Match Report | Roosters stun Sharks on Central Coast

Sydney Roosters stunned a full-strength Sharks outfit to record one of their best wins of the season with an emphatic 42-16 triumph in Gosford.

Led by captain James Tedesco and Test lock Victor Radley, who was celebrated his 150th NRL match, the Roosters overcame the absence of five Origin stars to out-enthuse the Sharks.

Halfback Hugo Savala scored a try and had a hand in four others, while five-eighth Sandon Smith steered the team around and centre Mark Nawaqanitawase was again outstanding.

With so many players unavailable, the Roosters handed debuts to Xavier Va'a and Benaiah Ioelu both had an impact.

For the Sharks the result was disappointing after beating the Storm last weekend.

80 min: Young completed the scoring after stepping inside Will Kennedy to score after Nawaqanitawase pushed off Iro before flicking the ball out to the England international. Smith conversion hit the upright. Roosters 42 Sharks 16.

77 min: Captain James Tedesco sealed a stunning win by the Roosters after backing up a break from forward Blake Steep to score. Smith converted. Roosters 38 Sharks 16

69 min: Mulitalo crashed through the attempted tackle of Nawaqanitawase to score after Hynes and Trindall combined to spread the ball wide to the Kiwis winger. Hynes missed the sideline conversion. Roosters 32 Sharks 16.

61 min: KL Iro gave Sharks fans hope that the visitors can claw their way back after running onto a short pass from Trindall to score. Hynes converted. Roosters 32 Sharks 12.

56 min: Debutant Xavier Va'a scored within minutes of coming onto the field after Tupou tapped back a Smith kick for Radley, who passed to the giant prop. Roosters 32 Sharks 6

51 min: Nawaqanitawase scored his sixth try in the last four matches after Mulitalo failed to catch a crossfield kick from Savala and the ball was picked up by Wong, who passed onto his centre. Smith converted from out wide. Roosters 26 Sharks 6

The Sharks came out with more enthusiasm in the early stages of the second half but the Roosters defence held firm, defending a handling error and penalty against Young. 

Halftime summary: The Roosters have defied the odds to lead 20-6 at halftime - not just in absent personnel but they have conceded six errors to two by Cronulla and completed just 11 of their 16 sets of possession (68%). However, from the outset it was clear that the James Tedesco-led Roosters were up for the challenge and want to celebrate Victor Radley's 150th NRL match with a win. Discipline is hurting the Sharks, who have conceded five first half penalties and lost winger Ronaldo Mulitalo to the sinbin. Roosters halfback Hugo Savala scored one of the best tries of the round.

38 min: Hiroti has had a try disallowed for obstruction but the Sharks regained the ball after an earlier knock-on by Billy Smith. Briton Nikora put down a pass from Hynes.  

34 min: Roosters forward Siua Wong was penalised for impeding Braydon Trindall as the Sharks playmaker chased his own kick but as the ball went dead it was not considered a professional foul. The Sharks lost the ball in the first tackle after the tap re-start.

27 min: Sharks winger Ronaldo Mulitalo has been sent to the sin bin for his tackle on Nawaqanitawase as the rugby union convert passed the ball in the lead up to Savala's try. Referee Grant Atkins said Mulitalo's shoulder had made contact with Nawaqanitawase's head and there had been force.

26 min: Savala scored a try of his own and it was one of the best of the round after centre Mark Nawaqanitawase broke into the clear and found Dom Young in support. Young passed inside to James Tedesco, who manged a catch and flick pass motion for Savala to race over and score. Smith converted. Roosters 20 Sharks 6

16 min: Sharks captain Cameron McInnes charged on to a Nicho Hynes pass near the Roosters line and forced his way over to score. Hynes converted. Roosters 14 Sharks 6

13 min: Tupou scored an almost identical try to his first after flying above Hiroti to catch a Savala kick and land in the in-goal. Smith converted from the sideline. Roosters 14-0

9 min: Smith extended the Roosters lead with a penalty goal. Roosters 8-0

5 min: Tongan winger Daniel Tupou has ensured the Roosters scored first for a ninth consecutive match after leaping above Cronulla opposite Mawene Hiroti to snatch a kick from halfback Hugo Savala and score. Sandon Smith converted. Roosters 6-0. 

Late Mail

Roosters: Debutant Benaiah Ioelu starts at hooker in a late change with Zach Dockar-Clay shifting to the bench. There was another change on Friday with Nat Butcher dropping out after originally being named on Tuesday to return from a knee injury. Xavier Va'a is the new man on the bench. Winger Dom Young has earned a recall after three tries in three games in NSW Cup while Makahesi Makatoa, Salesi Foketi, Ioelu and Taylor Losalu also come into the 17. Mark Nawaqaniqawase moves into the centres to replace Maroons debutant Robert Toia. 

Sharks: Centre Jesse Ramien will play despite sustaining an eye injury against the Storm but winger Sam Stonestreet is facing 6-8 weeks out with a high-grade syndesmosis injury. Mawene Hiroti comes back into the side for his first game since Round 8 having recovered from a knee injury. 

Panthers v Knights at Carrington Park, Bathurst

Fletcher Sharpe has led the Knights to a stunning 25-6 upset of the Panthers in Bathurst that leaves the four-time premiers languishing alone at the bottom of the NRL ladder after 12 rounds.

With captain Kalyn Ponga on Origin duty with Queensland, Sharpe shifted from five-eighth to fullback and was virtually unstoppable - scoring a try, making four line-breaks, producing 18 tackle busts and running 284m with the ball.

Newcastle secondrower Dylan Lucas scored three tries and should have a fourth – all in the first half.

Despite failing to score a second half try, the Knights dominated and only poor execution saved Penrith from a heavier defeat as they struggled without their Origin stars.

However, the Knights were forced to play most of the second term with 15 players after losing Adam Elliott with a biceps injury in the first half and his replacement Paul Bryan lost with a dislocated shoulder.

The win leaves the Panthers languishing in outright last place on nine points after the Knights, Dolphins and Eels all enjoyed Round 12 wins to leapfrog them, while the Titans received two points for a bye.   

75 min: Cogger all but sealed Newcastle's win with a short range field goal to extend their lead to 19 points. Knights 25 Panthers 6.

64 min: Jenkins has produced one of the best trysaving tackles of the year to prevent Sharpe from scoring after the Newcastle speedster sliced through the defence. A try would have put paid to any hope of a Penrith comeback.

59 min: Panthers debutant Harrison Hassett has put the premiers back into the game after charging over for a try with just his third touch of the ball in the NRL after a penalty against Lucas for ruck interference. Alamoti converted. Knights 24 Panthers 6.

53 min: Sharpe has made another linebreak and found Jack Cogger in support but Jenkins made a trysaving tackle. The Knights bombed a golden opportunity as they spread the ball to their right but a Gagai flick pass went over the sideline.

48 min: Bryan has finally come from the field after the Knights withstood sustained pressure from Penrith at the start of the first half.

44 min: English secondrower Kai Pearce-Paul has been placed on report for a hip drop tackle.

Halftime summary: Four time premiers Penrith have just 40 minutes to avoid languishing in last place after Round 12 and must overcome a 24-0 halftime deficit against the Knights. Newcastle ambushed the Panthers in the opening 40 minutes, with Dylan Lucas scoring a hat-trick on his side's left edge. Both sides are missing key players but the Knights have turned up looking to redeem themselves after last weekend's 28-6 loss to Parramatta. Lucas has run for 133m with the ball, while captain Tyson Frizell has carried the ball 122m in the first half. 

39 min: Lucas appeared set to score his fourth first half try after breaking into the clear but Laurie knocked the ball loose from his grasp as he dived for the corner.

34 min: Knights rookie Paul Bryan, who was called up for his NRL debut after Kiwis prop Leo Thompson was a late withdrawal, dislocated his shoulder while making his first tackle but is bravely battling on.

26 min: The Knights have suffered a blow with forward Adam Elliott ruled out of the match with a biceps injury.

26 min: Dylan Lucas has completed his first NRL hat-trick after winning the race for a Gamble grubber kick into the Panthers in-goal. Gagai converted. Knights 24-0. 

24 min: Things are going from bad to worse for the Panthers after prop Liam Henry was sinbinned for a crusher tackle on Sharpe.

22 min: Penrith's other winger Jesse McLean has had a try disallowed after centre Paul Alamoti was penalised for a disrupter as Sharpe attempted to field a Talagi kick. 

20 min: A desperate tackle by Dane Gagai has forced Panthers winger Tom Jenkins to lose the ball as he attempted to ground it in the first scoring opportunity for the four-time premiers. 

12 min: Lucas has scored again from the set after the kick-off, pushing off Panthers playmaker Brad Schneider and beating fullback Daine Laurie. Gagai converted. Knights 18-0. 

10 min: Dylan Lucas has forced his way over for Newcastle's second try off a short ball from stand-in five-eighth Tyson Gamble. Gagai converted. Knights 12-0.

6 min: Knights fullback Fletcher Sharpe has beaten six defenders to open the scoring after a run from first receiver near the Panthers line. Dane Gagai converted from out wide. Knights 6-0

1 min: Fans have packed into Carrington Park for the kick-off, with the game officially sold out.

Pre-match media

Panthers coach Ivan Cleary: "I guess Blaize is one of many who have amazing opportunities tonight, whether it's the guys playing who don't usually, or other guys stepping into potentially bigger roles. He's probably one of them really, we just want Blaize to do his own role and pretty much everyone else can just be the best versions of themselves."

Knights coach Adam O'Brien: "Both teams have got the same amount out. I think we've got six out, they've got six out, so hopefully that levels things out a little bit. They've done a great job since 2019, since they missed the eight. They've had sustained success and a system that that works for the next man up mentality, so we know that they're going to be very strong tonight and we've prepared accordingly. I just want to see my guys with a with a smile on their face at the end of the game for once."

Late Mail

Panthers: Late changes an hour before kick-off with Jesse McLean coming in on the wing in jersey No.20, Thomas Jenkins going to centre and Izack Tago to the back row. Preston Riki slides to the bench and is joined by Harrison Hassett in No.21 on debut. Jack Cole drops to 18th man. Back-rowers Luke Garner (concussion) and Isaiah Papali'i (knee) are both sidelined. 

Knights: Leo Thompson is a late withdrawal due to illness so Brodie Jones starts the game at prop and Paul Bryan makes his NRL debut off the bench. Dylan Lucas will play despite coming off late against the Eels with a shoulder problem. Fletcher Sharpe has been shifted to fullback in the absence of Kalyn Ponga on Origin duty. 

Numbers Game

• The Panthers are undefeated in their last 10 games against the Knights.
• The Knights have averaged only 13 points per game in 2025.
• The Panthers have won three of their past four games in Bathurst.
• The Knights have won only three of their last 10 games played outside Newcastle.