Tedesco Shines as Roosters Edge Knights in Gritty Win Amid Radley Scare
Last night’s NRL clash between the Sydney Roosters and Newcastle Knights was nothing short of a dramatic arm-wrestle, punctuated by moments of brilliance and concern alike. While the Roosters walked away with a 12-8 victory, much of the post-game talk surrounds the worrying head knock suffered by Victor Radley — another troubling addition to his growing concussion record.
It was a gritty and scrappy first half with the Knights taking early control. Kyle McCarthy got Newcastle on the board following a sharp break from Dylan Lucas, leaving the Roosters trailing 6-0 heading into halftime. The Roosters were disjointed, error-prone, and lacked rhythm as they struggled to find momentum against a determined Newcastle outfit.
But as so often happens, cometh the moment, cometh the man — and that man was James Tedesco. With the Roosters missing a staggering 17 players due to injuries, suspensions, and State of Origin commitments, it was the captain who stood tallest. His second-half spark turned the game around. Tedesco sliced through the Knights’ line, shrugging off Kai Pearce-Paul and Jackson Hastings before delivering a classy offload to Salesi Foketi, who dashed past defenders to grab his first ever NRL try.
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That pivotal moment came just after the Knights had blown a near-certain try when winger James Schiller fumbled the ball inches from the line. From what could have been an 18-0 lead for Newcastle, the Roosters flipped the script to claw their way back.
Tedesco wasn't done yet. Minutes later, he laid in a clever grubber that Siua Wong pounced on, grounding the ball with his forearm to take the lead. The hometown crowd, already on edge, erupted with frustration, their chants echoing around McDonald Jones Stadium in protest.
Unfortunately, the win came at a cost. Midway through the match, Radley attempted a routine tackle on Fletcher Hunt but copped a nasty blow to the head. It marked his second game-ending concussion of the season and possibly his seventh in the past four years. Given Radley’s long history, it’s unlikely we’ll see him in action next week — or potentially for several rounds, depending on how the Roosters choose to manage his recovery.
Meanwhile, there was a bittersweet moment at full-time as Dom Young was seen embracing teammates. It appears this may have been his final game for the Roosters, with a mid-season move back to Newcastle possibly on the cards.
Despite the Knights’ strong start and multiple opportunities, they couldn’t capitalize in key moments. Hastings, making his first appearance since last July, was solid without being spectacular, and often found himself caught with the ball during crucial plays.
In the end, it was Tedesco’s leadership, composure, and sheer class that dragged the Roosters over the line. With injuries mounting and State of Origin depleting their ranks, this win was both timely and telling of their depth and resilience — though the Radley scare continues to cast a long shadow.
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