Brad Fittler's coaching honeymoon has continued, with the Sydney Roosters producing a late 20-17 NRL victory over a courageous Knights side at EnergyAustralia Stadium in Newcastle.

Centre Mitchell Aubusson stepped his way over the tryline with three minutes remaining to hand rookie coach Fittler his second win from as many games since taking over the duties from Chris Anderson.

"It's good fun as a coach," said a cheeky Fittler after the tense win.

"It was a great finish and great that they kept believing.

"I watched it (the game) a bit more closely, the first one I was a bit more excited.

"(But) there's not much you can do up there (in the coach's box), you can pass on the messages but no one listens."

But as Fittler continued smiling his way through the coaching journey, his Newcastle opposite Brian Smith had to put on a brave face as he fielded his most depleted Knights side of the season.

Injured NSW Origin stars Danny Buderus, Steve Simpson and Jarrod Mullen were all sidelined, while prop Adam Woolnough was a late withdrawal due to a virus.

The news only gets worse too, with talented young backrower Zeb Taia injuring the AC joint in his shoulder.

Newcastle led 12-10 at half-time, but the Roosters struck early in the second half through Lopini Paea before Knights winger Cooper Vuna hit back to complete his double and level scores at 16-all in the 55th minute.

Rookie Knights halfback Luke Walsh booted a 66th minute field goal to grab a 17-16 lead and raise hopes of an against-the-odds win but the Roosters - with seven Origin experienced players and a Kiwi international - had the nerve to rally at the death.

Smith felt his side deserved the victory but lacked the experience to dominate down the stretch and close out the result.

"We did not dominate enough to feel completely comfortable (with a one point lead) but at the back end I thought we had done enough to win," said Smith.

"If you don't dominate the game you run the risk of losing it.

"We have a lot of young fellas in that team and guys who are not comfortable in first grade dealing with that sort of pressure down the stretch.

"We were a bit stiff not to get the cash tonight."

The Roosters victory keeps alive slim finals hopes, moving to 16 competition points but remaining in 15th place due to an atrocious for-and-against record.

More importantly, with Penrith losing to St George Illawarra earlier on Saturday, they hold a handy four-point gap over the last-placed Panthers to ease pressure of claiming the wooden spoon in their centenary season.

But Fittler is refusing to consider both finals and wooden spoon chances.

"It's the one thing I've promised myself, not to look at the ladder," said Fittler.

"Just keep plugging along.

"(I'll look at the ladder) at the last round, or the week before that."

Centre Sia Soliola is the Roosters' only concern after he suffered a fractured eye socket late in the game and could miss four weeks.

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