The Sydney Roosters rounded off a difficult week by holding their nerve to comfortably beat a gallant Newcastle 40-14 and book their place in next Sunday’s NRL grand final against Manly.
Four tries in a blistering 13-minute second-half spell was enough to end the season of a Knights side roared on by more than 15,000 of their supporters who made the trip down to Sydney.
The Roosters’ build-up to the game was disrupted by a report linking three of their players to performance-enhancing substances – but Trent Robinson’s side showed no signs of distraction and were ruthless after halftime as they blew away Wayne Bennett’s men.
Newcastle had more than held their own in the first half, holding out the home side comfortably in the opening half-hour with James Maloney and Tyrone Roberts exchanging penalties to tie the scores at 2-2.
But their plans were thrown into disarray midway through the opening stanza when Danny Buderus was forced out of the game after being knocked unconscious, coming off second-best trying to bring down the onrushing Jared Waerea-Hargreaves.
It was a sad end to a glorious career for the retiring former NSW skipper as he was given a standing ovation from the 37,752 crowd as he was taken to hospital as a precaution.
The loss of their talisman appeared to affect the Knights with Daniel Tupou and Michael Jennings crossing for the Roosters just before halftime, to make the score 12-2 before Roberts kicked his second goal on the stroke of the halftime to narrow the gap.
But it was the Roosters who started fastest after the break with Aidan Guerra, Jennings, Mitch Aubusson and Jake Friend going over to effectively end the game as a contest and book their place in a second grand final in four seasons.
However, the Knights refused to go down without a fight with the impressive Jarrod Mullen, who was in no way overshadowed by the equally outstanding Mitchell Pearce and Maloney, teeing up former Rooster Joey Leilua for two late consolation tries.
But Guerra had the final word crashing over again in the final seconds with Maloney adding the extras with his fifth successful conversion.
Pearce said the Roosters are a better side than when they last made the grand final and went down to St George Illawarra but expects a huge test from the Sea Eagles.
“We’re in a different position to last time, we were really focused on this game and credit to the boys we did what we had to do,” Pearce said.
“Manly were outstanding last week and we will know it will be tough.”
mick
Guest
I believe manly will be far to strong for them,dont forgot newcastle missing a lot of key players,snowden,buderus,cuthberson,gidley and mcmanus,roosters were not that good,referee was obviously a roosters fan,that try from williams forward pass was demoralising for the knights,roosters have not one local talent,they steal everyone else and politis would have heinrich himmler in the squad if he could play football,go manly
Bearfax
Guest
Sorry. meant the Chiefs Super Rugby Sonny Bill set to confirm union return ESPN Staff September 1, 2013 The Wild Knights' Sonny Bill Williams stretches the Shining Arcs' defence, Panasonic Wild Knights vNTT Communications Shining Arcs, Tsukisamu Rugby Stadium, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan, September 9, 2012 Soony Bill Williams' time in union ended with a short spell in Japan with the Panasonic Wild Knights © Getty Images Enlarge Former All Blacks international Sonny Bill Williams is reportedly poised to confirm his return to rugby union and put pen to paper on a three-year deal with the Chiefs. The World Cup winner is currently playing for the Sydney Roosters in Australia's National Rugby League but is out of contract at the end of the season and has repeatedly been linked with a move back to the 15-man code and Chiefs with whom he won the 2012 Super Rugby crown before returning to the code where he originally made his name. The New Zealand Rugby Union has tabled an offer to Williams who is understood to be keen to reclaim his place in the All Blacks squad ahead of their defence of the World Cup in England in 2015. However, the Roosters are also keen to secure his services and have asked league chiefs for flexibility within the competition's salary cap in order for them accommodate Williams' contract. However, it appears their efforts will be wasted with Williams understood to be closing in on a move back to New Zealand in time for next year's Super Rugby season. A source told The Sunday Mail: "The Chiefs are very confident of getting Sonny Bill. I expect Sonny Bill to be at the Chiefs (next year) and it will be announced the second the NRL season is over. "The word out of the Sonny Bill camp is that he is getting bashed in rugby league, he feels he is getting targeted and can look after his body better in rugby union and prolong his career. The Chiefs are really close to getting the deal done. With the Roosters in the finals, Sonny Bill wants to keep things low-key until their season is over." Williams, 28, is understood to want to continue his boxing career and believes union will take less of a toll on his body while he is also reportedly interested in challenging for a place in the New Zealand 7s squad for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. Chiefs chairman Dallas Fisher confirmed their long-held interest in re-signing Williams but stressed he had yet to formally sign. "We are waiting for Sonny to give us an answer on what he wants to do, the ball is entirely in his court," he told Fox Sports. "Our interest in Sonny is genuine and we are waiting to see how things pan out. We're not rushing him, we are waiting for him to get to a point where he will make a decision. He's very attractive to us. He is an outstanding athlete with an outstanding profile. He will forever be part of the Chiefs and we'd love to have him back." However other sources suggest the deal is already done with Sky Sport NZ commentator Andrew Voss suggesting on Twitter that Williams is on his way back to Hamilton. "Whether it gets announced publicly I don't know but Sonny Bill Williams will sign with Chiefs this week," Voss tweeted. © ESPN Sports Media Ltd
Firstxv
Guest
Crusaders...? hardly...
Bearfax
Guest
Hey I dont hate SBW at all. Think he is a brilliant footballer who does some exceptional things on the field. Should be a great asset for the Crusaders next year.
Open eye
Guest
The eye (is that goldfish eye),U think getting penalised more than any other team in the last 15 years is (refs help). Did u c slater get taken out last week by buderus at 18-16 in front off posts amongst plenty more against storm. Glenn stewart free to play!!! U think Hargreaves would of got let off? Knights were put into that game by ref mistakes. And got away with worse forward pass than chooks on sat but did not have the class to score. 40-14. How many points did it cost knights ?
Wozza
Guest
I'm glad SBW plays for the roosters otherwise I'd prolly hate him just as much as the rest of yas ...
Matt
Guest
Last game for SBW - off to the Chiefs next year - confirmed
Matt
Guest
I totally agree - Shayne Hayne killed the knights
Magic Sponge
Guest
Roosters by HGH and 15pts. Go the mighty chookies outstanding against the Knights.
Matt
Guest
Manly showed they can have a poor start and still remain composed enough to dominate, although Souths panicked. The Knights were gallant in the first 20 minutes but when they lost Bedsy and SBW was allowed to throw a forward pass to set up their second try, it was all over. Should be a great GF, as long as that show-pony Shayne Hayne doesn't get the job!
mushi
Roar Guru
Jay C you can tell your a Hunter man the whine is just drippipng from you.
Mals
Guest
BBQ Chooks cannot rely on Pearce to deliver a premiership, he does not stand up to pressure. Watch State of Origin game 3 again. IF Chooks are to win it will be done to the efforts of Maloney, Friend, JWH & SBW.
Wozza
Guest
I think you may see SBW running at the Seagulls from a completely different structured game plan. CR will know Manly are going to try to shut SB down ( not sure how they would do it ) and will be one step ahead ... As far as Pearce goes , he was one of the best on ground against Newcastle and will stand up here again . This will be an interesting battle when you consider DCE is the heir apparent for QLD and Pearce is the much scorned incumbent for NSW. If Pearce can come away with the points it creates a situation where ( if his form is solid ) next year he would have to be picked again for NSW.
carnage_joe
Guest
@Bearfax: Have you seen the Roosters defensive stats without JWH? Have you seen how much go forward the Roosters lose without him? It will be interesting to see a full strength Roosters take on a full strength Manly cause we haven't seen it this year.
Rob G.
Guest
Go manly
JezRu
Roar Pro
Agree re souths there sheek, big athletic forwards but lacking that talent to turn a game or pull out the big play (Inglis perhaps the exception). There outside backs are solid but nothing special and Sutton is the worst backrower disguised as a five-eighth. Think Newcastle may lack in the outside backs also, Mullen was oustanding and must be in the halves for NSW, our best by far. For mine as hard as it is to say I think Manly may get the choccies. Easts are very good but I believe the quick smart halves of DCE and Foran can find there big fellas out. Not sold on whether Pearce can perform on the big stage and they still have a heavy reliance on SBW, if he is shut down or quiet then the chooks could be in trouble. For the chooks to be any chance Pearce and Maloney need to win the battle against DCE and Foran. So my prediction; Easts to win the forward battle but unable to convert into enough points. Manly will capitalise on any good field position they get and DCE to carve them up late in the game. Manly by 8
Brad H
Guest
The thing that is ruining the game for me is the amount of interference at the play the ball , on almost every play over the weekend the marker defense was either pushed off the all , grabbed by the man playing the ball or just taken out of the play by the ball player ,intentionally walking off the the mark to negate the marker defense. What the hell happened to policing this area of play by the referees ?
Bearfax
Guest
Granted. SBW out for 11 minutes when the game was gone is hardly that significant. I'll concede with Maloney for Foran, but Brett Stewart out for the other two games...have you seen Manly's win loss percentage when that guy is in the team. He's like a second play making five eighth as well as full back and Manly tends to score much more heavily when he is in the side.
Thor
Guest
Geez, makes me wonder why people are talking up Manly here. Yes they beat Shouts but not before they got the boots up the backsides. Give that lead to SCR in the first 20 mins and you'll never be able to fight back. SCR beat SSR comprehensively in their second outing and denied MSE 3 times. Manly may be a better team at keeping a close tab on the chooks, but trust me, they are not good enough to beat them. Roosters by 10.
carnage_joe
Guest
@Bearfax: Full strength side? You must be joking. JWH was sent off for the last 11 minutes of the first game and the Chooks not only won, but put points on Manly with 12 men. Foran was missing for the second game? Poor Manly, Maloney was missing too, the Chooks missed almost every conversion of the night and still beat them. No Stewart for the third game? No Cordner, no JWH either. Manly parked in the Roosters 20 for virtually the entire game and still couldn't win.