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The Sydney Roosters snapped a two game losing streak by defeating the Newcastle Knights 24-6 on Sunday afternoon at Allianz Stadium.
With State of Origin looming ever closer it was another opportunity for individuals from both sides to strengthen their selection chances before Game 1 in Melbourne.
In round eight of the Telstra Premiership the Roosters suffered a four point loss to the Dragons in Sydney, while the Newcastle outfit trounced the Penrith Panthers by 20 points at Hunter Stadium.
The 2002 Premiers dictated field possession from the outset and had chances to produce points in the opening 20 minutes.
The Knights resilient defence soon manufactured points for the Novocastrians as former New South Wales halfback Jarrod Mullen crossed in the 30th minute, for a controversial opening try.
The Newcastle playmaker easily broke through a lacklustre Roosters defence as he threw a few dummies to his outside and comfortably beat the inside defenders. The failure to extract points left the Sydney side trailing 6-0, 10 minutes out from the break.
The Tri-colours hit back just five minutes later as Tinirau Arona reduced the slender lead to a minor two.
Current New South Wales playmaker Mitchell Pierce put a perfectly placed kick into the Knights in goal area, for Arona to open the Roosters’ try scoring account. The try was converted to level the round 9 encounter 6-6.
The 2002 Premiers accumulated a slender lead, with just one minute remaining before the 40 minute interval. The Roosters halfback was put into a dangerous position through a Joel Edwards tackle. The Sydney outfit took the two points on offer and concluded the first half performance ensuring an 8-6 score line.
The advantage that was currently in favour of the home side wasn’t a true reflection of the field possession and dominance that the Sydney Roosters had throughout the opening 20 minutes at Allianz Stadium.
The Tri-colours inability to get points through their enduring attacking pressure ensured the Knights only trailed by 2, when it could’ve produced a distinctly different outcome leading into the second 40.
The attacking field possession for the Sydney club remained a constant threat for the Novocastrians, as the Knights defensive line conceded another 4 pointer 18 minutes after half time. Pierce drew in two Newcastle defenders to put Mitch Aubusson through the defensive hole and the home side increased their lead to a converted try in the 58th minute.
The Tri-Colours attacking capabilities were on full display in the second 40 when the Roosters secured a controlling and decisive lead, through an exhilarating passage of expansive football.
The Roosters’ third try went through more than eight passes in a clinical movement that was finished off by an Anthony Minichiello cut-out pass on the right wing.
New Zealand International Sam Perrett made no mistake in establishing a 10 point margin for the home side andamp; it became an increasingly difficult task for Newcastle with 16 minutes left. The difference was now pushed out to a 12 point score line.
The 2010 runners-up confirmed their fifth win of the 2012 season, when the New South Wales playmaker went through another hole in the Knights defensive line. Jake Friend ran out from dummy half to put Pierce through a defensive hole and with one to beat, the inform halfback stretched the result to a 24-6 lead in the 71th minute, as the conversion was successful.
The score remained 24-6 at full time with the Sydney Roosters in eighth position and the Newcastle Knights in ninth on the NRL ladder.
The Newcastle Knights next face the Cowboys at home in Newcastle, while the Sydney Roosters have a difficult trip to New Zealand to take on the Warriors in round 10.
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