NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS 22 SYDNEY ROOSTERS 23
CALLUM WALKER, McDonald Jones Stadium, Friday

DALY CHERRY-EVANS nailed a 78th-minute field-goal to hand the Roosters a potentially massive one-point win over the Knights.

James Tedesco had earlier grabbed a hat-trick for the visitors, who now sit four points behind Penrith at the top of the NRL ladder.

It was Tedesco that broke the deadlock in the 15th minute, stepping his way majestically through the Newcastle defence.

But the Knights hit back with two tries in six minutes to take a 10-6 lead at half-time.

First, the increasingly impressive Francis Manuleleua shot onto a short Dylan Brown pass for his first NRL try before Mat Croker bounced his way over on the half-hour.

The Roosters restored parity following the resumption when Tedesco notched his second, but the Knights replied almost instantly after good passing saw Dom Young cross in the corner.

Tedesco’s third levelled the scores once again on the hour, then Billy Smith took the Roosters into a 22-16 lead.

Bradman Best got on the end of a wonderful Manuleleua break with eight minutes to go and, with Sandon Smith’s conversion, it was 22-22.

A grandstand finish ensued, but it was Cherry-Evans that had ice running through his veins to sail his field-goal through the posts.

KNIGHTS: 6 Fletcher Sharpe, 2 Dom Young, 3 Fletcher Hunt, 4 Bradman Best, 5 Greg Marzhew, 14 Sandon Smith, 7 Dylan Brown, 10 Trey Mooney, 9 Phoenix Crossland, 15 Cody Hopwood, 11 Dylan Lucas, 12 Francis Manuleleua, 13 Mat Croker. Subs: 8 Tyson Frizell, 17 Thomas Cant, 18 Harrison Graham (not used), 19 Brodie Jones, 20 Kyle McCarthy (not used), 21 Elijah Salesa-Leaumoana

Tries: Manuleleua (23), Croker (29), Young (48), Best (72); Goals: Smith 4/5

ROOSTERS: 1 James Tedesco, 2 Daniel Tupou, 3 Billy Smith, 4 Robert Toia, 5 Mark Nawaqanitawase, 6 Daly Cherry-Evans, 7 Sam Walker, 8 Naufahu Whyte, 9 Reece Robson, 10 Spencer Leniu, 11 Nat Butcher, 12 Siua Wong, 13 Victor Radley. Subs: 14 Hugo Savala, 15 Salesi Foketi, 16 Egan Butcher, 17 Connor Watson (not used), 18 Cody Ramsey (not used), 19 Taylor Losalu (not used)

Tries: Tedesco (15, 44, 59), Smith (69); Goals: Walker 3/4; Field goals: Cherry-Evans (78)

SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-6, 4-6, 10-6; 10-10, 16-10, 16-16, 16-22, 22-22, 22-23

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Knights: Francis Manuleleua; Roosters: James Tedesco

Penalty count: 4-5; Half-time: 10-6; Referee: Wyatt Raymond; Attendance: 21,313