Tedesco lifts injury-hit Roosters to victory over Knights

James Tedesco even came up with a strike when celebrating a ten-pin try-scoring celebration.

The wonderfully-gifted Tedesco was in everything – again – as he inspired a busted-up Sydney Roosters to a 28-8 victory over the Newcastle Knights.

The fullback set up tries and was a handful every time he touched the ball to keep the Roosters’ top-four hopes well and truly alive.

Next Thursday night’s clash against Parramatta will be an absolute belter. The good folk of Mackay will not only get to see their first NRL game but the game’s best player in the flesh.

The Bondi boys have had their share of injuries this year, and it continued on the Sunshine Coast when Billy Smith and Matt Ikuvalu were both finished before half-time because of foot and ankle injuries.

The double setback forced a few positional shifts, including Angus Crichton to left centre, Isaac Liu on an edge and Joey Manu spending time on the right wing.

But Tedesco made sure the players kept their composure while making 11 tackle breaks himself.

The only knock on Tedesco was his ordinary form at kicking goals. The Roosters have struggled to settle on a decent goal-kicker.

Tedesco was also frustrated with referee Gerard Sutton on several occasions in the first half, including a pass that was called forward but appeared flat at best and would have put Daniel Tupou over for the first try of the night. The touch judge in line with the pass did not raise his flag.

Like Tom Trbojevic at Manly, while Tedesco is on the park with the Roosters they are a chance to go all the way.

“He’s the complete player, that’s what he is,” Roosters coach Trent Robinson said.

“From the sideline it was great to hear how loud he was, he organised our defensive line, he took control of our last plays, of the ruck and of the short sides. It was a real clinic from him tonight.”

Back-rower Sitili Tupouniua was excellent, as was Manu, while Crichton, even out of position, continues to get better each week. Bench players Nat and Egan Butcher, Fletcher Baker and Lachie Lam lapped up the extra minutes required of them.

The Knights looked good early, but their own No.1, Kalyn Ponga, was clearly playing in pain with a sternum injury and struggled.

Sitili Tupouniua scores for the Roosters despite the flying effort of Mitch Barnett.Credit:Getty

As Knights coach Adam O’Brien said: “We’re a young team and our footy IQ needs to improve. Fortunately we’re in an environment [in lockdown] where there are no excuses not to get better at footy. We’ll be here long term.”

Newcastle took the lead early through Blues prop Jacob Saifiti and went further ahead with a penalty goal.

But when Manu stripped the ball from Dominic Young, Tupouniua was able to score a couple of plays later, then Manu scored just before the break to give the Roosters a lead they never surrendered.

The sight of Smith hobbling off the field after just 16 minutes with a foot injury was sad to see. Smith was only in his third game back after a long lay-off from two ruptured ACLs and a shoulder reconstruction.

Ikuvalu winced in pain with his own ankle injury, which could leave Robinson with some major concerns about what to do out wide. The coach expected Ikuvalu to be out for up to eight weeks.

Brett Morris was forced into retirement because of a career-ending knee injury he suffered against the Knights earlier this year, while Joseph Suaalii did not make the trek to Queensland because of a foot injury. Dropped international centre Josh Morris will come straight back in, said Robinson.

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