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All-time ‘one-man freak show’; Origin star goes missing in GF fail — Knights Player Ratings
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A one-man freak show who, without wanting to be disrespectful to his teammates, was the reason the Knights still had somewhat of a shot in the last 20 minutes. Still can’t comprehend his presence of mind for the 95-metre runaway try, sprinting from the other side of the field on the last tackle and anticipating Mark Nawaqanitawase’s bat down. But what impressed most? His defence.
All of it. Hitting Naufahu Whyte square, harassing Nawaqanitawase into a mistake on grounding, diving on a loose ball. Made a crucial fumble late on and maybe got lucky not being sin-binned for a shot on Victor Radley, but otherwise superb. Against his old club who are still paying him, but didn’t have his best night.
Produced a brilliant try saver on Billy Smith, but struggled to get the better of Daniel Tupou in the air and came up with a huge error from a Spencer Leniu hit. Veteran who probably didn’t think he would get another crack at a grand final, but has been huge in getting the Knights here. Forced to take a lot of hard carries out of his own end as Newcastle were stuck in the mud, limiting genuine opportunities in attack.
Just couldn’t get into the game at all. Defensively was very sound against Robert Toia, but definitely a victim of the Roosters’ suffocating Newcastle’s middle in attack until shovelling a late pass for Greg Marzhew’s try. Has to be his quietest night in a big game given his superb State of Origin track record. Was always going to have a difficult night trying to stop Mark Nawaqanitawase on the ground, in the air, basically anywhere.
Marky Mark got him with soccer for the first-half try and Marzhew looked hampered at times in the second half. Didn’t have the same impact with his backfield carries. Is there anything he can’t do? We knew he could run, we knew he could jump, we knew he could kick, but did we know he could pass like that?
Superb deft ball to set up Francis Manuleleua’s opening try and then followed up with a belter of a clearing kick with his team buckling. Came up with a belting try saver on James Tedesco, but blemished late when dropping the ball cold with one of the Knights’ only genuine attacking chances of the second stanza.
Couldn’t possibly top last week’s heroics, and wasn’t given much of a chance as his side played off the back foot for most of the first half. Some good clearing kicks, some not so good. But made a big contribution hauling down Sam Walker with a desperate tackle and produced another on Salesi Foketi. Was an obvious target in defence for his old teammates.
Get all the latest NRL news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Persevered for more than 300 NRL games before making his first grand final appearance. Was the first Knight to head to the sidelines after a frenetic opening 22 minutes, but the veteran left with his side’s line intact. Came back with limited impact in the second half with his side’s petrol tank, understandably, running on fumes.
Parachuted into the starting team after Phoenix Crossland’s suspension and more than serviceable in his opening 28-minute stint. Passing was solid off the ground and, despite understandably looking heavy legged at times, held his gloves up in defence for 35 tackles. Reeled out of an early tackle in the opening set but managed to compose himself to get through 23 tackles in an opening stint where his side was on the back foot.
Want to know how hard his team had to work? Almost made as many tackles as run metres . Exactly the type of player the Knights can build their future around. Umm, not sure about eyeballing Naufahu Whyte?
But exactly the type of take-no-prisoners approach Newcastle has adopted all season. One of the few Knights forwards who managed to run with enough gusto to bend the Roosters’ line with the equal most metres of the pack. Another who just spent far too much petrol tackling .12. FRANCIS MANULELEUA — 7.5 The KFC King feasted on the grand final’s first try, running a lovely line off a Fletcher Sharpe pass to charge over untouched.
Brings the right amount of madness to the game. What a find he’s been this year. Absolutely typifies what this Newcastle team has been built on. Copped a savage early hit from Lindsay Collins and another one from Whyte for dropped ball.
But was there picking up a loose ball when his team needed it, much like last week. Made 91 run metres and a team high 47 tackles. Deserves to put his feet up … for a long time. Might have been tipped to start, but was kept in his customary role off the bench.
Just couldn’t have the same attacking spark given the avalanche of defending his team had to do, making 36 tackles. There’s something about this kid. He will have better games and easier games, but has never shirked his task the bigger the stage got. Somehow, made 30 tackles in his 33 minutes on the field.
Will be sore for a few days. That luscious, flowing mullet is hard to miss and tried hard in 28 minutes. Would have been more suited to having more ball in hand, but kept tackling like all of his teammates. Somehow, he made it back on the field to play a role in the finals series.
Injected into the fray for a tiring Croker early in the second half and again played out of his customary position on an edge. Can be proud of churning through 27 tackles without a miss. Will be better suited back on an edge next year.
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