Knights find some pre-finals form to thump dismal Dragons who ‘wouldn’t have beaten Dapto’
NRL Premiership
Newcastle's Kalyn Ponga celebrates after scoring a try.Source: News Corp Australia
Newcastle has bounced back into some impressive pre-finals form by putting a seven-try thumping on St George Illawarra who just want the season to end.
A week after being embarrassed by the high-flying Roosters and challenged by coach Adam O’Brien, the Knights won 42-18 on Old Boys’ Day in the Hunter.
Kalyn Ponga returned from a week’s rest to score a try and assist in two others, along with five tackle busts and two linebreak assists.
The Knights are guaranteed a spot in the top eight but their title credentials came into question after last week’s heavy loss.
Round 19
Sunday’s result will go some way to ensuring fans the Hunter side can at least be competitive come October.
Dragons coach Dean Young lamented a lack of effort, particularly in defence.
“We wouldn’t have beaten Dapto the way we played in the first half. It was Under 8s stuff,” Young said.
“They made 60-something tackles and we made 410. That’s not an excuse, we’re much better than that and the players know that.
“When you let in soft tries it’s sort of a reflection what the game means to you. Have we had enough, or are we sitll really wanting to fight to the death?"
Ponga took less than four minutes to find the tryline against Dragons, finding space and a pass from Chris Randall to go over under the posts.
The Knights were in again only minutes later when Gehemat Shibasaki produced some mid-air magic to snatch the ball and come down on the goal line.
The conversion made it 12-0 and the game wasn’t even 10 minutes old.
Then Ponga was in the action again when he put Aidan Guerra over in the 23rd minute to extend the lead.
Some soft as butter Dragons defence let Daniel Saifiti fall through the middle of them and make the score 24-0 after 27 minutes.
The Dragons finally got some points on the board when Zac Lomax scored and converted his own try to make it 24-6.
Newcastle hit back in quick time when Enari Tuala capitalised on a Red V error to get their fifth try.
It was 30-6 at the break.
Newcastle started the second half hot and Jacob Saifiti extended the lead in the 52nd minute.
The Dragons got one back when rookie winger Cody Ramsey broke away down the sideline and passed inside to Corey Norman who made it to the line.
The Knights went in again when Tuala scored his second and Mason Lino converted to make it 42-12.
Lomax got one back for the Dragons as a late consolation but it was far too little, far too late.
https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nr...s/news-story/fe96cf48848ca4f6fc0278ed45caaa9e
NRL Premiership
- September 20, 2020 6:28pm
- Simon Brunsdon@simonbrunsdon
- Source: FOX SPORTS
Newcastle's Kalyn Ponga celebrates after scoring a try.Source: News Corp Australia
Newcastle has bounced back into some impressive pre-finals form by putting a seven-try thumping on St George Illawarra who just want the season to end.
A week after being embarrassed by the high-flying Roosters and challenged by coach Adam O’Brien, the Knights won 42-18 on Old Boys’ Day in the Hunter.
Kalyn Ponga returned from a week’s rest to score a try and assist in two others, along with five tackle busts and two linebreak assists.
The Knights are guaranteed a spot in the top eight but their title credentials came into question after last week’s heavy loss.
Round 19
Sunday’s result will go some way to ensuring fans the Hunter side can at least be competitive come October.
Dragons coach Dean Young lamented a lack of effort, particularly in defence.
“We wouldn’t have beaten Dapto the way we played in the first half. It was Under 8s stuff,” Young said.
“They made 60-something tackles and we made 410. That’s not an excuse, we’re much better than that and the players know that.
“When you let in soft tries it’s sort of a reflection what the game means to you. Have we had enough, or are we sitll really wanting to fight to the death?"
Ponga took less than four minutes to find the tryline against Dragons, finding space and a pass from Chris Randall to go over under the posts.
The Knights were in again only minutes later when Gehemat Shibasaki produced some mid-air magic to snatch the ball and come down on the goal line.
The conversion made it 12-0 and the game wasn’t even 10 minutes old.
Then Ponga was in the action again when he put Aidan Guerra over in the 23rd minute to extend the lead.
Some soft as butter Dragons defence let Daniel Saifiti fall through the middle of them and make the score 24-0 after 27 minutes.
The Dragons finally got some points on the board when Zac Lomax scored and converted his own try to make it 24-6.
Newcastle hit back in quick time when Enari Tuala capitalised on a Red V error to get their fifth try.
It was 30-6 at the break.
Newcastle started the second half hot and Jacob Saifiti extended the lead in the 52nd minute.
The Dragons got one back when rookie winger Cody Ramsey broke away down the sideline and passed inside to Corey Norman who made it to the line.
The Knights went in again when Tuala scored his second and Mason Lino converted to make it 42-12.
Lomax got one back for the Dragons as a late consolation but it was far too little, far too late.
https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nr...s/news-story/fe96cf48848ca4f6fc0278ed45caaa9e
