Ben Hunt put on another masterclass as the Dragons beat the Sea Eagles before the Roosters moved back into the top eight courtesy of a big win over Newcastle.
Check out all the live scores and stats below.
St George Illawarra Dragons 20 def Manly Sea Eagles 6
Ben Hunt has breathed life back into St George Illawarra's NRL season, scoring two tries to help the Dragons to a vital 20-6 win over Manly.
In a virtual four-point game for both teams, Hunt crossed twice in the first half to lead the Dragons to a 14-0 lead at the break at Kogarah Oval.
Ravaged by COVID-19 and after losing two more players to injury before half-time, the Sea Eagles scored early in the second term to threaten a fightback.
But they were unable to make the most of having the better of possession in the second half, leaving the Sea Eagles on the verge of dropping out of the top eight.
The Dragons' win came in the same week pressure intensified on coach Anthony Griffin, amid claims of an unhappy dressing room.
But they now find themselves at 9-9 with six rounds to play and are only sitting outside of the finals on for-and-against points.
And Hunt was in the middle of it all on Friday night after the Saints lost fullback Cody Ramsey to a knee injury.
The Dragons halfback scored the first try of the game when he slipped over in wet conditions close to the line before burrowing through Manly's defence.
His next try came in more conventional fashion, running onto a brilliant grubber from Talatau Amone.
And while Hunt's try-scoring prowess put the Dragons on the road to victory, his kicking and game management was just as vital.
The Dally M leader when votes went behind closed doors last month, Hunt forced four line dropouts off his own boot alone in the wet.
Blake Lawrie also had a big night for the Saints through the middle, busting five tackles in one of his best games of the season.
Jack Bird helped put the icing on the cake for the Saints, sending Mat Feagai over for the match-sealer in the dying seconds.
While Hunt was in control for the Dragons, Manly's attack was clunky with lock Jake Trbojevic, hooker Lachlan Croker and second-rower Andrew Davey all out with COVID-19.
They also lost Ben Trbojevic to concussion in the first half and Sean Keppie to a shoulder injury before coach Des Hasler's difficult night was capped when try-scorer Josh Aloiai limped off with a knee injury late in the match.
Their dangerous right edge was rendered close to ineffective when Haumole Olakau'atu hurt his ankle early in the game and while he played on he lacked his usual damaging power.
AAP
Sydney Roosters 42 def Newcastle Knights 12
The Sydney Roosters have planted themselves firmly back in the NRL finals race with an eight-try effort to demolish the Newcastle Knights 42-12 at Newcastle Stadium.
After suffering four straight losses, the Roosters have now piled on 96 points in two games after their 54-26 humiliation against St George Illawarra a week ago.
And Trent Robinson's men did it against the Knights down three key players in Joey Manu and forwards Sio Taukeiaho and Sitili Tupouniua, who were all injured in the last round.
But when you've got James Tedesco in your line-up it doesn't seem to matter how many players are missing.
The NSW Origin captain ran for 304 metres off 21 runs, had three line-breaks, two try assists, 10 tackle-busts and scored himself as the Roosters slipped back into the top eight.
For Adam O'Brien's men it wasn't a happy night on any front.
It was Newcastle's third loss in a row, conceding 40 points or more each time. They also took 73 minutes to cross the Roosters line.
Apart from two consolation tries to Phoenix Crossland and Edrick Lee, the Knights' best moment came in the third minute when Tyson Frizell, a back-rower, brought down fullback James Tedesco from behind to save a try.
The battle between Tedesco and his opposing Origin fullback Kalyn Ponga was supposed to be one of the highlights of the game — but it lasted just seven minutes. An outstretched left arm by Matt Lodge sent the Newcastle number one to the turf and then off for a head assessment.
It was Ponga's second game back for his club after missing two weeks with concussion and fifth in total for the season.
Anthony Milford moved from five-eighth to fullback and Crossland came off the bench into the halves.
In the second half Knights centre Dane Gagai was marched for back-chatting referee Peter Gough with the Roosters scoring three tries to snuff out any chance of a Knights comeback.
A Ponga penalty gave the Knights the first points of the game, but then a try-scoring spree by the Roosters spearheaded by Joseph Suaalii and Tedesco swung the game firmly in the visitors' favour.
They led 16-2 at half time after scoring three tries within 15 minutes.
First-up Luke Keary, returning after a month out with concussion, finished off a 60-metre move started by former Knight Connor Watson in the 16th minute.
Nine minutes later Tedesco put Suaalii away for his 11th try in 13 games. The 18-year-old then returned the favour six minutes later by catching a Sam Walker kick and off-loading to Tedesco.
The Roosters didn't let up in the second half. It was only seven minutes old when a Keary corner kick found the 196cm tall Daniel Tupou to score.
Then Suaalii scored his second off quick hands from Tedesco and Paul Momirovski on his inside.
Not to be outdone, Tupou scored his second from a sublime around-the-corner Tedesco.
Angus Crichton and Egan Butcher added to the rout, maintaining a winning Roosters streak over the Knights that now stretches back to 2012.
AAP
