Full Time
80:00
6:00pm Fri June 7, 2019
Round 13 - Accor Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park / Wanngal - Crowd: 8253
80min

FULL TIME - The Knights confirm their spot in the top four with a hard-fought 20-12 win over Souths. Full wrap to come. Thanks for joining us tonight.

78min

Kurt Mann kicks through, it hits the legs of Adam Doueihi. Mitchell Pearce races towards the ball but can't handle it.

78min

Knights 20 out with a chance to make one final statement.

78min

Thomas Burgess kicks out at Connor Watson who doesn't kick but instead draws a penalty from Burgess for the illegal contact.

76min

John Sutton pulled up for a forward pass to Liam Knight and that should be it now. 3 minutes 22 seconds left.

75min

Poor guy. Sam goes from hero to zero as he takes the kick-off dead. Quick dropout and Newcastle watch as it goes over the sideline and Souths get it back. Nathan Brown will be fuming with this end from the Knights who just keep giving the Rabbits chances to win.

75min

Conversion: Rabbitohs
Kicked by Dane Gagai.

Gagai knocks it over.

Knights lead Rabbitohs 12 - 20 Knights
74min

Try: Rabbitohs
Scored by Sam Burgess. Kick to come.

Just simple strong hard running from Burgess who crashes over next to the posts.

Knights lead Rabbitohs 10 - 20 Knights
73min

Adam Doueihi chips ahead but Kurt Mann covers it well and we will have a dropout.

72min

Cameron Murray slices through off a lovely short ball and is held down too long by Mitchell Barnett. Penalty and another set for Souths.

71min

Penalty Souths now. They are 30 out.

71min

Another error from Newcastle and coach Nathan Brown will be concerned by the end to this one even if they go on to win.

70min

James Roberts! He beats Hymel Hunt and sprints down the touchline, kicks ahead but it goes out on the full. Knights ball on the 40.

69min

Newcastle drag Corey Allen into touch and celebrate but call a penalty. Will need to see a replay again but in wet conditions, it looked like momentum dragged him over.

68min

James Gavet with an error shortly after the restart and the Knights just can't put them away. Meanwhile, Damien Cook is off with Billy Brittain on.

68min

Kurt Mann with a well-weighted grubber, forcing the dropout. The kicking games tonight, particularly close to the line, have been strong from both sides in tough conditions.

67min

Mitchell Barnett with a one-on-one strip and then Shaun Kenny-Dowall surges over halfway and Newcastle are just 30 out now. Barnett with another run, they're 10 shy of the line now. A converted try here will seal it.

66min

Mitchell Pearce clears it on the last from inside his own half for Campbell Graham who is under it. Souths now seem to be finding metres out of their half more comfortably but need to turn it into points. They're 30 out on the last. Very nice kick on the last from Corey Allen and Shaun Kenny-Dowall is forced to bat it dead.

65min

George Burgess being taken off for a H.I.A after a head clash and that'll be it for him you'd think.

64min

Corey Allen quick hands to Campbell Graham who slides towards the corner but Jesse Ramien scrambles well to take him into touch. Great play.

63min

Thomas Burgess held down too long. Souths with a full set 10 out.

62min

Damien Cook with a small dabbing kick towards the in-goal area and he forces the dropout.

61min

Damien Cook draws a penalty and Souths have it on halfway.

60min

Herman Ese'ese with an error bringing it up and Souths survive. They get the scrum fee on their own 10.

59min

Mason Lino with a lovely grubber that forces a dropout. He's been strong tonight. Along with Pearce, the pair have been the difference, much more classy and composed than their opposites.

57min

Mitchell Pearce clears it on the last. The ball bounces around awkwardly for Campbell Graham but Souths have it back. They shift it left to John Sutton and he takes it up towards the 40. They go down the short side now and Cameron Murray overruns it, dropping the ball. Knights scrum fee on halfway.

56min

Penalty Goal: Knights
Kicked by Mason Lino.

The difference is pushed outside two tries.

Knights lead Rabbitohs 6 - 20 Knights
54min

Souths penalised right in front of the posts and Mason Lino will kick Newcastle ahead by 14.

53min

Daniel Saifiti now forces an error from Thomas Burgess. Knights with it back close to the line. One more try may do it.

53min

Mitchell Pearce to Lachlan Fitzgibbon right at the line. Tough ball under pressure in wet conditions and he fumbles it.

52min

They are struggling for metres early in this set. Liam Knight with a great run but he then tries to be the saviour and offload to create space but instead drops it. Knights 30 out.

50min

Knights just 10 out on the last. Mitchell Pearce with the grubber. It bounces right near the line and Corey Allen bravely dives on it and regains possession for Souths.

49min

They are back on as Newcastle nab a relieving penalty.

49min

Damien Cook trapped on the last play and Newcastle survive. All four men expected to return from the bin at any moment.

48min

Dane Gagai smacks Herman Ese'ese off the restart and forces an error. Big play!

47min

Conversion: Knights
Kicked by Mason Lino.

Lino is good off the boot again.

Knights lead Rabbitohs 6 - 18 Knights
45min

Try: Knights
Scored by Connor Watson. Kick to come.

And Watson does it himself, sliding over out of dummy-half next to the posts.

Knights lead Rabbitohs 6 - 16 Knights
44min

Connor Watson sprays through and is held just five short of the line before drawing the penalty. He takes the quick tap. Pressure right back on Souths.

41min

ALMOST! James Roberts finds space and bursts straight through the tackle of Mitchell Pearce and grubbers ahead for Mawene Hiroti who scores if he holds onto it but it spills out.

40min

Back at ANZ, keeping in mind it is 11 on 11 for another nine minutes or so.

40min

HALF TIME - A tense ending as the Knights go into the break leading 12-6.

40min

Penalty Goal: Rabbitohs
Kicked by Dane Gagai.

Gagai slots it.

Knights lead Rabbitohs 6 - 12 Knights
39min

Penalty goes to Souths and they will shoot for two.

39min

Burgess gone for a headbutt.

39min

Burgess gone for throwing a punch.

39min

Fitzgibbon also gone for escalating things.

39min

Saifiti binned for throwing a punch.

38min

Things have erupted and punches may have been thrown!

38min

Daniel Saifiti with an error bringing it up. Souths 30 out with another chance to go over late.

37min

In fact, no offload there. It was a pure drop from Burgess.

36min

Penalty for offside against Mitchell Barnett. Full set Souths who are 10 out. Sam Burgess crashes up towards the line, offloads for Corey Allen who goes over. Ref rules it went forward.

36min

Mitchell Pearce with a clearing kick on the last for Mawene Hiroti who takes it under little pressure. Damien Cook quick, short pass to Sam Burgess who surges over halfway. They go left now to Dane Gagai who is wrapped up 40 out. Liam Knight then with the hit-up. 30 out on the last, John Sutton grubbers and Kurt Mann is trapped in-goal. Big chance to strike right before the break.

34min

Crossfield kick on the last, great pressure sees it skew sideways towards Campbell Graham who drops it. Newcastle ball on their own 10.

31min

Adam Doueihi with the bomb on the last to Shaun Kenny-Dowall. It's a good one, floating in the air before falling right near the line but the chase isn't as strong with no-one contesting SKD. Knights working it out of their own end now but Hymel Hunt comes up with an error. Rabbitohs 40 out.

30min

Nice let-off for Souths. They get a late-tackle penalty and start the new set on their own 40 after struggling for metres.

29min

Mitchell Pearce with a nice grubber that finds touch 15 out from the Souths line. Newcastle looking far more organised in attack. Everyone knows their role. The Rabbitohs, however, are struggling without starting halves Walker and Reynolds.

27min

Conversion: Knights
Attempted by Mason Lino.

Lino hits the posts.

Knights lead Rabbitohs 4 - 12 Knights
26min

Try: Knights
Scored by Mitchell Barnett. Kick to come.

Mason Lino double pumps and Dane Gagai rushes out leaving a gaping hole for Barnett to storm through and score.

Knights lead Rabbitohs 4 - 12 Knights
24min

Mitchell Pearce continues to impress. His grubber sneaks through a compressed South Sydney defensive line and he forces the dropout.

23min

Penalty straight away to Newcastle. They find touch 45 out from the Souths line.

22min

Damien Cook rushes a kick on the last and it goes dead.

21min

Corey Allen - what a take! The Mitchell Pearce bomb dips late but somehow Allan scoops it up before it hits the ground and Souths have it.

20min

Penalty Goal: Knights
Kicked by Mason Lino.

Lino splits the posts.

Knights lead Rabbitohs 4 - 8 Knights
18min

Second effort on Lachlan Fitzgibbon. Penalty Knights 10 out. They will shoot for two.

18min

Connor Watson with a massive play, a one-on-one strip and he breaks away over halfway. Suddenly the Knights are on the attack 30 out.

17min

James Gavet penalised for an unnecessary slap on the head of Dane Gagai. Their new set starts over halfway.

17min

Knights 40 out on the last. Mitchell Pearce to the air and Campbell Graham, the towering winger, easily handles it.

15min

The ball is spread left to Connor Tracey who takes on the line and then looks to offload but drops it. Relief for the Knights.

14min

Kurt Mann with a great take under pressure. He later takes the ball up though and drops the ball in a strong tackle from Sam Burgess. Souths ball 40 out from the Newcastle line.

13min

Newcastle undo their hard work in that set by conceding an early penalty, gifting Souths easy passage out of their own end.

11min

Damien Cook with a nice kick from dummy-half. Edrick Lee eventually gets to it and takes the ball up to the 20 as Newcastle work it out of their own half. Great run from Jesse Ramien - picks up just under 20 metres. Just shy of halfway. James Gavet over it, then they go left to Kurt Mann who is tackled 25 out. Mitchell Pearce to the air but Corey Allen has it.

10min

Conversion: Rabbitohs
Attempted by Dane Gagai.

Gagai hits it to the right of the posts.

Knights lead Rabbitohs 4 - 6 Knights
8min

Try: Rabbitohs
Scored by James Roberts. Kick to come.

Adam Doueihi chips ahead for Roberts who races ahead of Edrick Lee to pounce and score.

Knights lead Rabbitohs 4 - 6 Knights
7min

Mitchell Barnett penalised for staying in the ruck too long. Thomas Burgess with the quick tap and then George brings it up towards the 30.

6min

John Sutton with a strong run over the 40. Damien Cook then runs and spreads it left to Campbell Graham who offloads inside for Sutton. He grubbers ahead and Mitchell Pearce takes it before being manhandled in-goal.

5min

Newcastle over again through Mitchell Barnett - a clear knock on though as Shaun Kenny-Dowall fielded the Mitchell Pearce bomb but still danger signs early for the home side. Turnover, Souths fee on their own 10.

4min

Conversion: Knights
Kicked by Mason Lino.

Lino shaves it through.

Knights lead Rabbitohs 0 - 6 Knights
3min

Try: Knights
Scored by Hymel Hunt. Kick to come.

Kurt Mann short to Hunt who surges over for a simple try.

Knights lead Rabbitohs 0 - 4 Knights
2min

Mitchell Pearce with the early grubber for the corner and Campbell Graham grounds it in-goal. More pressure coming for Souths.

1min

Great first set from Newcastle as Mitchell Pearce completes it with a bomb 40 out from the Rabbitohs line. And now they force an error from Souths - Campbell Graham the man with the mistake. Knights 10 out with a big chance to strike.

1min

Kick-off at ANZ Stadium. Newcastle with first use of the ball.

First game for James Roberts in South Sydney colours this season.

Rain falling at ANZ Stadium. Kick-off expected in just under 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, Kalyn Ponga (rested) is out for the Knights. Kurt Mann reverts to fullback with Mason Lino rewarded with a recall at five-eighth. James Gavet starts for David Klemmer (wrist) while Pasami Saulo comes onto the bench.

Plenty of changes across the board. For Souths, Cody Walker (rested) and Adam Reynolds (back) are replaced by Connor Tracey and Adam Doueihi while Billy Brittain is a late inclusion on the bench.

Good evening and welcome to tonight's blockbuster clash between the Rabbitohs and Knights.

Referees & scorers:

Referee: Grant Atkins, David Munro

Touch Judges: Tim Roby, Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski

Video Referee: Steve Chiddy, Bryan Norrie

SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS (12)
Tries: James Roberts, Sam Burgess
Field Goals:
Conversions: Dane Gagai (1/2)
Penalty Goals: Dane Gagai (1/1)

NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS (20)
Tries: Hymel Hunt, Mitchell Barnett, Connor Watson
Field Goals:
Conversions: Mason Lino (2/3)
Penalty Goals: Mason Lino (2/2)