NEWCASTLE remain winless after three NRLW rounds following a disappointing 28-12 loss to the Sydney Roosters at the SCG on Saturday.
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The Knights were outclassed by their more seasoned opponents and while they fought to remain in the contest, were hurt by two Roosters tries in the space of five minutes after halftime.
The Knights only trailed by four points at the break, having hit back after the Roosters shot to a 10-0 lead early in the game with Romy Teitzel scoring a try in the 24th minute.
But less than two minutes into the second half, the Knights' right edge was caught short and Roosters winger Brydie Parker scored in the corner.
The home side extended their lead to 18-6 a few minutes later when back-rower Olivia Kernick charged down one of Knights halfback Kirra Dibb's kicks to score her side's fourth try.
The Knights didn't give up though and Knights prop Annetta Nu'uausala powered over the line in the 51st minute to bring the deficit back to 18-12.
The Roosters kicked out on the full from the restart, but the Knights couldn't capitalize.
The result was then all but sealed when the Roosters made it 24-12 after Keilee Joseph scored behind the goalposts with nine minutes left in the game.
Winger Jessica Sergis put the icing on the cake a few minutes later with an easy try on the right flank.
The Knights played a new set of halves following a reshuffle prior to the game with Kirra Dibb elevated from the bench to five-eighth and Charntay Poko shifting from lock to play halfback.
They kicked well apart from Dibb's effort that was charged down but the Roosters looked the better side for most of the match.
The Roosters completed at only 52 per cent in the first half and didn't put in a single kick, but they made plenty of metres through the middle punching in behind the ruck off quick play the balls.
They opened the scoring with a try in the seventh minute from Muswellbrook's Brydie Parker, who was involved again five minutes later in similar fashion but turned the ball back inside for centre Isabelle Kelly to add another four points.
Romy Teitzel struck back with a captain's effort with 11 minutes to play in the first half, driving through the Roosters' defensive line to score from a few metres out.