Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson has confessed his new halves combination of Luke Keary and Sam Walker is a work in progress after they were outclassed by Newcastle's pairing in their NRL round-one clash at the SCG.
Keary and Walkers had never played an NRL game together before Saturday's 20-6 defeat due to Keary's long-term knee injury suffered last year.
Keary, a former NSW Origin player, hasn't played since March 26 almost a year ago -- when he suffered a torn ACL in his left knee against South Sydney.
Walker, 19, made his NRL debut in round four.
He played 21 games and has been chosen to partner the three-time premiership winner Keary in 2022.
"I thought it looked like they hadn't played much together and they'll get better, a lot better," Robinson said.
The Knights were also fielding a new halves partnership after the early release of halfback Mitchell Pearce to Catalans in Super League.
St George Illawarra recruit Adam Clune, who only has 25 NRL games under his belt, is the new Knights halfback with Jack Clifford moving to five-eighth.
"Really good temperament from both of them I thought," coach Adam O'Brien said.
"They allow (Kalyn Ponga) to do what he does. The steady control of the game from Adam in particular was really good.
"He's a smart guy on and off the field.
"That allows Cliff to be Cliff. He runs the ball well.
"Look there's stuff we want to get better at but they're doing a pretty good job. They had a good summer the halves."
Skipper and fullback Ponga said the attacking spine - fullback, five-eighth, halfback and hooker -- had worked hard in the off-season to work on their combinations.
"That was quite prominent in our performance. No one shone out -- we all shone together."
Clifford scored a fine 40-metre individual try while the Knights made seven line breaks and denied the Roosters any.
The visitors busted 35 tackles to just 13 by the Roosters.
With strike power like James Tedesco, Daniel Tupou and Joseph Manu in the Roosters backline it seems hard to fathom how out of sorts they were.
"It felt very clunky... and we were trying very hard but we just didn't build any pressure or possession down in their end," Tedesco said.
"They were more ready to play than us."
No need to panic though for the Roosters.
They also lost their opening round game of the season in 2018 and 2019 but went on to win the NRL premiership in both those years.
The Roosters are back at the SCG on Friday to take on Manly, while the Knights are at home in Newcastle against Wests Tigers on Sunday.
