Big win comes with big consequences for Newcastle

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Newcastle Knights v Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs

It was a big win that could come at an even bigger price for Newcastle after Jackson Hastings was injured during the Knights 42-6 win over the Bulldogs on Sunday afternoon.

Hastings, the Knights influential halfback, left the field midway through the first half with a lower leg injury sustained during a hip drop tackle by Bulldogs forward Jacob Preston that drew the ire of the 23,464 supporters in attendance at McDonald Jones Stadium.

Getting off to a fast start with Dane Gagai (6th minute) and Tyson Gamble (9th minute) making a mockery of the Bulldogs defence through the middle of the field, Leo Thompson was cruelly denied his maiden NRL try in a tackle off the ball which saw Harrison Edwards sent to the sin bin.

Adding a penalty goal against twelve men and going close to grabbing a third through Dominic Young, only for the bunker to rule an obstruction in the lead up, the collective hearts of the Hunter sank when Hastings was injured in a hip drop tackle which resulted in Preston joining his teammate in the sin bin.

Forced into a reshuffle which saw Phoenix Crossland shift to first receiver, replacement hooker Kurt Mann (24th minute) made an immediate impact with a burrowing effort close to the line.

Going further in front after Gamble (30th minute) collected the first double of his career, the Knights finished the half in spectacular fashion with Crossland denying Preston a try and Enari Tuala (38th minute) picking up the ball in goal to race 100 metres to go to the sheds leading 30-0.

Returning for the second half lacking intensity in attack, the decision to revert Crossland back to hooker yielded dividends with Thompson (60th minute) getting the green light from the bunker for his first try in the top grade.

In a frustrating afternoon for the Bulldogs which saw Reed Mahoney engage in a running battle with referee Peter Gough, the Bulldogs hooker (63rd minute) burrowed over to avoid the ignominy of being held scoreless by their opponents twice in the same season.

The Knights had the last say of the afternoon with Jack Hetherington (66th minute) swooping on an error by Jake Averillo to score against his former club. 

The result sees the Knights maintain their place in the top eight following their sixth win in succession. 

Next week, the Knights host the Rabbitohs on Sunday afternoon, while the Bulldogs will take on the Raiders at GIO Stadium in the final match of the round.