NRL grand final recap: Sydney Roosters hold off Newcastle Knights in thriller

The Knights are exhausted. Absolutely spent.

And a richochet off the upright was the last thing Newcastle needed.

It perfectly opened up the play for the Roosters - one pass from Tedesco over the top to Nawaqanitawase, and he’s through in the corner.

“This could get really ugly with all this possession,” Joey Johns says.

Walker can’t convert from the right edge but it’s still Roosters 20-12 with 19 minutes left in the grand final.

Walker’s going for two (and the lead) from about 22m out after Sandon Smith is pinged for a dangerous tackle.

The Roosters are well on top here already but a buffer will be dangerous for Newcastle.

“They’re looking for the psychological advantage to put that scoreboard pressure on the Knights,” Billy Slater says.

And Walker makes no mistake.

Roosters lead 14-12 with 25 minutes left.

“They’re going to have to start playing football now, the Knights,” Slater adds.

They’ve made them pay here!

Newcastle nearly hold him up but Billy Smith is too strong and he’s falling perfectly to get the ball down in the corner.

Gagai’s rush out of the line opened the door, though he did get back to try to stop Smith.

Now can Walker convert from out wide to level things up?

He can! A superb kick, only narrowly left of the black dot.

We’re sitting 12-all with 31 minutes left.

I believe we call that GAME ON.

Leniu hits Young hard and it spills out!

Newcastle immediately give it back on their own line!

Nawaqanitawase forces a drop-out with a quick kick before he could be tackled into touch.

Newcastle, looking pretty tired and searching for a breather, send a drop-out only 20m... and it’s Roosters ball again.

But a brilliant try-saving tackle again!

“I can’t believe what I’m watching here,” Billy Slater says.

Can the Knights defence hold up?

Will the Roosters hit back before Newcastle can cross for another try?

Not long now till we crown the winners...

The Roosters can’t make anything of one last attack, and Newcastle take a 12-6 lead into the break.

Nawaqanitawase was always going to get on the board.

And after his first attempt was chalked off, it was just a matter of time.

Toia catches it high over Marzhew, the ball hits the ground in his attempt to get it to Nawaqanitawase.

All over? Not quite.

Nawaqanitawase gets both feet to the ball to get through the line, he gets to it first and scores.

Knights lead 12-6 with two and a half minutes left in the first half.

Roosters can’t break through with a pass so Tedesco kicks in behind but Marzhew dusts it off for a drop-out.

The drop-out is short... and the Roosters get it back!

Can they make the pressure count before half-time?

Nope.

A pass from Robson goes straight into decoy runner Crichton and they’ve turned it over.

He’s just gone the length of the field! He’s scored!!!

WOW. WHAT A MOMENT FOR THE KNIGHTS CAPTAIN.

“Big game players turn up on big occasions and there’s no bigger for Kalyn Ponga tonight,” Billy Slater says.

It all started when Walker kicked to Nawaqanitwase... who tries to tap it back to a teammate, but only finds Ponga - who came off marker at the start of the play.

It wasn’t exactly an outrageous idea by Nawaqanitawase up against three flying Knights players.

But he didn’t get enough on it and the bounce of the ball just didn’t go his way.

Knights lead 12-0 with nine minutes remaining in the half