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NRL Live round 6: Newcastle Knights vs Sydney Roosters, SuperCoach scores and analysis

The Knights surged late but couldn’t quite get the job done against the Roosters. Catch up on our SuperCoach analysis and see who the big winners were from a thrilling clash.

Kevin MerriganKevin Merrigan
5 min read
April 11, 2024 - 9:48PM
News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom
Fetalaiga Pauga of the Roosters is tackled. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Fetalaiga Pauga of the Roosters is tackled. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Joey Manu (108 points) ran for more than 300 metres and notched his third SuperCoach ton of the season to lead the Roosters to a strong 22-20 victory over the Knights at McDonald Jones Stadium.

In the absence of James Tedesco due to concussion protocols, Manu excelled in the Roosters’ No. 1 jersey on a night where Daniel Tupou crossed for two tries and tallied his best SuperCoach score of the season (128 points).

The Knights led by eight-points early in the match but a hip injury to Kalyn Ponga (79 points) limited his effectiveness through the middle stages of the match. Ponga bravely completed the match and almost inspired his side to a late comeback.

Relive all the SuperCoach action in our gameday blog.

FULL-TIME: Knights 20, Roosters 22

The Roosters have held on in a two-point thriller in the Hunter.

A late Adam Elliott try drew the Knights within striking distance of the Roosters with three minutes to play and a Kalyn Ponga line-break electrified the home crowd.

But the visitors’ defence proved resolute under pressure to secure a hard-earned victory.

76th minute - Knights 20-22 Roosters

Knights are in!

Adam Elliott ($556,600) has scored a try from a brilliant Phoenix Crossland offload ($408,100) to put Newcastle within two points of the Roosters as full time looms.

We’re in for a grandstand finish!

64th minute - Knights 14-22 Roosters

After playing limited minutes last week, Terrell May ($505,800) has rebounded strongly and played a crucial hand in the Roosters’ opening try of the second half.

A clever May pass set-up a line break which put the Roosters in prime attacking position. Then another May pass in the next play put Tupou over in the corner for his second try of the match.

The winger is absolutely hauling in the SuperCoach points, crossing the century and currently sitting on a whopping 113.

Joseph Suaali’i nails the kick from the sideline to extend the margin beyond a converted try.

58th minute - Knights 14-16 Roosters

Dane Gagai appears to have put the Knights in front after a brilliant solo effort to evade the defence in the right corner.

However, the try is ruled out by referee Gerard Sutton and the bunker after Dylan Lucas was deemed to have obstructed defender Luke Keary in the buildup.

The Knights have completed in excess of 90% of their sets in the match thus far and have been threatening, but the Roosters still hold the lead.

In other news, Sitili Tupouniua ($407,900) has been ruled out for remainder of the match after being deemed a Category 1 HIA.

54th minute - Knights 14-16 Roosters

Arm-wrestle to start second half

Kalyn Ponga appears to have shaken off the effects of a hip injury and is proving troublesome once again for the Roosters’ defence. His owners will be pleased to see him cross the half century of SuperCoach points as well.

His opposing fullback, Joey Manu, is also running strongly and scoring freely, sitting on 85 points.

Angus Crichton ($414,300) was held up over the line after a charging run and has surged past 50 SuperCoach points. His improved performances and minutes - coupled with his appealing price - will make him a highly sought after 2RF next week.

Second half underway:

Biggest news coming into the second half is that Kalyn Ponga has taken to the field again, after moving battling through apparent injury in the first half.

HALF TIME: Knights 14-16 Roosters

There are huge injury concerns for Kalyn Ponga at halftime as the Roosters bounced back from an eight-point deficit to head to the break leading 16-14.

After a bright start, Ponga laboured through the final 20 minutes of the half with what appeared to be a hip injury and handed over goal kicking duties to Dane Gagai.

Joey Manu (66 points), Brandon Smith (57 points) and Daniel Tupou (54) all cracked the SuperCoach half century at halftime, while Jackson Hastings (57 points) and Kai Pearce-Paul (54) led the way for Newcastle.

37th minute – Knights 14-16 Roosters

Kai Pearce-Paul ($482,900) has blasted through the Roosters defence to set up a much-needed try to Bradman Best ($509,400) on the cusp of halftime.

Ponga threw the final pass but looks to be carrying an injury.

He has handed over the goal kicking duties to Dane Gagai, who slotted the conversion to bring Newcastle back within two points of the Roosters.

31st minute – Knights 8-16 Roosters

A defensive lapse from the Knights inside their own 20 has allowed Brandon Smith ($488,600) to cross for an easy try.

That try takes Smith over the half century of points in the first half, sitting on 53 points currently.

Ponga was slow to respond as marker and is looking to be in more and more pain. You wouldn’t be surprised if he doesn’t see out this fixture.

22nd minute – Knights 8-10 Roosters

Chooks take the lead for the first time in this contest, and it’s Victor ‘The Inflictor’.

The spine combined brilliantly, starting with a burst from Brandon Smith ($488,600), before a deft offload from Manu put Luke Keary ($497,000) into a yawning gap, paving the way for a Victor Radley ($561,000) try.

Manu is two points away from hitting the SuperCoach half century barely 20 minutes into the game.

As a side note, Kalyn Ponga also appears to be in some discomfort, moving around a bit gingerly at the moment.

16th minute – Knights 8-4 Roosters

The Roosters have bounced back into this contest through a Daniel Tupou ($562,900) try.

A lovely cut-out pass from popular POD Joey Manu ($698,200) put Tupou over in the corner for the Roosters’ opening try.

Manu could be in for a big SuperCoach haul this week, filling in for James Tedesco at fullback and injecting himself into the game early.

Joseph Suaali’i missed the conversion.

Daniel Tupou of the Roosters celebrates scoring a try. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Daniel Tupou of the Roosters celebrates scoring a try. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

13th minute – Knights 8-0 Roosters

Don’t see this every day, but the Roosters have been penalised for not taking their dropout before the shot clock.

Ponga ($889,400) slots the penalty goal from in front of the sticks to take his SuperCoach tally in excess of 30 points after less than 15 minutes.

A popular purchase and choice for captain this week, Ponga is proving troublesome for the Roosters’ defence.

Jackson Hastings of the Knights celebrates a try. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Jackson Hastings of the Knights celebrates a try. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

6th minute – Knights 6-0 Roosters

The Knights have raced out of the blocks with a try to Jackson Hastings in the fifth minute, converted by Kalyn Ponga.

Hastings ($522,800) recorded 66 SuperCoach points in his return to the top grade last week and owners will be ecstatic with his fast start against the Chooks, sitting on 34 points after the early exchanges.

Adam Elliott ($556,600) has also leapt to 32 points after ten minutes.

7:50pm: And we’re underway in Newcastle!

PREVIEW:

Welcome to the most SuperCoach-relevant clash of the round with three of the four most popular buys of the week set to decide our fantasy fate.

Joseph Manu (second most popular buy this week), Kalyn Ponga (third) and Angus Crichton (fourth) have attracted extreme interest and all take the field tonight in Newcastle.

With James Tedesco out, Manu has been named at fullback, where he has averaged close to a ton over his career.

Ponga is by far the most popular vice-captain option given his great recent form – he’s averaged 106.7 over the last three weeks.

Crichton is a former SuperCoach gun on the comeback trail.

Crichton averaged mid-70s over 2020, 2021 and 2022 and was one of the most valuable players in SuperCoach over that time (when injuries allowed), but is available for just $414,300 this week.

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Originally published as NRL Live round 6: Newcastle Knights vs Sydney Roosters, SuperCoach scores and analysis

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