Newcastle farewell old boys in style with Dragons romp

Newcastle have finished season 2014 in style, with a thirty point thrashing of the absent-minded Dragons in front of 20,424 at Hunter Stadium this afternoon. 

Coming into this afternoon it was the collision of two streaks, St George were nine games undefeated in the Hunter dating back to 2003 while Newcastle held a formidable record on their "old boys day" in recent seasons. Both teams were also disappointed in how their season turned out, so looking to end on a high. 

Only one team showed up, in mind and on the field, being the home side. They led the Dragons from zero to eighty with some breathtaking displays including an evergreen performance from unsigned Timana Tahu. He came on for the concussed Joey Leilua and was a handful for the Dragons defense in both attack and defense. 

Before his injury, Leilua got the scoring underway, as the centre finished off some handy work from his backline. Their charging metres got the Knights in position and he finished it off, with a dummy half scoot. 

The Newcastle backline, had a field day against the Dragons with Jarrod Mullen notching himself on the board after a dummy, Sione Mata'utia, who has found himself a permanent fixture on the tryscorers since his debut, notched a double. His feat was matched by Timana Tahu who was the end of two backline movements, either side of the break to put the Dragons to the sword (the first making it 24-4 at the break).

It was a tenser second stanza, as the Knights added three more tries to bring the 20,000 locals who turned up to their feet as Dane Gagai added his name to the list, along side the two men who notched up doubles. There will be a sense of where has that been all season for a Knights side, who has blown away opposition at Hunter Stadium late in the season after a poor start.

For St George Illawarra, they weren't at the races, in mind or on-field with their attack looking sideways and disjointed - the only two bright spots were through tries for Brett Morris and Kyle Stanley to book end the game. The only flickering sign of passion, was in the 26th minute altercation that saw Josh Dugan and Tyrone Roberts sin-binned.

Match Details
Newcastle Knights 40 St. George Illawarra Dragons 10
Venue: Hunter Stadium
Crowd: 20424
Halftime Score: Newcastle Knights 24 St. George Illawarra Dragons 4

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:
3 points - Timana Tahu
2 points - Adam Cuthbertson
1 point - Willie Mason

NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS (40)
Tries: Joseph Leilua, Jarrod Mullen, Timana Tahu (2), Sione Mata'utia (2), Dane Gagai
Conversions: Kurt Gidley (6/7)

ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS (10)
Tries: Brett Morris, Kyle Stanley
Conversions: Gareth Widdop (1/2)

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary

It's Old Boys' Day here at Hunter Stadium in Newcastle. The Knights have had quite a solid finish to what has been a forgettable season so far. The debut of the Mata'utia brothers have sparked a comeback of sorts, but it was too little too late. It's Wayne Bennett's last game leading Newcastle, and we're about 5 minutes from kick off.

The Dragons are as named, 1 through 17. For the Knights it's just the traditional change that they've made this season, with Travis Waddell starting the match in jersey 14, and Adam Clydsdale providing some impact from the interchange bench.

The Knights will kick off to start the game.

1: We're underway - the Knights kick off and Mike Cooper brings it back, before being met by 4 Knights defenders.

1: On the last, Widdop drives the ball into the corner, and Gidley watches it dribble into touch 5 metres from his own tryline.

2: The Knights working down the short side now. On the last they've brought the ball back almost 60 metres, before Roberts kicks along the ground behind the Dragons' line.

2: Brett Morris finds some space but is dragged down by Robbie Rochow.

5: The Knights' outside backs are doing some big metres at the moment. This set had runs by Gagai and both Mata'utia boys. On the next play Cutherbertson finds himself a massive gap, before putting on a brilliant pirouette to almost score a try. He's dragged down from behind in a desperate tackle.

5: We're going to the video referee for a possible Knights try. Leilua capatlises on Cutherbertson's great work, and dives over the line.

5: TRY NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Scored by Joseph Leilua. Kick to come.
And it's a try! He's hard to stop from close to the line.

5: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Conversion attempt by Kurt Gidley successful.
Gidley easily converts the try from straight in front.

8: Marshall stabs the ball along the ground - Cutherbertson picks it up and makes a half break.

8: Fa'alogo loses the ball - the Dragons get possession from within the Knights' half.

8: The Dragons spread the ball left, but Morris is driven to ground by Gagai and Chanel.

8: On the last. Marshall puts in a terrible kick, and Roberts cleans it up, before getting belted by one of his own men.

9: First penalty of the game now, the Dragons getting pinged for taking too long to get off the tackled player.

11: On the last, Roberts grubbers for himself, and Beau Scott muscles Gerard Beale back into his own in goal. Amazing strength.

12: Willie Mason just smashes his way through four defenders, including palming Joel Thompson back to 2013. The Dragons then get penalised, so the Knights will start a set from 10 metres out, straight in front of the posts.

13: TRY NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Scored by Jarrod Mullen. Kick to come.
Some great work there from the Knights. Mullen runs the ball, throws a dummy, and crashes over the line.

14: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Conversion attempt by Kurt Gidley successful.
Gidley adds the extras, and the Knights now lead by 12 points.

15: On the last, Mullen kicks deep, and it dribbles over the dead ball line. He's not happy with that kick.

16: Gerard Beale attempts to step his way through the line, but there's no gaps for him to sneak through.

17: On the last, the Dragons kick for the sideline again. Off the Scrum, Leilua makes a massive break and makes it 40 metres down field, before being tackled by Dugan. Dugan rips the ball out, and Leilua hits his head hard on the ground. The Knights get a penalty for the strip, and Kurt Gidley is petitioning for a professional foul. The referees don't want a bar of it.

17: Leilua is being taken from the field on the medicab. No fault of Dugan - just an unlucky fall for Leilua.

17: Sad way to finish his 100th NRL game for Leilua, strapped to a back board on a medicab.

We're back underway, and the Knights will start their set from 20m out from the Dragons' line.

18: Another big run from Mason, being dragged down only 2 metres out.

20: TRY NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Scored by Timana Tahu. Kick to come.
And now it's Timana Tahu's turn for a try. In his last game for the Knights, he runs on to a wide ball, and dashes over for a try. Some great offloading from the Knights in that play. Tahu celebrates with a slam dunk over the crossbar, just for good measure.

20: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Conversion attempt by Kurt Gidley successful.
And again Kurt Gidley converts. The Knights now lead by 18, and the Dragons defense seems to have no answers.

23: The Dragons get their first penalty of the game. Beau Scott is penalised for being within the 10. Widdop sends the ball down to the 30 metre line, and the Dragons will attack from within the Knight's red zone for one of the first times today.

24: Bit of heat now - Kyle Stanley deciding to pick on Willie Mason.

25: Willie Mason gets penalised for attempting to drag off the tackler. The refs don't like it, and the Dragons will start their new set within the 10.

26: Josh Dugan and Tyrone Roberts have an altercation now. It starts as pushing, before it degrades into punching. The refs call out both players, and both get 10 in the bin for throwing punches. The Knights will get the penalty.

26: Update from the Knight's doctor. Leilua has no major injury, just a bad concussion.

26: The Knights send the ball out to the right, but Gidley's tap on goes to ground.

27: The Dragons set themselves up and look to be about to score in the corner, but the last pass goes astray and trickles over the sideline.

28: Timana Tahu knocks on, and the Dragons will get the ball in attacking position.

28: TRY ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Scored by Brett Morris. Kick to come.
Marshall takes the ball to the line, and Morris takes advantage out wide, crossing in the corner. The Dragons start their fightback.

29: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Conversion attempt by Gareth Widdop unsuccessful.
Widdop misses the conversion from out wide.

29: The Knights kick off, but the ball goes dead on the full. The Dragons take the tap from halfway, and make it to the 20 metre line after two tackles.

33: Video ref again - possible Dragons' try. The on field ref thinks it's a try, but Morris doesn't look confident. It seems like his knee has touched the ground outside the field of play.

33: No try. The video referee overrules the on field referee, and denies the try.

34: The Knights work their way to the opposite end of the field, and Beau Scott looks to have possible fought his way to the try line. We're going to the video referee, just checking on the grounding. The on field referee thinks it's a no try.

34: The on field decision stands, and it's no try.

In other news, Mullen looks to have copped a knock on the nose.

35: Mullen kicks across field, and Nightingale takes it in goal and runs it out to the 20. Marshall is there in support, but he's tackled.

36: The Dragons lose the ball, and not 1 minute later the Dragons are penalised for tackling a man without the ball. Only a couple of minutes remaining in the half, but the Knights will be heavy on attack.

36: The Knights kick into the in goal - Gerard Beale fields it, but is forced to run it dead.

37: We're checking the video referee again - this looks like some amazing work from Timana Tahu, tapping the ball on to Mata'utia, who dives over for a try.

38: TRY NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Scored by Sione Mata'utia. Kick to come.
And the video referee thinks it's a try as well. Sione gets his 6th try in 7 games.

38: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Conversion attempt by Kurt Gidley successful.
Gidley, who is on song with the boot today, sends it sailing over the crossbar.

40: And that's half time. It was an entertaining first half, with the Knights leading by 20 points at the break.

40: We're back underway in the second half.

41: Some amazing footwork from Gagai sees him make a break down field.

41: TRY NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Scored by Timana Tahu. Kick to come.
On the next play, Mullen sends a long pass out to Tahu, who gets his second for the day.

43: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Conversion attempt by Kurt Gidley successful.
Gidley converts. It's starting to get ugly for the Dragons.

44: From the kickoff, Korbin Sims sprints back and smashes into Josh Dugan, and Dugan comes off second best.

45: Dugan's back on his feet, and the trainers are happy for him to stay on the field.

47: Jack de Belin has hurt his knee - it's been twisted in the tackle, and he gets up very slowly.

48: We have a knock on against the Knights, and a scrum will pack ten metres from the try line. The Dragons will feed the scrum in brilliant attacking position.

49: Some good defense from the Knights in this set. On the last, Mata-utia kicks into the in goal, and 4 Knights players watch it over the dead ball line.

49: Timana Tahu is having his best game in a long time, setting up his winger time after time, and putting him into space.

50: Possible Knights try. The video ref isn't convinced, but we're checking anyway. The Knights kick deep, and Brett Morris misses the ball completely in the in goal. Gerard Beale comes in to tidy up, but misses the ball completely. Dane Gagai puts a hand on the ball and claims a try. I don't envy the video referee for adjudicating on this. Crazy play.

51: TRY NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Scored by Dane Gagai. Kick to come.
After almost 5 minutes of deliberation, the try is awarded! If you have the opportunity to watch a replay of this try, watch it. Mess everywhere.

52: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Conversion attempt by Kurt Gidley unsuccessful.
Gidley misses his first conversion of the day.

53: The tackle count restarts for the Dragons, as the ball comes off Beau Scott on the last.

53: The Dragons look to be about to score - Jack de Belin sprints towards the line, but Tahu hits him with a massive hit right in the ribs. Huge hit. De Belin wants to play on, but he has thrown up 4 times on the field and is unable to play the ball.

55: The Knights send the ball to the opposite end of the field. Their defence is really frustrating the Dragons in this game.

56: Marshall puts on a bit of fanciness on the last, and forces the Knights into a line drop out.

60: Tahu sends Sione back on the inside, but he's pulled down.

61: Mullen kicks across towards Chanel Number 5, but the Dragons clean it up. Chanel is then penalised for going on too long with the tackle.

63: Mason takes a hit up, and 4 dragons defenders are there to meet him. Bit of feeling in the tackle too.

64: On the last, Marshall attempts to pass to Merrin, but the ball went forward and a scrum will pack.

65: On the last, Marshall attempts to pass to Merrin, but the ball went forward and a scrum will pack.

66: The Knights throwing the ball around a bit late in the game, with some offloads and no look passes starting to creep in.

66: A knockon is ruled against the Dragons. Dugan looked to be just attempting to make a tackle, but the ball came loose and Dugan hit it with his arm. The Knights will attack from deep in the Dragons' half.

68: TRY NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Scored by Sione Mata'utia. Kick to come.
Sione Mata'utia crosses in the corner. Mason gets the ball away down the shortside to Tyrone Roberts, who throws a two man cutout to hit the winger on the fly. Pretty special play.

70: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Conversion attempt by Kurt Gidley successful.
Gidley converts

70: Wadell slices up the middle now. The Dragons defence is getting pretty lazy around the ruck.

71: Dugan tries to spark something, but gets drilled by the markers.

72: Sione Mata'utia fields a kick, and runs 50 metres down field before linking with Timana Tahu. Tahu is tackled, but the Knights continue to march down field.

74: Checking the video referee again. Kurt Gidley looks to have scored under the posts, but we're checking the grounding. He looks to have a lost the ball, but it may be because of foul play from Gerard Beale. The referee seems to think Beale led with his boots to stop the try.

75: It's no try. Chris Houston is ruled to have obstructed play, and Gidley is turned down. Gidley isn't happy, but the referees don't want to hear about it.

75: Marshall attempts a kick on the last, but it doesn't work as well as he was hoping, and the Knights pick it up easily.

75: TRY ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Scored by Kyle Stanley. Kick to come.
The Dragons are fighting right to the end. Kyle Stanley uses a bit of footwork, and takes advantage of some scrambled defense and runs over to score.

75: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Conversion attempt by Gareth Widdop successful.
Widdop converts the try. There's probably not enough time left for them to steal the win though...

80: And that's the game. The Knights have run out winners 40-10. Both teams have missed out on the eight. The Knights came home with a wet sail late in the season, but a couple of losses mid season really hurt them.