Coming off a heartbreaking loss on Anzac Day, the Sydney Roosters will have to turn the corner quickly if they are to defeat the Newcastle Knights and continue their positive start to the season. Join us for live scores and commentary from 3.00pm AEST.
In a season full of ups and downs, the Roosters produced their best performance of the year against the Dragons on ANZAC Day.
For all their energy in attack and defence however, Sydney failed to play for the full eighty minutes and were punished severely, as St George Illawarra escaped with a 28-24 victory.
It will be interesting to see how such a loss affects a Roosters outfit that makes do with the youngest roster in the NRL.
Brian Smith’s men were clearly fired up in front of a capacity crowd on ANZAC Day so it may not surprise to see the Roosters start a little slowly against Newcastle today, despite the long turnaround.
This is a massive danger game for the Roosters, given the fact that the Knights are also coming off a strong victory against Penrith.
But Newcastle is not without its own issues, with captain Kurt Gidley ruled out for the rest of the season with a shoulder injury. Danny Buderus is also sitting on the sidelines due to an achilles problem.
Prediction
The result of this match will largely rest on whether or not the Roosters can replicate the same intensity and level of play they displayed against the Dragons on ANZAC Day.
Roosters halves Mitchell Pearce and Braith Anasta were superb last week while Anthony Minichiello and Jake Friend tormented the Dragons up the middle of the park.
Young forwards Martin Kennedy, Mitchell Aubusson, Aiden Guerra and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves also played well against a strong Dragons pack.
At their best, the Roosters ball movement can cause any defence numerous problems and the Knights will have to be on their toes if Sydney plays sharply early on.
However, there is also a significant chance that the Roosters will have failed to move on from their defeat to the Dragons, and if so, Newcastle could easily rack up a score this afternoon.
Despite missing Gidley, the Knights still possess the attacking weaponry necessary to post points.
Halfback Jarred Mullen produced his best performance of the year against the Panthers on Monday night and will be desperate to get the better of fellow New South Wales Origin hopeful Mitchell Pearce today.
Out wide, Timana Tahu and James McManus are beginning to combine nicely for Newcastle and the Roosters edge defence could be in for a long afternoon if these two players are given room to manoeuvre.
Overall, this could be a high scoring contest between two teams desperate to stay inside the top eight.
If the Roosters can just respect possession and fork out territory like they did last week against the Dragons, then it may be enough to beat Newcastle at home in a close encounter.
Roosters by 6.
Can the Roosters atone for ANZAC Day? Find out from 3.00pm AEST as we cover action with live scores and commentary and if you’re watching, give us your thoughts in the space below.
Patrick Angel
Roar Guru
Geez the Roosters looked good, Minichello and Pearce really turned it on.
Alan
Roar Guru
The Roosters have dominated Newcastle today en route to a very solid victory against a Knights team that missed the organisational structure provided by Gidley and Buderus. Both teams made errors but the Roosters got sharper in attack as the match wore on and Newcastle in the end simply had no answers to what the Roosters dished up in the second half. Newcastle's inconsistent start to the season continues while the Roosters regain their place in the top eight. Pearce and Minichiello were solid yet again for the Roosters and it wouldn't surprise to see both of them make the Origin squad. Thanks for joining us for this live blog and we look forward to your company next time on The Roar. FULLTIME: Roosters 24 Knights 6
Alan
Roar Guru
80' - Roosters now on the attack as they look to finish with a flourish here and put the icing on the cake. Razzle dazzle football for the Roosters now and they nearly score only for Kennedy to lose possession right on Newcastle's line. FULLTIME: Roosters 24 Knights 6
Alan
Roar Guru
79' - Uate races away down the right hand side and then produces an inside pass to Mullen but his pass is ruled forward. Looked like a tough call and it sums up Newcastle's evening today. Roosters 24 Knights 6
Alan
Roar Guru
78' - Roosters on the attack as Anasta kicks cross field and Roberts now races away before getting tackled by Cordner. Roosters now producing razzle dazzle football with just minutes remaining. Roosters 24 Knights 6
Alan
Roar Guru
76' - Roberts now kicks deep and finds Minichiello who has been solid yet again for the Roosters today. Roosters 24 Knights 6
Alan
Roar Guru
75' - Anasta with a short kick but its defused well by Uate and the Knights now work it out from their own half. Roosters 24 Knights 6
Alan
Roar Guru
75' - Mullen with a short pass but its intercepted by Guerra and that should be enough for the Roosters to hold on and secure a strong win. Roosters 24 Knights 6
Alan
Roar Guru
73' - Knights with a short kickoff and the Roosters lose possession and Newcastle will go on the attack and they have to score now to have any chance of forcing golden point. Roosters 24 Knights 6
Alan
Roar Guru
CONVERSION SUCCESSFUL - Anasta converts and its 24-6 Roosters. They have backed up well after losing on Anzac Day. Roosters 24 Knights 6
Alan
Roar Guru
TRY ROOSTERS - Friend with a wonderful short pass to Pearce and he races through to score. Game over now for Newcastle as the Roosters score the match winner one would think. Roosters 22 Knights 6
Alan
Roar Guru
70' - Roosters get the penalty here and will go on the attack. They have a chance to secure the win now if they can score the next try. They do deserve the win because they have dominated the second half. Roosters 18 Knights 6
Alan
Roar Guru
69' - Knights now in Roosters territory and they are on the attack as Mullen puts up another bomb and finds Kenny-Dowall who did well to get back into the field of play there. Roosters 18 Knights 6
Alan
Roar Guru
68' - Pearce kicks deep now yet again and it goes dead in-goal. Deliberate tactic there by Pearce as the Roosters get set in defence. Roosters 18 Knights 6
Alan
Roar Guru
67' - Knights now in Roosters territory as Mullen puts up a bomb but Perrett defuses it well and the Roosters are in control of the contest now. Roosters 18 Knights 6
Alan
Roar Guru
66' - Roosters work it out from their own half now and the Knights have to be the next to score here if they are a chance. Pearce kicks early and it goes dead in-goal. Roosters 18 Knights 6
Alan
Roar Guru
CONVERSION SUCCESSFUL - Anasta converts and its 18-6 now Roosters. Perrett scored the try after the football went past through 11 sets of hands there. Great attack from the chooks. Roosters 18 Knights 6
Alan
Roar Guru
TRY ROOSTERS - What a try for the Roosters here as Perrett scores out wide after some razzle dazzle hot potato football from the Roosters. Knights had no answers there. Roosters 16 Knights 6
Alan
Roar Guru
62' - McManus loses possession now and this is the biggest moment of the match coming up for both teams here. If the Roosters can score here, they will have put a nail in Newcastle's coffin today. Roosters 12 Knights 6
Alan
Roar Guru
60' - Roosters now work it out from their own half here after scoring points as Minichiello produces a nice grubber and Tagive nearly regathers but loses possession. Knights are let off the hook there. Roosters 12 Knights 6