Knights slip and slide to succumb to Brisbane

Greasy conditions and a strong Brisbane outfit have helped the Broncos cement a top 3 finish with a 26-6 victory over the Newcastle Knights in front of 19,412 fans at Ausgrid Stadium.

There was a strong contest in the first half, but Newcastle finished worse for ware with two injuries further dampening the home side's proceedings. Sau came off early with an ankle injury and Hilder had to be taken to hospital for a nasty gash on his face resultant from a head clash with team mate Edwards.

Brisbane took an early lead scoring tries in the 7th and 14th minutes to Wallace and Hodges respectively.  Parker failed to convert either try to help Newcastle become within 2 points of Brisbane late in the half with a try to Akuila Uate against the run of play. Parker extended the margin back to four with a penalty goal on the stroke of half time to take Brisbane into the interval with a 10 point to 6 lead.

The interval brought bad news for the Knights with confirmation they would be down to 15 men for the remainder of the game. Brisbane sustained a few injuries of their own early in the second 40 with fears arising over Hodges and McGuire with re-injuries of old wounds; hamstring and eye respectively. McGuire came back onto the field, but there are fears over Hodges' season.

Brisbane carried on with their lead in the second half putting on three more tries to extend their lead to 20 and ensure a top 3 finish. Yow Yeh got on the board in his return match with a 90 metre intercept try in the 52nd minute. Fellow young guns Glenn and Hunt also got i=on the board in the 6th and 7th minutes respective and Parker added a couple more conversions to help Brisbane to their 26-6 victory.

Match Details
Newcastle Knights 6 were defeated by Brisbane Broncos 26
National Rugby League - Round 24 - Monday August 22, 2011 7:00pm
Venue: Ausgrid Stadium
Referee: Shayne Hayne and Ashley Klein
Video Referee: Steve Clark
Touch Judges: Luke Potter and Gavin Reynolds
Crowd: 19,412
Halftime: Newcastle Knights 6 Brisbane Broncos 10

Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 Points - Corey Parker (1 Try, 2 Conversions, 1 Penalty Goal)
2 Points - Josh McGuire
1 Point - Josh Hoffman

NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS (6)
Tries: Akuila Uate
Conversions: Kurt Gidley (1/1)

BRISBANE BRONCOS (26)
Tries: Justin Hodges, Corey Parker, Jharal Yow Yeh, Ben Hunt, Alex Glenn
Conversions: Corey Parker (2/5)
Penalty Goals: Corey Parker (1/1)

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary Good evening and welcome to Ausgrid Stadium for League Unlimited's coverage of the match to close off Round 24 which sees the Newcastle Knights take on the Brisbane Broncos.
Brisbane took out the Toyota Cup curtain raiser defeating the Newcastle under 20s side 28 points to 24.
TEAM NEWS: Jharal Yow Yeh will play for the Broncos taking the place of Dale Copley. For the Knights, Ciraldo will start for Edwards in the lock position.
1 min: Broncos kick off to give the Knights first use of the football.
2 min: Greasy conditions here in Newcastle, but that hasn't stopped both forward packs from making good metres with ball in hand.
4 min: Knights give away good territory with a dropped ball giving Brisbane a scrum 40 out from the Newcastle line.
6 min: VIDEO REFEREE for a possible Broncos TRY.
7 min: TRY
Benefit of the doubt TRY to the Broncos!
Difficult to see what happened there, but video referee Steve Clark has awarded the try to Corey Parker. Conversion attempt from Corey Parker unsuccessful.
Brisbane Broncos 4-0
9 min: A poor pass from Mullen costs the Knights as they try to get into attacking position.
12 min: Ciraldo loses the ball to give Brisbane a scrum 20 from the Newcastle line.
13 min: PENALTY to the Broncos a couple of metres out from the Newcastle line against Kaufusi for holding down in the play the ball.
15 min: TRY
TRY to the Broncos!
Broncos shift to the right where Yow Yeh offloads to Hodges who takes a powerful strol through to score. Parker's boot hits the upright and bounces back in field.
Brisbane Broncos 8-0
16 min: Parker loses the ball trying to get back onto his feet for Brisbane's first error of the evening.
18 min: Yow Yeh attempts to intercept and knocks on to give Newcastle a scrum ten out.
19 min: Junior Sau has come off the field with an injury.
19 min: Costigan has made an error as Sau goes straight to the sheds and word is that he has rolled an ankle and will not be back tonight.
20 min: Hodges has a pass intercepted to turn over possession.
21 min: A wasted chance for the Knights as someone puts a foot into touch.
21 min: PENALTY to the Broncos against Houston inside the ten.
22 min: Broncos turning over a fair bit of ball too now as Anderson makes an error inside the Newcastle 20.
23 min: Knights turn the ball over with an error.
24 min: Hoffman makes an error early in the count to give the ball right back to the Knights.
26 min: It's a miracle! A completed set from the Knights.
26 min: Hodges makes an error near halfway to give the Knights an attacking set.
28 min: Knights' ball control is improving with another completed set.
28 min: PENALTY to the Knights against Lockyer for holding down in the play the ball. Penalty given 5 metres out from the Brisbane line.
29 min: And Mullen turns the ball over to halt the NEwcastle attack.
30 min: VIDEO REFEREE for a possible Brisbane TRY.
30 min: NO TRY! PENALTY to the Broncos and Houston has been sin binned for a professional foul.
31 min: An error from McGuire and Brisbane bomb their opportunity.
33 min: Gidley knocks on at the back but has a foot in goal for a drop out rather than a scrum.
35 min: Beale trips trying to collect a long boot to give Newcastle what is nearly as good as a 40/20, with a Newcastle scrum 25 out from the Brisbane line.
37 min: TRY
TRY to the Knights!
Uate from the scrum win streaks down the right flank and scores an easy try. Kurt Gidley converts.
Brisbane Broncos 8-6
39 min: PENALTY to Brisbane about ten out against Gidley for holding down in the play the ball.
40 min: PENALTY GOAL
Gidley has a time wasting chat with referee Klein, so with half a minute left in the half Brisbane opt to take the 2 and Parker boots his first goal of the night.
Brisbane Broncos 10-6
40 min: The hooter blows as the flags go up to take us into the break with Brisbane leading 10 points to 6.
40 min: Matt Hilder has been taken to hospital during the interval because of a nasty gash to the face sustained in the first half and it is confirmed that Sau has syndisnosis to his right ankle. So the Knights are down to 15 men. 41 min: Second half under way.
43 min: PENALTY to the Knights for Broncos players inside the ten to help Newcastle into the Brisbane half.
44 min: McGuire appears to have a problem with his left eye.
45 min: Knights go on a raid down the left flank, but it ends with a forward pass.
47 min: Hodges is coming off the field with a hamstring complaint and Gidley is down on the ground being attended to by a trainer.
49 min: Gidley finds some open space and looks certain to score before McCullough puts in a superb try saving tackle.
50 min: PENALTY to the Knights against Wallace for hands in the play the ball.
51 min: Costigan has a pass intercepted by Yow Yeh about ten metres out.
53 min: TRY
TRY to the Broncos!
Yow Yeh streaks 90 metres to score and advances his position too. PArker converts.
Brisbane Broncos 16-6
55 min: Lockyer kicks the ball out on the full to give Knights a scrum in good field position.
56 min: Hodges is looking very dejected on the sideline and word is that this injury may spell a premature end to his season.
57 min: Knights squander an opportunity.
59 min: Brisbane error to give Newcastle a scrum feed 20 out.
60 min: Lulia makes an error on the first tackle to return the ball to Brisbane.
62 min: PENALTY to the Broncos against McManus in possession.
64 min: TRY
TRY to the Broncos!
Lockyer finds Glenn on his outside to bust through and score. Conversion attempt from Parker unsuccessful.
Brisbane Broncos 20-6
67 min: Broncos have all but wrapped up this game and Newcastle look unlikely to offer a comeback.
69 min: PENALTY to the Knights against McGuire for hands in the play the ball.
69 min: Knights make an error early in the count to hand the ball over.
70 min: PENALTY to the Broncos against Kaufusi for holding down in the play the ball.
71 min: Broncos earn a repeat set at the Newcastle line by forcing a goal line drop out.
74 min: TRY
TRY to the Broncos!
Hunt from dummy half shrugs off defenders and dives in to score. Well struck conversion from Parker adds the extras.
Brisbane Broncos 26-6
77 min: McGuire turns the ball over near halfway.
77 min: PENALTY to the Knights against Anderson for holding down in the play the ball.
78 min: Edwards turns the ball over on the first tackle to deny Newcastle the opportunity to do anything.
78 min: PENALTY to the Knights against Hoffman for an incorrect play the ball.
80 min: McManus makes what should be the last Newcastle error of the night.
80 min: PENALTY to the Broncos against de Gois for hands in the play the ball.
80 min: Broncos take one last play from the penalty and it ends in an error, but a very comfortable win for the Broncos who have taken the game 26 points to 6.