The nib Newcastle Knights were unable to overcome a dominant Sydney Roosters side, going down 24-6 at McDonald Jones Stadium on Friday evening.
Before kick off, the Knights were forced to shuffle their line-up following a training injury to Jamie Buhrer.
The visitors kept the Knights scoreless in the first half but despite a glimmer of hope early in the final 40 minutes, the Roosters ran away with the game, adding another 12 points in the second stanza.
Inside the 10-minute mark, Knights forward Mitch Barnett charged for the line but the bunker denied the try, deeming it a knock on.
18 minutes in and it was the Roosters who opened the scoring account, centre Joseph Manu side stepping his way through a hole in defence to record his first NRL try. Michael Gordon then booting Sydney to a 6-0 lead.
In the 32rd minute, fullback Michael Gordon extended the Roosters' lead to 12-0, which the visitors took into half time.
Just after the break the Knights hit back. Dane Gagai dished off to Ken Sio out wide to slide over for the home side's first try. Captain Trent Hodkinson was able to finish off with the kick to see the Knights trail 12-6.
In the 63rd minute, some magic came from Roosters five-eighth Luke Keary, threading his way through a gap to touch down on the left side before Sydney stretched the lead even further when Mitchell Pearce went through the middle to seal the deal 24-6.
SUMMARY
Newcastle Knights: 6 (T: Sio, G: Hodkinson 1/1)
Sydney Roosters: 24 (T: Manu, Gordon, Keary, Pearce, G: Gordon 4/4)
