With four wins in a row to start the 2022 NRLW season, the Sydney Roosters have maintained their undefeated streak with an 18-16 win over the Newcastle Knights at Allianz Stadium.
In a scrappy, error-riddled affair, the Roosters pipped their opponents in a top-of-the-table clash against the Knights, overcoming a late deficit to claim a famous win thanks to a late try to Captain Isabelle Kelly.
Match: Roosters v Knights
Round 4 -
home Team
Roosters
1st Position
away Team
Knights
2nd Position
Venue: Allianz Stadium, Sydney
The match also saw Zahara and Chante Temara become the first sisters to take the field together for the Roosters, while Jasmin and John Strange marked the first father-daughter duo in the competition's history.
Strange and young forward Kalosipani Hopoate - in her first start - both marked the occasion with their first tries in the top grade, while it was the first appearance for Joeli Morris and Sam Economos in the Red, White and Blue for 2022.
Easts ran out onto a dry track with picture-perfect conditions at Allianz Stadium, taking first possession of the match with Hopoate making a strong charge to open the match.
A nervous start to the match saw the Bondi Wall hold off an early raid, but following a barnstorming run from Keilee Joseph, it was Strange scoring with her first touch of the ball to hand the Roosters an early lead.
Strange Scores With Her First Touch
It wasn't long before that lead extended off the pack of a penalty which allowed Raecene McGregor to break through and hand Hopoate her first four-pointer at the top level with Zahara Temara's conversion making it 10-nil after just seven minutes.
Rolling through the middle of the field, the Red, White and Blue continued their dominance and Strange nearly found herself with a double, only for the final pass to be called forward.
Handling cruelled the side on their next visit downfield, and after keeping their composure against a variety of threatening kicks, a towering spiral saw the Knights back in range, but the defensive fortitude held them off once again.
Neither side was able to capitalise with fatigue setting in, and although the Roosters held strong on their line, a penalty goal to Temara was the only addition to the scores, giving the side a 12-nil halftime lead.
Hopoate Scores Her First NRLW Try
It was a scrappy start to the second stanza for both sides, but it was the Knights who struck first with a chip over the top leading to Romy Teitzel touching down, bridging the gap to eight points.
Unfortunately, Easts' handling continued to falter as they lost their Captain's Challenge after unsuccessfully overturning a knock-on call, and soon the Knights struck again as Yasmin Clydsdale crashed over to bring the scoreline to 12-10.
Needing to regain their ascendency, the Roosters had numerous opportunities to respond with the boot of McGregor and Temara providing plenty of pressure, however, it was the visitors who snatched the lead with Caitlan Johnston crossing out wide.
Kelly Streaks Away to Seal the Result
But cometh the hour and cometh the Captain, it was Isabelle Kelly who returned serve with just four minutes remaining, picking up a loose pass to streak away 80 metres and seal the result.
The Sydney Roosters will face the Gold Coast Titans next Sunday afternoon in a triple header at Central Coast Stadium in the final round of the NRLW regular season.
Sydney Roosters 18 (Jasmin Strange, Kalosipani Hopoate, Isabelle Kelly tries; Zahara Temara 2 goals; Zahara Temara penalty goal) def Newcastle Knights 16 (Romy Teitzel, Yasmin Clydsdale, Caitlan Johnston tries; Jesse Southwell 2 goals)
