Round 5 of the NRL continues with the Bulldogs hosting the Roosters at Stadium Australia before the Knights face the Dragons in Newcastle.
Canterbury coach Cameron Ciraldo has made a host of late changes, most notably recalling former Cronulla centre Bronson Xerri for his first NRL game since 2019.
Xerri was once one of the game’s brightest prospects before a four-year ban for performance-enhancing drugs sidelined him after his rookie season.
Later, Newcastle will look to get its season back on track as it faces St George Illawarra in the Hunter.
With the Knights boasting an unenviable 1-3 record and the Red V coming off a surprise win over Manly, the match seems evenly poised.
Follow all the news, scores and action below in our live blog.
HALFTIME: Knights 24 lead Dragons 10
Saints have one last chance at Newcastle’s line but Hunt makes a mistake and the Knights hang on. Big lead at halftime for the home side, but there’s a mighty breeze that will be at the Red V’s backs in the second half. This one is far from over.
Wet and wild in Newcastle
Imagine playing in this with an old pigskin.
– Andy
It’s something else, that’s for sure. An old leather ball would be like a cake of soap!
– Nick Campton
35th minute: KNIGHTS TRY
Newcastle are in again, this time it’s Lucas – Cogger does a good job to get him one-on-one against Flanagan and Lucas uses his footwork to power past him and over the line. Ponga converts and at 24-10 Newcastle it’s a big lead now.
30th minute: KNIGHTS TRY
I cannot stress to you enough how wet it is in Newcastle, the cameras are starting to fog up and there are puddles all over the ground.
The Knights, however, are playing the conditions very well. Cogger sets up another try by putting a nice grubber through, Sloan is out of position, Hunt slips as he tries to field it and D.Saifiti is on hand to dive on the loose ball and score. Ponga converts and it’s 18-10 Newcastle.
25th minute: KNIGHTS TRY
Newcastle get easy passage from their own end via a ruck penalty and Ponga chimes into the attack beautifully with a nice cut-out pass that finds an open Tuala who cruises over to score. Ponga converts from touch to boot and the Knights have retaken the lead 12-10.
22nd minute: DRAGONS TRY
After a period of sustained defence on their own line, the Dragons force an error from Ponga via a good shot from Hunt.
On the ensuing set, the Dragons go right on the last, Lomax has some space but it vanishes quickly, he looks certain to be thrown over the sideline…only for Lomax to fang it back in-field, a no-look, back-handed flick and it goes directly to Hunt who scores! One of the passes of the year and in these conditions no less! Lomax converts and the Dragons lead 10-6.
15th minute: DRAGONS TRY
Leilua powers through and he has Suli in support, the Knights are offside from the next play and the Dragons stay on the attack.
On the ensuing set Hunt goes blindside, holds up Tuala with a dummy and slides a great grubber kick behind him and Lomax is there to score. Great kick from Hunt, great put-down from Lomax in these conditions. Kick goes wide, score is 6-4.
6th minute: KNIGHTS TRY
Newcastle get a penalty on their own 40 but it’s so windy they just take the tap. Cogger puts in a nice grubber, Sloan loses it in the contest and Hastings is on hand to put it down and score. Nice moment for Hastings in his return to the side. Ponga converts and it’s 6-0 Knights.
KICK-OFF IN NEWCASTLE
Not much time to process all that – the Dragons and Knights are underway in Newcastle. The home side kicks off, running right to left.
FULLTIME: BULLDOGS 30 DEF ROOSTERS 26
The Roosters last attack falls short and the Bulldogs hang on to win one of the most remarkable games of football ever played. Goddamn.
78th minute: Roosters error
Keary pushes an offload, it looks to hit a Bulldogs hand but the ref keeps the whistle away and Canterbury have possession. The Roosters might only get a couple more plays.
75th minute: ROOSTERS TRY
Manu makes an error in contact but gets bailed out because of an offside penalty. Roosters have to score right now if they’re to be any chance.
They go left, Jennings links with Tupou and the big man steps back inside three Bulldogs defenders to score! There might be a twist in this tale yet! Suaalii converts and the Roosters have it back to 30-26!
SIN-BIN: Victor Radley
The Roosters are down to 11 men after Radley copped a sin-bin after getting Crichton in a hip-drop tackle. One last twist in this crazy, crazy game.
Injury update: Harrison Edwards
Edwards has been ruled out for the game with a concussion but he’s up and walking around in the sheds.
70th minute: Roosters error
Mahoney makes an error on the exit set and the Roosters are back on the attack. On the last they go high for Suaalii and Tracey knocks it on into him to give the Roosters another attacking set.
But Manu makes an error in the play the ball and the Bulldogs get off the hook. Somehow, there is still ten minutes to go.
66th minute: BULLDOGS TRY
A Smith forward pass from dummy half puts the Bulldogs on the attack for the first time in a long time. They go wide, exploit the space that comes with having an extra player and Burton cruises over for his third try of the night. The kick is wide and it’s 30-20 Canterbury.
Injury update: Harrison Edwards
The young Bulldogs forwards cops an elbow from Whyte in a tackle and he’s going to be stretchered off. The medicos are with him now and they’re taking every precaution as he’s taken from the field.
Injury update: Joseph Suaalii
Suaalii has passed his HIA and will return to the field shortly.
59th minute: ROOSTERS TRY
The Bulldogs kick it out on the full! Roosters straight back on the attack. Keary puts a kick across, Kiraz takes it but Tupou and Butcher take him back into the in-goal.
Keary goes to Crichton, he drops it back on the inside for Manu and he goes through and beats Crichton to score! This is insane! This is one of the craziest games of rugby league I have ever seen! Keary can’t convert, but it’s 26-20 with ages to go.
55th minute: ROOSTERS TRY
Keary puts up a kick, Kiraz misses the catch and Tupou is on hand to tap it back to Butcher who scores his second! What is going on out there!!! Keary misses the kick, but the Roosters have pulled it back to 26-16 and there’s plenty of time to go.
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