NRL 2020: Sydney Roosters beat Newcastle Knights 42-12 | Match Report
The Roosters may have avoided a massive setback just two weeks before finals, with inspirational skipper Boyd Cordner suffering his fourth head knock in 10 weeks just days after a personal tragedy.
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Boyd Cordner failed to finish the game during the Roosters 42-12 win against Newcastle but Roosters coach Trent Robinson says there are no concerns for his immediate future.
The fact he was even able to get his mind around playing was a feat in itself given recent tragic circumstances. The Roosters co-captain played just a day after the tragic death of his cousin Joel Dark. Dark, 19, collapsed while playing rugby league for Central Newcastle last Sunday. Players wore black armbands and a minute silence prior to kick-off was held with Cordner clearly emotional as his cousin flashed on the big screen.
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With just Cordner’s second touch he laid on the opening try to Josh Morris. But after attempting to score a try of his own he was taken from the field in the 26th minute for a concussion test after knocking on the ball in the in-goal. Cordner, who has had four previous concussions this year with the most recent resulting in six weeks on the sidelines, failed to return.
“He was quite good,” Robinson said. “On field you could see his eyes were good, his responses were quite good. The assessment was really good. The time off he had plus also the week he has had, that was a smart call to say ‘righto take a breath. Don’t go back on’.
“It was an incredibly tough week. He is upset like any cousin would be. It’s a hard one (to ask him or play or not). You do go through that in your head as coach and staff. It’s hard to know what the right call is. I had a couple of good discussions with Boyd.
“I’m not concerned about him health wise. I’m more concerned about him (regarding) Joel’s passing.”
RED-HOT ROOSTERS
The Roosters raced to a 24-0 lead in as many minutes to stun a Newcastle side minus Kalyn Ponga. Morris scored the first after just four minutes. The Roosters are quietly on a four-game winning streak, dropping just one of their past eight.
Luke Keary laid two and crossed for two tries while Daniel Tupou also scored twice.
Robinson praised his team’s start.
“A couple of errors on last tackle with those two tries before half-time,” Robinson said. “I thought we started the second half well but left points out there. Our eyes told us where to go. We could’ve executed.”
Robinson was filthy with a bunker decision to disallow a Lindsay Collins try after it was ruled Nat Butcher interfered with Knights defenders after playing the ball.
“Common sense needs to take over,” Robinson said. “He stood still. You’re searching on that occasion. (There was also a) pretty simple review captain’s challenge (which went against the Roosters). It was clear for everyone to see. Simple decision’s that aren’t complicated.”
KICK TRIES
The boot of Mitchell Pearce produced two first half-tries for the Knights to have them trailing 24-12. But the joy was short-lived when Kyle Flanagan produced a kick-try of his own for James Tedesco to give the Roosters a 30-12 half-time lead.
Knights coach Adam O’Brien said he was “shocked” by his team’s performance. The loss was just the Knights second in the past six matches but all but ends their slim hopes of a top four finish.
“The dressing shed is disappointed,” O’Brien said. The execution of some of our defence was a real shock considering what we managed to do last week. We got some lessons against a hungry for more success.
“The difference between our best and our worst is way too far apart. You’re not always going to be at your best, but we’re getting too many guys no where near their best on the same night. That needs to change quickly.”
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SONNY BUILDING
Sonny Bill Williams played two stints. The first was an unbroken 27 minutes either side of half-time before playing out the final six. Williams said he felt he got “punched in the face” after last week’s match.
“Without going through those type of punch in the face experiences there is no growth,” Williams said. “There is growth from last week. I felt more comfortable in the middle. It’s only the start. I was excited, over-aroused. I got out there and tried to go too hard too fast. I got my heart rate up too high.”
AWESOME AUBBO
Mitch Aubusson – arguably the Roosters’ greatest clubman is now one game away from becoming the most-capped Rooster of all time. The 32-year-old played his 302nd game in his comeback from a wrist injury to equal Anthony Minichiello, coming on with 20 minutes left in the match. He will overtake Minichiello when the Roosters play the Sharks on Saturday night.
ROOSTERS 42 (J Morris, Tupou 2, Keary 2, Manu, Tedesco & Goals: Flanagan 7/7) KNIGHTS 12 (Tuala, Shibasaki & Goals: Lino 2/2) at Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney.
DEBUT MAGIC NOT ENOUGH TO SAVE HOPELESS DRAGONS
—James Phelps
Jack Wighton kept Canberra’s premiership dream alive with the hulk like half turning wrecking ball to beat-up the Dragons.
In another playmaking masterclass that stopped the Raiders from crashing out of top-four contention, Wighton scored a rampaging double to inspire a 37-8 romp.
Stepping up to become the wrecking machine that has given the injury ravaged Raiders hope, the reigning Clive Churchill Medal winner blasted through four defenders to start a Canberra point scoring spree.
Wighton combined with hard-hitting forwards Josh Papalii and Hudson Young to spoil a dream debut for Cody Ramsey, who announced himself as a future star with only a controversial call denying him a hattrick on debut.
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A STAR IS BORN
Dean Young declared Cody Ramsey the future of the Dragons after only a controversial call stopped the long haired country kid from scoring a hattrick on debut.
In a stunning start to his career that confirmed his NRL Nines form was no fluke, the player they call Jesus and Born Borg scored a try with his first touch before backing up to make it a double.
The 20-year-old who fought back from a shoulder injury to make it into the St George Illawarra bubble looked set to score a hattrick until denied by an off-side call.
The debutante’s mother was seen mouthing an expletive when her son was denied a Charlie Staines like hattrick.
Interim Dragons coach Young declared Ramsey a future Dragon’s star.
“I thought he was outstanding,” Young said.
“He is what this club should be about. He turns up and tries his hardest at training every day and we all got to see what he can do out on the field. He should have had three tries and I am really happy for him.
“But it is a little disappointing for the group that a 20 year old kid making his debut is our best player.
NO COMPARISON
Raiders coach Ricky Stuart declared Jack Wighton could not be compared to former five-eighth with the Raiders matching winner a new breed of No.6.
Maturing to become an out-and-out match winner since Josh Hodgson’s injury to give the Raiders hope, Wighton showcased his dynamite like running game to keep the Raiders in the top-four fight.
“I compare Jack Wighton to Jack Wighton,” Stuart said.
“There is no other player like Jack Wighton and Jack is like no other player. I don’t compare him to anyone else and that is the conversation I had with him last year. He wanted to look at a couple of players in regard to his ball playing and I told him I wanted him to play like Jack Wighton. Jack needs to play like Jack.”
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HITTING HARD
Josh Papalli produced a monster hit to help inspire a second half Raiders riot.
More a car-crash than a rugby league tackle, the Queensland enforcer put all off his 115kg into the hit that levelled Cameron McInnes and gave his fellow forwards something to follow.
Papalli and Young laid the platform for Wighton to pile on the points.
“Our middles have been our backbones all year,” Stuart said.
“They have taken on an extra work-load because of the guys that we have sitting on the sideline. I am proud of how they have done that.”
Stuart winced when asked about the Papalli hit.
“He always as a moment when he can turn a game,” Stuart said.
“All the good players do.”
DRAGONS 8 (Tries: Ramsey 2 & Goals: Lomax 0/2) RAIDERS 37 (Tries: Young, Wighton 2, Croker, Bateman, Valemei & Goals: Croker 6/7 & Field Goal: Williams) at WIN Stadium, Wollongong.
Originally published as NRL 2020: Sydney Roosters beat Newcastle Knights 42-12 | Match Report
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