The nib Newcastle Knights NRL side have opened their campaign with a dominant 20-6 victory over rivals, the Sydney Roosters, at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday afternoon.
The Knights kept the Roosters to one try and scored four of their own to post their first win against the Chooks in Sydney since 2009.
Debutants Leo Thompson and Adam Clune savoured the victory while Kurt Mann put in an incredible performance in his 150th first grade game.
After all the build-up leading into Round 1, the eagerly-anticipated match was underway on a glorious day at the Cricket Ground.
The Roosters looked to have scored first points early after a back-field move culminated in James Tedesco crossing over, however the try was overruled by The Bunker.
The Knights built their way into the game with fast ball movement worrying and tiring the Roosters middles.
A fortuitous error from Tedesco presented an opportunity for the red and blue, and Dane Gagai swooped.
The centre picked up the loose ball to score an untouched try and his first back in Knights colours.
The Knights were on top and continued to cause problems for the Roosters defence.
On his 150th game, Kurt Mann came up with a big play forcing an error with a huge tackle on Jared Waerea-Hargreaves.
Approaching half-time, Tedesco pulled off a try-saver on a flying Bradman Best, however the Knights weren't to be denied soon after.
On the 32nd minute mark, a stunning manoeuvre went through multiple sets of hands before finding Best.
Best fended off one defender before setting up Enari Tuala for the second try of the afternoon.
The Roosters kicked a late penalty goal on the half-time siren, but it was the Knights with all the ascendency with a 10-2 lead at the break.
The Knights continued their strong performance in the opening of the second half.
Jake Clifford made the Roosters pay again after picking up a loose ball in the middle of the field.
The five-eight sprinted 50 metres to score under the posts to extend the Knights lead.
Newcastle were forced to play with 12 men when Phoenix Crossland was sin-binned for a professional foul.
Incredible scramble defence kept Daniel Tupou from scoring in the corner as the Knights rallied with a man down.
The towering Englishmen, Dom Young, put the icing on the cake with an acrobatic finish in the 72nd minutes to secure a famous two points.
Paul Momirovski scored a late consolation try for the Chooks, however the Knights would soak in a brilliant opening round win in front of a contingent of Knights fans at the SCG.
Attention will now turn to next Sunday's clash with the Wests Tigers at McDonald Jones Stadium.
