith deputising in the corner for Tupou, and Walker’s sideline conversion seemingly bringing the curtains down.
But yet, there’s still plenty of fight left in that dog.
A returning Manuleleua, now on the left-edge, busted straight through the Roosters’ defence courtesy of a shifty Sandon short-ball, drawing Tedesco before sending Bradman Best over for a late equaliser.
After clawing their way back from adversity again and again, the straw finally broke the camel’s back in the form of a Daly Cherry-Evans field goal, the NRL’s most experienced player slotting the one-pointer to seal 23-22 win.
The hard gets harder for Newcastle, now without some key stars for the road trips against the Broncos and Raiders over the next fortnight, while the Roosters will aim to lock in a top four spot as they travel to face the Cowboys.
The Roosters celebrate. (Photo by Scott Gardiner/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
BIG HITS
INJURIES CAUSE NEWCASTLE KNIGHTMARE
If the Newcastle Knights do end up missing this year’s final series, tonight is the night they’ll be looking back at.
After back-to-back losses to fellow top eight hopefuls South Sydney and Cronulla, losing Dylan Brown and Dylan Lucas for the season could and will be catastrophic for the home side.
It’s a cruel blow for a side that has built their season on defying belief and pure grit, only to be undone by the cruelest of circumstances.
TEDDY TRIPLE SETS THE TONE FOR TRICOLOURS
James Tedesco just keeps fooling father time.
Nearly 15 years since his NRL debut, the fullback is ageing like a fine wine. Despite his concussion in the Origin decider, Tedesco put in another dominant display on Friday, notching three tries in a key win.
JUDICIARY WATCH
Victory Radley was placed on reports for a crusher tackle mid way through the first half. He has three unrelated charges in the past 12 months.
Egan Butcher was placed on report for a high tackle early in the second half on Francis Manuleleua. He has no charges since 2023.
Tyson Frizell was placed on report for dangerous contact on the legs of Wong. He has been charged twice for the same offence this season.
Nat Butcher was placed on report for a high tackle on Tyson Frizell about 10 minutes in to the second half. He has one unrelated hip drop charge in past 12 months.
STAT ATTACK
Expected Set Points: Knights 20.4, Roosters 13.1
Newcastle had 52 percent possession and 71 tackles to 50 in the attacking half (26-18 in the Westpac Red Zone). Seventh time this season the Roosters have had less than 50 percent possession, only their second win.
Five straight wins for the Roosters to move, temporarily at least, into second position. Maintained their perfect record this season scoring more than 20 points, and was their fifth win from 10 games trailing at the break – the most of any team. Roosters first one point win since 2023.
Three straight losses for Newcastle – first loss in six games at home. They have now played eight consecutive games decided by 6 points or less – the longest streak of close games since the Raiders in 2019.
Roosters maintain their great recent record against the Knights – have now won six straight and 10 of their last 11 clashes. Six straight wins in Newcastle – the last four all by 4 or less.
Four straight games completing at less than 80 percent for the Roosters (24/32 tonight). Newcastle made six linebreaks to five.
Fox Lab POTM – James Tedesco grabbed multiple tries for the 29th time in his career – his fifth career hattrick – first since 2022. He ran 16 times for 120 metres, busting 6 tackles.
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