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

Nawaqanitawase flies!

Walker boots one high into the corner on the last and Nawaqanitawase is simply allowed to leap by Marzhew, and they really didn’t have to ask him twice.

But hang on! It’s under review!

Replays showed Nawaqanitawase dropped the ball before grounding it.

Credit to Ponga for coming in late to disrupt the Roosters winger.

“What an effort there from Ponga,” Andrew Johns says.

Knights still lead 6-0 with 14 minutes remaining in the first half.

“It’s incredible the Roosters haven’t scored. They’ve had all the field position,” Johns adds.

The fullback leaps into action to take down Victor Radley - but he’s got him flush on the face.

It’s sparked some push and shove between the two teams.

Tedesco questioned the referee on whether it should be a sin bin, but Ponga avoids an immediate punishment and is only put on report.

Roosters get a fresh set just 25m out from the Knights’ line.

Croker’s knocked on and there’s no reprieve from the referee here despite concerns it might’ve been a shoulder charge.

A tough start for the Knights man.

Well, well, well.

The penalty that probably shouldn’t have been leads to the first try!

Ponga lingers but he’s just a decoy as Sharpe puts Manuleleua through to score untouched!

Knights 6-0 with 17 minutes gone, and the DJ is having some fun... they’ve just played Dance Monkey over the speakers.

Wowee.

“He’s absolutely smashed him! He got spun around violently!” Mat Thompson says.

Mat Croker’s knocked on after a big hit above and below from Whyte and Collins... but it’s a penalty for a high tackle!

Where was the high tackle? We’re still wondering that too.

Ponga stays down briefly but there’s no crusher penalty.

“I thought he ducked into that one,” referee Adam Gee says.

Rob Toia spills a DCE high ball up against Ponga, and DCE follows it up just in case, so we’re going upstairs...

And Toia’s knock-on is confirmed. No try.

Dom Young makes the try-saving tackle at the other end!

He gets down on his left and completes a brilliant tackle.

Kalyn Ponga runs the ball on the last but Dom Young is taken out over the corner post.

“I’ll tell you what, the Newcastle Knights, they’re throwing punches here this evening,” Billy Slater says on Nine.

The Roosters might be playing on home turf in Sydney but Newcastle fans are LOUD tonight.

Knights kicking off... and the Roosters have it now from their 10m line.