The Sydney Roosters travelled to McDonald Jones Stadium in Round 16 to take on the Newcastle Knights.
Butcher Moves to the Middle
For just the third time in his 115-game career, Nat Butcher started at prop and pieced together a superb 80 minutes of play.
He opened the Tricolours’ account for the afternoon, running off a Sandon Smith line break to return serve just five minutes after his side conceded the first try.
Butcher Breaks Through
Butcher went on to run for a brilliant 171 metres from 17 runs while committing zero errors, as well as making an impressive 45 tackles.
Crucial Last Ditch Defence
In what turned out to be a tight win for the Red, White, and Blue, it was a series of try-saving tackles that proved the difference.
It took the best efforts of Joseph Manu and Junior Pauga to deny a determined Bradman Best from scoring 20 minutes into the contest, but a penalty for an illegal steal in the process handed possession back to the home team. Just two plays later, Daniel Tupou saved a try on the other side of the field, dragging a determined Dane Gagai into touch.
Tupou Too Strong
Newcastle looked set to score early in the second half when Kalyn Ponga broke through the defensive line on the left edge, but the relentless cover defence of Pauga and Corey Allan allowed Easts to maintain their 12-point advantage.
Smith Impresses in First NRL Start
In only his third first grade match, Sandon Smith was handed the no. 7 jersey and tasked with directing the side around the park for the afternoon.
Racing out of the blocks, the youngster set up the first Roosters try, slipping through the defensive line with a deceitful dummy before finding Nat Butcher on his outside.
He proved his worth on the defensive end as well, saving a try on his line as he cut off a pass to Lachlan Fitzgibbon who had open pastures in front of him.
Even more responsibility was placed on Smith’s shoulders when halves partner Luke Keary was forced from the field just 25 minutes into the match.
Round 16 Match Highlights: Roosters vs Knights
He didn’t shy away from the challenge, steering his side to a much-needed victory away from home.
Marvellous Manu Shifts to Fullback
Filling in for New South Wales Blues Captain James Tedesco, Joseph Manu had yet another standout performance at fullback.
He produced a magnificent try to give Trent Robinson’s men their first lead of the game, running off a Sitili Tupouniua inside ball and beating Kalyn Ponga and Dominic Young to the try line to execute the 50-metre manoeuvre.
Manu the Magnificent
He finished the match with an astounding personal record of 318 run metres along with seven tackle breaks, six offloads and zero errors.
Easts Protect Half Time Lead
Having tallied 18 points in the first half, the Roosters were able to defend their way to victory in the second half.
Newcastle began to eat away at the 12-point difference 15 minutes into the second half as they crossed the line through Young, before Best found the stripe, reducing the game to a two-point contest with 10 minutes left to play.
In the end, it was a 39th minute penalty goal to Smith that proved the difference as the Tricolours recorded an 18-16 triumph.
Robinson & Waerea-Hargreaves: Round 16 Press Conference
