Newcastle Knights outclassed 38-4 by Sydney Roosters

Playing in his fifth NRL game, the 18-year-old dynamo scored a try, had a hand, or foot, in his team's other six tries, and kicked five goals as the Roosters gave the Knights a reminder of how much ground they need to make up to compete with the NRL's heavyweight teams.

It was Newcastle's fifth loss in their past six games. Their only win in that time was a late escape against Cronulla.

Adding to their woes, it was reported veteran playmaker Blake Green had suffered a fractured rib.

The Roosters had their own injury problems, losing centre Brett Morris and prop Lindsay Collins to knee problems.

Playing in front of an expectant home crowd of 22,172, the Knights were again left ruing a tardy start, conceding three tries in the first 15 minutes.

The Roosters opened the scoring in the sixth minute when halfback Sam Walker created an overlap with a floating pass to winger Daniel Tupou, who scored out wide.

Walker converted to give the Roosters a 6-0 lead.

Five minutes later, Walker again handled twice as Roosters veteran Josh Morris scored down the same edge as Tupou.

The Walker show continued in the 16^th minute he chip-kicked into Newcastle's in-goal and Angus Chrichton won the race to force the ball.

Four minutes later the Roosters were in again when Walker bombed, Knights winger Brayden Musgrove fumbled, and the ball ended with winger Matt Ikuvalu, who scored.

Walker's conversion made it 20-0.

The Knights only moment of joy came in the 30th^t minute, when fullback Kalyn Ponga threw a bullet pass and Musgrove scored his first try in the NRL.

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Walker backed up on the inside to score a long-range team try in the 56^th minute, in which the ball passed through several pairs of hands.

Veteran centre Josh Morris was next to join the procession, after Walker perfectly placed a cross-field chip kick.

Morris finished with a hat-trick.

Roosters winger Matt Ikuvalu was placed on report in the 72^nd minute for a late hit on Green after he launched a bomb, which forced the Newcastle halfback out of the game.

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