MARK Nawaqanitawase lit up Accor Stadium as Sydney Roosters held on as Newcastle roared back to clinch their 16th premiership.
Despite all the emotion, Newcastle’s dreams were shattered 19-18, Dom Young scoring with three and a half minutes left and Sandon Smith converting from the sideline.
The freakish rugby union-bound winger scored his second touchdown on the hour with the Roosters ahead by two. Given room to move on the right, he wasn’t going to be stopped.
But Sam Walker was unable to convert, giving the underdogs who provided the majority of the 80,814 crowd a glimmer of hope.
The Roosters led 12-6 at halftime after the the Knights took a 12-0 lead on the half hour.
After a bruising opening 15 minutes, second rower Francis Manuleleua ran a sublime angle and crossed without a hand being laid on him.
Winger Mark Nawaqanitawase looked to have scored in the 26th minute after brilliantly fielding a bomb in the right corner. The try was initially given but replays detected a slight knock-on.
It was Nawaqanitawase who tried to tap another kick back in the 29th minute and it was pounced upon by Kalyn Ponga – perhaps fortunate not to be in the sin bin for a high shot at one point.
Ponga raced 75 metres to score with Daly Cherry-Evans in pursuit.
Nawaqanitawase finally got his try and it was a testament to his amazing reflexes. Robert Toia squeezed the ball out of a tackle and Nawaqanitawase deftly kicked it into the ingoal and followed in pursuit to touch down.
When Dom Young knocked on in a crunching tackle from Spencer Leniu, Newcastle’s period of heroic defence early in the second half was destined to end.
They tried to hold up Tricolours centre Billy Smith but to no avail. Walker converted to tie up the scores and then Walker edged the Roosters ahead with a penalty goal after a high tackle.
SYDNEY ROOSTERS 19 (Nawaqanitawase 2 Smith tries Walker 3 goals Cherry Evans field goal) beat NEWCASTLE 18 (Manulelua Ponga Young tries Smith 3 goals) at Accor Stadium. Crowd: 80,814
Teams:
ROOSTERS: James Tedesco (c); Daniel Tupou, Billy Smith, Robert Toia, Mark Nawaqanitawase; Daly Cherry Evans, Sam Walker; Naufahu Whyte, Reece Robson, Lindsay Collins, Salesi Foketi, Siua Wong, Victor Radley. Res: Angus Crichton, Nat Butcher, Spencer Leniu, Hugo Savala, Cody Ramsay, Beniah Iolelu.
NEWCASTLE: Kalyn Ponga; Dom Young, Dane Gagai, Bradman Best, Greg Marzhew; Fletcher Sharpe, Sandon Smith; Tyson Frizell, Thomas Cant, Cody Hopwood, Jermaine McEwen, Francis Manuleleua, Matt Croker. Res: Harrison Graham, Lachlan Crouch, Pasami Paulo, Dylan Lucas, Fletcher Hunt, Diesel Hagan.
Referee: Adam Gee.
