Flegg Roosters Complete Courageous Comeback to Down Knights

After a strong opening five minutes from both sides, Newcastle worked off the back of a seven-tackle set to make a break through the middle, and a certain try to fullback Fletcher Sharpe went begging when he dropped the ball with nobody in front of him.

The visitors looked likely for points once again when Malachi Smith broke through the middle with a superb dummy half run, giving the ball to Kyle McCarthy in support who was spectacularly chased down by Tevita Henare-Schuster.

The Tricolours heroically defended the rest of the set before conceding a penalty for an illegal strip.

With a set right on the Roosters’ line, the Knights drew first points as Smith delivered a short ball to Braydon Guyan who crashed over. Liam Sutton converted from beside the uprights to make it 6-0 after 17 minutes.

Ten minutes later, Newcastle capitalised on a Roosters knock on with a backline play finding the hands of Liam Sutton and Fletcher Sharpe who set up winger Jahoiyakim Afoa to dive over in the corner, adding four points to their lead.

Shortly after, the visitors gave themselves another attacking opportunity as they dragged winger Xavier Chatfield-Mooka into touch just 20 metres out from the try line. Another play on the right edge landed in the hands of Afoa who beat Owen Flaherty to the corner, scoring to give his side a convincing 14-0 lead.

In the final minute before half time, a grubber into the in goal from Smith forced a Newcastle goal line dropout, which the home side turned into points as Sione Vaenuku carried three defenders over the line and planted the ball down. Alan Holten converted as the siren sounded to cut the deficit to eight.

Just two minutes into the second half, the Tricolours made the most of some handy field position as Smith stepped off his right foot and tip toed through the defensive line to score his side’s second try of the game. Holten converted from beside the uprights to make the margin two.

The Red, White, and Blue hit the front for the first time of the afternoon with a brilliant try through the middle, after Holten delivered a pass to Smith who turned Salesi Foketi back on the inside, offloading to Watisoni Waqanisaravi who ran through to score. Holten converted from in front to make it 18-14.

A penalty conceded by Newcastle deep in their own half for an accidental offside allowed the Roosters to extend their lead to a converted-try margin, with Flaherty kicking the goal to make it 20-14.

Advancing the ball upfield with a penalty, Easts extended their lead with another try to Waqanisaravi who barged over with multiple defenders scrambling to try and stop him. Flaherty converted to give his side a 26-14 lead with 13 minutes remaining.

The Tricolours made use of a Knights error coming out of their own end, scoring their fifth unanswered try as Smith threw a looping pass out to Kyron Fekitoa who drew in the winger and sent Chatfield-Mooka over in the corner.

The Roosters rounded out their perfect second half with a try to back rower Phoenix Steinwede who chased a grubber and kicked it ahead before planting the ball down. Flaherty magnificently converted from the sideline to complete a brave 36-14 comeback victory at home.

Sydney Roosters 36 (Sione Vaenuku, Jack Smith, Watisoni Waqanisaravi 2, Xavier Chatfield-Mooka, Phoenix Steinwede tries. Alan Holten 3, Owen Flaherty 3 goals) def Newcastle Knights 14 (Braydon Guyan, Jahoiyakim Afoa 2 tries, Liam Sutton goal)