Trial vs. Sharks

[Frederick]

Knights steal 26-24 win against Cronulla

Newcastle have scored a dramatic 26-24 NRL trial win over the Cronulla Sharks at Cessnock Sports Ground.

The Knights overcame a 20-point second-half deficit to grab the win - albeit against the Sharks' second string line-up - in a penalty-laden and sometimes scrappy affair.

Trailling 24-4 four minutes into the second half, Newcastle rattled four unanswered tries, including a double to rookie Junior Fau, who scored the match winner in the 73rd minute.

But Cronulla nearly snatched victory after the siren when lower grader Grant Millington forced a grubber kick, only for the backrower to be ruled offside by referee Shayne Hayne.

Sharks coach Ricky Stuart replaced most of his first-team regulars at the break with an inexperienced line-up after his side had put together an impressive performance to lead 18-4 at halftime.

Returning Cronulla captain Paul Gallen, who missed the Sharks' first trial through injury, played the majority of the first stanza and was replaced uninjured.

Cronulla recovered from their 44-point drubbing at the hands of Souths last weekend with a more resolute defensive performance, holding the Knights to a solitary try to Kurt Gidley in the first half.

It was an error-prone Newcastle who looked defensively suspect on occasions, giving up a number of soft tries in a flat first-half performance before knuckling down late.

Playing without regular first graders Greg Bird (hamstring), Luke Covell (elbow) and fullback Brett Kearney (hip), it took the Sharks just three minutes to cross the Knights line through Misi Talaupapa.

Newcastle hit back through Gidley in the 22nd minute but the Sharks scored three tries in 10 minutes through Brett Seymour, David Simmons and Brett Kimmorley.

After Stuart's halftime substitutions and an early second-half try to the Sharks' Reece Williams, a Jarrod Mullen-inspired Newcastle charged home.

Mullen crossed in the 56th minute and then laid on four-pointers for Fau and Gidley to make it 24-22 before Fau's match-winner with seven minutes remaining.

LINK

 

[Bicey_18]

Lets just hope we came out of it injury free ready for Round 1 Vs Canberra...

 

[otori]

Did that report worry anyone else? We were getting drubbed until their stringers came on?

 

[Bicey_18]

Why wasn't it mentioned in the article the players we were missing?

 

[Bicey_18]

It is a little worrying but not too much... I mean when you look at our side that played tonight I think we were missing up to 6 players that are odds on to be in our top 17 so hopefully when they return we will improve. It was always going to be tough for the first few weeks, a new team trying to gel would be tough so to get 2 positive results will build confidence im sure..

 

[MC]

A kid who had a run in a few positions wearing number 20. Looked pretty good. He is small, but look at those arms.

That's Kevin Naqiama- Wes's brother

 

[MC]

who kicked the goals for the knights

 

[Pumba]

Five Out of Five for Knights

Saturday, 1 March 2008 - Newcastle Knights

The Knights scored a clean sweep today with match results, winning all five of their matches played.

At the trial games held at Cessnock the Knights NYC side defeated the Sharks 28-24, NSW Cup Central Knights defeated the Sharks 30-16 and in NRL the Knights came from behind to narrowly defeat the Sharks 26-24.

Meanwhile at EnergyAustralia Stadium our junior sides took on the Wests Magpies with Harold Matthews coming out 48-26 victors and SG Ball 46-28.

LINK

 

[Newie is God's Country]

Did that report worry anyone else? We were getting drubbed until their stringers came on?

Given I rate the sharkies a top four spot this season then no. They could break the drought this year IMO. THat said your point is valid for sure. This comeback thing is not what I want to see this year. Twice now we have run down sides when their second stringers have come on. Reading into this perfornamce could give you a headache. Take heart from the fact we are a very new side and Cross, Wicks, Sarge and a few others weren't there. Houston is playing great so he could be our new tackilng machine.

 

[Gene Krupa]

Yeah, you're right, they had nobodys on and we were at full strength the whole game! :roll: Reading too much into trial form are we? We had just as many players who were fringe or no names as they did. It shows the heart and determination that the current crop of players have, more than anything.

 

[Jobdog]

Didn't you know that every team in the NRL can use the "it was our second-string side that was out there" excuse and get away with it except for the Knights? :shock:

 

[Spitty]

I try not to read too much into trials. But if I remember correctly we had very similar form in last years trials and that turned out to be a great year.

 

[Johns Magic]

I try not to read too much into trials. But if I remember correctly we had very similar form in last years trials and that turned out to be a great year.

sarcasm?

 

[Spitty]

sarcasm?

Sorry, should I have added some kind of smiley like this :sarcasm: .

 

[Bicey_18]

But we have alot better side than last year imo.. Take away Joey of course but still I think over all we have a better squad now then this time last year

 

[roopy]

Scotty Dureau is having a wonderful trial series.
Came on late in Warriors game and we went on a try scoring spree.
Played the first half of NSW cup yesterday and we scored about 4 tries to one.
Came on in firstgrade yesterday and we made a big comeback.
He must be running about 50 points to 10 for his trials so far.

 

[Bicey_18]

Surely he has to partner Mullen in the halves Round 1...

 

[Karmawave]

I don't believe Dureau is anywhere near first grade standard.

Its all opinion I guess.

 

[sneaky_is_here]

Last nights game was pretty disapointing. Defence was really poor a few tries down Lulia's edge. In the central Newcastle game Scott played the first half and walshy the second. Scott played better, It looked like walsh was afraid to get tackled.

 

[Bicey_18]

Dureau is better than Walsh by a mile....

Bailey is NOT a 5/8

The game Scotty had last year V Manly I though he had some real nice touches and showed glimpses of huge potential. IMO he is the best option we have atm..