NRL TEAMS - 2024 Round 10
39 hours ago | LeagueUnlimited Media
Knights snap losing streak
The Newcastle Knights have snapped a 5 match losing streak, defeating the Wests Tigers 22-12 in front of 15573 fans at Hunter Stadium this afternoon.
The Knights picked up first points after only 8 minutes, with Dane Gagai proving he is more than capable in the fullback role. The Knights spread the ball wide out to the left, before Gagai threw a cutout ball to an unmarked James McManus on the wing to score in the corner. Tyrone Roberts converted the try, and the Knights took an early 6 point lead.
The Tigers hit back 10 minutes later, with Luke Brooks taking advantage of some lazy Knights defence. All it took was a dummy and an inside step to create the line break, before Brooks offloaded to Halatau to score under the posts. Obviously Pat Richards made no mistake with the conversion, tying scores back up.
An interesting kick in the 21st minute led to the Knights' second try of the half. Roberts put up a high bomb, aiming for his chasers to pressure Pat Richards into a mistake. As Richards hit the ground, solid attention from both Beau Scott and Jeremy Smith forced the ball free, and David Fa'alogo was on hand to sniff out the try. Another conversion from Roberts saw the Knights move to 12 points, and so the score remained until half time, where the Knights led 12-6.
The Tigers looked the more impressive side in patches of the second half. Luke Brooks scored the first points of the second half in the 50th minute, after another video referee decision was called upon. James Tedesco kicked a loose ball forward, and Luke Brooks scrambled to score. Knights' captain Kurt Gidley was less than impressed with the video referee's decision to award the try, but his pleas fell on deaf ears.
Instead, the Knights replied with their attack, as BJ Leilua powered his way over the line after some great work from James McManus. The Knights' left edge was devastating for them today - the combination of Tariq Sims, BJ Leilua and Dane Gagai causing havoc all afternoon.
The Knights put the game beyond doubt in the 77th minute, when debutant Chad Redman crashed over from dummy half to extend the Knights lead beyond a converted try.
The Wests Tigers will attempt to regroup when they take on the Cowboys next weekend, while the Knights come up against the high flying Broncos on Monday night.
Match Details
Newcastle Knights 22 Wests Tigers 12
Venue: Hunter Stadium
Crowd: 15573
Halftime Score: Newcastle Knights 12 Wests Tigers 6
NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS (22)
Tries: James McManus, David Fa'alogo, Joseph Leilua, Chad Redman
Field Goals:
Conversions: Tyrone Roberts (3/4)
Penalty Goals:
WESTS TIGERS (12)
Tries: Dene Halatau, Luke Brooks
Field Goals:
Conversions: Pat Richards (2/2)
Penalty Goals:
LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:
3 points - Tariq Sims
2 points - Dane Gagai
1 point - Kade Snowden
LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary
Welcome to Newcastle this afternoon for this match between the Newcastle Knights and the Wests Tigers. Kick off isn't far away, with both sides desperate for a win. The Knights come into this game on the back of five straight losses, while the Tigers have the same win/loss record, but have been slightly more successful in the past five rounds.
In teams news, Joey Tapine drops off the extended bench for the Knights, and Chad Redman will debut in place of the injured Adam Clydsdale in jersey #19. For the Tigers, David Nofoaluma will replace Delouise Hoeter in the centres in jersey #23, and Kyle Lovett drops to the interchange bench, in favour of Dene Halatau in the second row.
It's a fine 19 degrees at Hunter Stadium, and conditions look good for attacking footy.
The Tigers take the field, followed by the Knights to a traditional Newcastle welcome.
And we have kick off. A bearded Badger blows the whistle, and the Knights will get first use of the football.
1: Not 30 seconds into the game and we have our first error, with Dene Halatau knocking on after attempting to catch a Kade Snowden loose ball.
On the next play, Sione Mata'utia makes a massive break down field, but the Knights throw a forward pass before completing the set.
2: Big run from Martin Taupau, straight over the top of Tyler Randell.
4: A lot of the game being played at the Knights end of the field at the moment.
6: Big mistake from the Tigers now, as Mitchell Moses kicks the ball out on the full from the halfway line. Good pressure from Tariq Sims on the kicker.
6: Sione Mata'utia, at right centre, is 3/3 for runs and line breaks so far in this game.
7: The Knights send the ball out wide to the left, but Naiqama slaps the ball down to shut down the attacking raid.
8: Looks like we may have our first try of the game! We're just going to the video referee to check the obstruction, but to my eyes it's a try.
8: TRY NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Scored by James McManus. Kick to come.
It's a try! The Knights run the same play as the one Naiqama thwarted in the previous set, and a beautiful Dane Gagai cutout ball hits McManus on the chest and he goes over for the first try of the game.
9: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Conversion attempt by Tyrone Roberts successful.
Tyrone Roberts lines up the conversion, and swings it straight between the posts. Great kick.
10: The Knights not finding space with their kicks so far. They've put three bombs up, and each time have picked the opposition man.
12: Nice offload from Beau Scott, and Randell picks up an extra few metres. On the last, the Knights kick to Richards' side of the field, but the Tigers have no trouble with it.
13: Penalty to the Tigers, as Tyrone Roberts is ruled to have flopped in after the held call.
13: Another strong run from Martin Taupau - the Tigers then spread it wide out to the right, but Nofoaluma's flick pass goes out over the sideline.
13: Penalty to Newcastle now, as the Tigers are ruled to have their hands all over the ball.
14: At the Tigers end of the field, on the last, Tyrone Roberts puts up a nothing bomb, and the Tigers have no problem with taking it.
15: And now Kade Snowden is penalised for a high tackle on Mitchell Moses. Bit of a piggy back for the Tigers.
17: TRY WESTS TIGERS
Scored by Dene Halatau. Kick to come.
Some lazy defence from the Knights, as Luke Brooks dummied at went straight in between Jeremy Smith and Tyrone Roberts, before offloading to Dene Halatau for a try.
18: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION WESTS TIGERS
Conversion attempt by Pat Richards successful.
Richards adds the extras from straight in front - he doesn't miss them from there.
21: A lot of one out from the Knights in this set, before Roberts again kicks high. Richards takes the ball, but as it comes down, he loses the ball, and David Fa'alogo dives on the loose ball and claims a try. We're going to the video referee to check a few different things, but the onfield referee doesn't think it's a try.
21: TRY NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Scored by David Fa'alogo. Kick to come.
It's a try! David Fa'alogo has picked up a meat pie, after being in the right place at the right time. The video referee overturned the on field referee's decision, ruling that Pat Richards lost the ball in a loose carry, and that Jeremy Smith was not at fault.
21: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Conversion attempt by Tyrone Roberts successful.
Roberts adds the two.
23: Good news for the Knights in the first set after the try, with the Tigers penalised for stripping the ball from Tariq Sims in the tackle. The Knights heavily on attack now.
23: Jeremy Smith makes a break but is dragged down... just. On the last, Roberts kicks high again, and we've got another decision for the video referee! The on field referee again thinks it's no try, but we're more importantly checking who grounded the ball first.
23: It is no try, but the Tigers will drop the ball out, and the Knights will get more possession.
24: Kurt Gidley gets a short ball away to Scott, but he's just pulled down. Two plays later, Leilua plays the ball but there is no dummy half present. Seumanufagai dives on the loose ball, but is ruled to have knocked on. The referees then reverse their decision, and give the scrum feed to the Tigers.
26: The Knights working the ball out of their own end, under a bit of pressure. Roberts is under heavy attention on the last, and his kick skips about 20 metres, before being met by the Tigers kick return.
27: Luke Brooks kicks back in towards the posts, but Roberts read it beautifully, and took the ball on the full.
31: Dane Gagai returns the Tigers kick, and runs clean over the top of one sorry Tigers defender. Dene Halatau is then penalised for carrying on with the tackle, and the Knights will attack from only 20m out.
32: The Knights swing the ball left, and Roberts finds Tariq Sims with a neat shortball. Sims reaches out, but loses the ball 1 inch above the tryline. 20m restart.
33: The Knights are then penalised for holding down in the tackle, and it's the Tigers turn to mount an attack from a solid position.
34: Moses throws an inside ball, but Kurt Gidley absolutely nails him. He takes a while to get up, but he looks ok.
34: Gidley rolls the ball over the sideline, with just a few minutes left in the half.
36: Beau Scott receiving some attention at the moment - possibly a shoulder or neck injury, as he got twisted while making a tackle.
38: The Knights looking to post some more points before the half time break, on attack from 20m out. Gagai brings it forward, but is injured in the tackle from an accidental Woods knee.
38: Gidley runs it forward, but is flogged in the tackle - picked up and dumped on his back. Waste of a set.
39: The Tigers kick high, and the chase is a good one, but Gagai stands his ground and takes the kick nicely.
40: And that's half time, with the Knights going to the break leading 12-6. There were good and bad points from both sides in the first half. Knights fans will be pleased with their side's improved attack, especially thanks to Gagai at the back, but will be worried about their team's flimsy defence. The Tigers looked good in patches, but struggled with some mistakes and dropped ball at costly times. The second half should be a good one.
40: We're back in the second half, with the Knights kicking off to the Tigers.
43: Strong run from Matthew Lodge, powering his way over the top of the Knights' defenders. On the last, the Tigers again kick high. Dane Gagai takes it nicely, but then loses the ball in the tackle of David Nofoaluma. Good opportunity for the Tigers.
44: The Tigers send it wide to Chris Lawrence, but he loses the ball in a heavy tackle. He's taken low by Mata'utia, before falling into a Kurt Gidley swinging arm. He's heading to the sideline, and looks heavily concussed.
45: And now Mata;'utia is slow to get to his feet after a head clash with Robbie Farah.
46: Mata'utia comes to the sideline after that headclash. Randell moves to five-eight, with Kurt Gidley moving to fullback and Gagai filling the vacant centre position.
48: The Tigers throw a couple of loose offloads, losing 10 metres in the process, before Mitchell Moses used some elusive footwork to get himself through the broken Knights defensive line. He chipped over the top of the fullback, but Uate cleaned it up, and the Knights will drop it out.
49: Tigers only ten metres out now, but they waste a tackle after a horrible pass from Farah.
50: We're going to the video referee for a possible Tigers try. The Tigers have used Luke Brooks as a decoy, before some James Tedesco soccer skills sees Brooks possibly score the try.
50: TRY WESTS TIGERS
Scored by Luke Brooks. Kick to come.
The video referee awards the try to the Tigers, and the margin closes to 2. Kurt Gidley blowing up.
50: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION WESTS TIGERS
Conversion attempt by Pat Richards successful.
Richards converts from the left side of the field, and we're all locked up.
54: The Tigers bomb on the last, and Uate makes a good fist of some broken field play. 2nd tackle, and the Knights have made it back to well within the Tigers' half.
54: Another video referee decision to be made here. Ashley Klein thinks it's a try, but we'll just double check. Roberts kicked high and across field, and McManus pulls the ball backwards to BJ Leilua, who fought off three defenders to slam the ball down. We're just checking if McManus knocked it on.
55: TRY NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Scored by Joseph Leilua. Kick to come.
And it's a try! The Knights have reclaimed the lead. Kick to come.
55: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Conversion attempt by Tyrone Roberts unsuccessful.
Roberts sets himself 4 metres from the left sideline, but pushes the kick wide.
56: Sione Mata'utia and Chris Lawrence are both back on the field after passing their concussion tests.
57: Yet another bomb from Roberts, and this time Tedesco coughs it up. New set for the Knights!
57: *fizzle*
Tariq Sims knocks it on on the first tackle.
58: Mistake from the Tigers, 20 metres out from their own line. The Knights have a great attacking opportunity here, provided they can hold the ball.
59: Beau Scott looks for an offload, but Keith Galloway knocks the ball to the ground. New set for the Knights, from a scrum feed on the 10m line.
61: Leilua looks to be header for the sideline, but somehow manages to stay in field. Last tackle, Roberts again kicks high for Uate's wing. Pat Richards knocks the ball back to his own player, and the Tigers will get the ball. Uate flies high, but lands heavily on his back after falling from 5 feet in the air.
62: 40/20 WESTS TIGERS
Robbie Farah kicks a 40/20.
Robbie Farah kicks a massive 40/20 - the Tigers will get a scrum feed from within the Knights' 20.
63: The Tigers send the ball from the left wing to the right, but James McManus crunches in and panics the Tigers' winger. The Knights get the ball. Good defence.
64: Roberts really loving his high kicks today. Almost every kick has been a bomb.
65: Luke Brooks makes a half break down the left side of the field, but is taken to ground by Leilua. Moses then kicks into the backfield, but Gagai shovels it out over the sideline.
66: On the new set, Farah kills momentum for his team by belting a grubber out over the dead ball line.
69: Brooks' turn to kick high now. It comes down messily for Dane Gagai, who then milks a penalty out of Kevin Naiqama while trying to get a quick play the ball.
70: The Knights send the ball to the right. Gagai throws a cutout ball, and Pat Richards attempts an intercept. If he caught it, it was probably a try for the Tigers. If he hadn't got a hand to it, Uate probably scores in the corner.
71: Roberts runs off a nice offload, and surges for the line, but twists his knee and ankle badly in the tackle He's in a lot of pain, but he's going to attempt to play on.
71: On the last, Roberts grubbers into the in goal, and Tedesco is forced out over the sideline in goal. The Knights force a repeat set for probably one of the first times this season.
71: The Knights use Sione Mata'utia who makes a half line break, but again the Knights make a mistake on the next play, killing a 2 man overlap.
73: The Tigers run a block play, and Tedesco almost gets his head through the line. On the last they bomb high, and Dane Gagai makes a mess of things, knocking the ball on badly.
74: But somehow, the Knights have won the scrum against the feed - massive sigh of relief from the crowd then.
75: The Tigers now get penalised for pushing the dummy half out of the way. Luck is apparently going the way of the Knights this afternoon.
76: Gidley hits Tariq Sims short, but he's held up 1 metre out. Moses is then penalised for a lifting tackle, and the Knights get a fresh set a few metres out.
76: TRY NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Scored by Chad Redman. Kick to come.
And Chad Redman has scored on debut! A big run from Leilua drew the defence in, before Redman dived over to the left of the ruck for his first ever try in first grade! The Knights look to have snapped their losing streak!
77: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Conversion attempt by Tyrone Roberts successful.
Tyrone converts from the left of the field, and the Knights lead by 10.
78: The Tigers attempt a short kickoff. Mata'utia flies high and takes the kick brilliant, but he's belted around the head by Matthew Lodge. Players rush in from everywhere, and it's an absolute mess.
78: The Knights will get the penalty, and Roberts puts the ball into touch.
80: And that's the game. The Tigers get a penalty with 20 seconds remaining, but the Knights shut down the last attacking raid of the game. The Newcastle Knights have snapped a 5 match losing streak, defeating the Wests Tigers 22-12.