The Sydney Roosters have claimed their first NRLW win in 2022, triumphing 28-12 over the Newcastle Knights in a six-tries-to-two romp at the SCG.
With both teams losing their opening two rounds, only one was destined to go home happy on Saturday.
The Roosters had the bulk of the possession early so there were no surprises they were the first to post points after just seven minutes when Brydie Parker went over in the corner.
Just minutes later, halfback Raecene McGregor created more space with a long-range ball, but this time it was Parker passing inside to Isabelle Kelly for the Roosters to scoot to a 10-0 lead after 13 minutes with the Hannah Southwell conversion.
The Knights peeled one back when fullback Romy Teitzel poked her nose through in the 24th minute, dragging three defenders with her.
A Kirra Dibb conversion followed and the contest was far less one-sided at 10-6 at half-time.
In the second half — with Newcastle's Ngatokotoru Arakua in the sin-bin — Parker got her double, before back rower Olivia Kernick got a favourable bounce from a charge-down to score the Roosters' fourth try.
New Zealand prop Annetta Nu'uausala barged over for the Knights with 19 minutes left on the clock and it was a six-point game at 18-12.
But two Knights errors close to their line led to two Roosters tries — Keilee Joseph under the posts and Jess Sergis out wide — and the gap widened with four minutes left.
Sergis had earlier sent a scare through the Roosters camp when she twisted awkwardly in a tackle late in the first half by Arakua.
She needed her right ankle strapped but stayed on the field. In the second half she appeared to hobble around at times, but played out the full game in a testament to her courage.
In other injuries, the Roosters' NSW State of Origin forward Sarah Togatuki had a cut above her eye and did not return after failing her HIA.
AAP/ABC
