James Tedesco has put on a clinic to reinvigorate the Sydney Roosters' top-four aspirations, leading them to a 28-8 win over Newcastle on the Sunshine Coast.
Playing just his third game in 54 days for the club, Tedesco had a hand in all four of the Roosters' second-half tries as they came from 8-0 down to win.
The victory came at a cost as their injury curse continued, with out-of-luck centre Billy Smith and winger Matt Ikuvalu both suffering ankle injuries.
Sitili Tupouniua also spent time off the field for a concussion test, but still managed to bag a double as he ran damaging lines on the right edge.
The win kept the Roosters in fifth, just two points shy of Parramatta ahead of their blockbuster clash with the Eels next Thursday.
But it was all about Tedesco, who busted 11 tackles, ran 170 metres, set up three tries, kicked two goals and even sent down a strike in a post-try ten-pin bowling celebration.
After the Knights scored first through a rampaging Jacob Saifiti and later took an 8-0 lead, Tedesco set up the Roosters first when he put Tupouniua over after a Joey Manu one-on-one strip.
And when a superb no-look over-the-top Victor Radley ball gave the Roosters a 10-8 lead at the break, Tedesco exploded after halftime.
He first created numbers and put winger Daniel Tupou over unmarked, and on another occasion went to the line to put Tupouniua through a hole.
Another Roosters try through Lachlan Lam came two plays after Tedesco had burst through four defenders and put the Roosters on the attack.
Angus Crichton was the last man to benefit, the fullback looming up in support play after Crichton had raced down field and had Tedesco hand the ball back to him.
The Knights meanwhile desperately missed Mitchell Pearce in the halves, as they struggled to take their chances and took replacement Phoenix Crossland off late.
They completed at just 67 per cent in the second half and missed 36 tackles for the night.
The club still have one of the best runs home, but the loss leaves them two points out of the top eight with six rounds remaining and a horror for-and-against.
