Full Time
80:00
6:00pm Fri September 4, 2020
Round 17 - McDonald Jones Stadium, New Lambton / Awabakal - Crowd: 5597
79min

Conversion: Knights
Kicked by Mason Lino.

Lino lines one up after the whistle. Nails it. FULLTIME.

Knights lead Knights 38 - 10 Sharks
79min

Try: Knights
Scored by Josh King. Kick to come.

All hail the King! Josh King gets his first in his 59th game of first grade.

Knights lead Knights 36 - 10 Sharks
78min

That sums up the Sharks night. Kennedy tried to go short and it went about 3 metres.

78min

Pearce chips one into the corner and trapped the Sharks again. Dropout.

75min

Tracy toes through and gets six more. Sharks trying to get some late consolation.

73min

Connor Tracy slices through, tries to kick for his fullback but the Knights got back there.

69min

Conversion: Knights
Kicked by Mason Lino.

Lino converts.

Knights lead Knights 32 - 10 Sharks
69min

Try: Knights
Scored by Kalyn Ponga. Kick to come.

Ponga puts the exclamation point on the performance. He took the ball in space and strolled through.

Knights lead Knights 30 - 10 Sharks
68min

Conversion: Knights
Attempted by Mason Lino.

Lino lines up another, fades it wide.

Knights lead Knights 26 - 10 Sharks
67min

Try: Knights
Scored by Lachlan Fitzgibbon. Kick to come.

Knights have threatened that all night and get their reward. Pearce held the ball up perfectly and Fitzgibbon rolls over.

Knights lead Knights 26 - 10 Sharks
66min

Sharks go short and Goodwin knocks on trying to reel it in.

65min

That was a tough look for Kennedy. The ball came on the bounce to Tuala, he summed up the situation and toed through.. forcing the error from Kennedy.

64min

We take that back. Hamlin-Uele got a sanction. He is now on report. He joins Townsend, Rudolph and Graham on the charge sheet.

63min

PENALTY KNIGHTS! Lifting tackle against Ramien. No charge there. Just the penalty.

62min

Add another casualty. Youngster Phoenix Crossland was caught in the wrong position trying to tackle and whacks his head on the ground. His night should be over as well.

62min

Knights go close again! Kurt Mann turns chaser, grabs it and tries to find someone, Fitzgibbon loses it.

60min

Knights load the shortside and Lachlan Fitzgibbon tries to crawl over, loses it.

58min

Sharks rucking it out and Briton Nikora looks to have dropped it. CHALLENGE.. and it looks a simple drop. Confirmed. UNSUCCESSFUL.

58min

Conversion: Sharks
Kicked by Bryson Goodwin.

Goodwin converts.

Knights lead Knights 22 - 10 Sharks
58min

Try: Sharks
Scored by Connor Tracey. Kick to come.

Young half Connor Tracey is on and pokes through to score.

Knights lead Knights 22 - 8 Sharks
56min

There is some high emotion in this game now. Sharks attack the line and get a repeat set. Forward Toby Rudolph has become Toby Boodolph.

55min

PENALTY SHARKS! Knights aiming up and get caught then another ten for mouthing off.

52min

PENALTY KNIGHTS! After all that, Knights get the whistle.

52min

Wow! Chad Townsend has been sent off! Refere said he hit him high and made no attempt to wrap.

52min

Sharks have tried to find their way back into the contest but the bombs have been easy dealt with by Ponga. The fullback smartly got a toe back in goal. 20 tap and Townsend comes flying at Ponga! The teams come together like they stole a kebab late at night. Now we'll have the result.

49min

Mitch Pearce just pushed through the line and gets the Knights on the front foot. The kick doesn't match though as Hunt knocks on trying to gather.

47min

Sharks stripped the numbers well but the pass to Mulitalo is horrible. Knocked on.

46min

..as I say that, Ponga coughs it up.

45min

Been a sedate opening to the second half. Sharks have made some in-roads but can't find the quality needed to get over the Knights.

40min

Sharks had a good roll going on but Hunt knocks on.

40min

KICK-OFF! Back underway.

40min

It almost came off. Ponga switched to the short side, put Tuala into the hole, the centre tried to kick for his winger, lost it and Brayley on the counter is hammered by Ponga. HALFTIME.

40min

Knights tried to find one more shot before the break. It is knocked on. Sharks then as time ticked down went for a scrum play and it is knocked on. Knights rushed to the scrum. ONE PLAY.

36min

RED LIGHTS.. NO TRY! Judged that Ponga touched it into Kennedy. Chalked off.

34min

BUNKER TIME! It could be night night for the Sharks. Ponga competes, Lino finishes. Checking onside, contest and who knocks on.

34min

Conversion: Knights
Kicked by Mason Lino.

Lino has kept the duties. The five-eighth adds his third of the night.

Knights lead Knights 22 - 4 Sharks
34min

Try: Knights
Scored by Kalyn Ponga. Kick to come.

Knights making mince meat of the Sharks. Barnett gets the offload, Ponga drifts, drifts then presses the go button for his second.

Knights lead Knights 20 - 4 Sharks
32min

Pearce goes bang! He was on the end of a hit from opposing half Chad Townsend at the end of the previous set then returns the favour on Bryson Goodwin.

28min

Much better work from the Sharks. Some strong runs from the forwards got them on the front foot. Trindall tried to position Mulitalo again but the pass was forward.

26min

Always beware the second kick. Townsend lofted one for his chasers, it was knocked back into his path and the half banana kicked one for a dropout.

25min

Knights seem to be on a mission since the opening four-pointer. Put on three straight tries and have put some sting into their defense. Sharks have been stuck in their own half.

22min

Penalty Goal: Knights
Kicked by Mason Lino.

Knights shoot for two immediately. Lino was already there with the tee. Adds two more.

Knights lead Knights 16 - 4 Sharks
21min

PENALTY KNIGHTS! That tackle just resembles how the Sharks have been thus far. Ugly. Toby Rudolph tries to get tough in defense and almost spears Lino. ON REPORT.

18min

Conversion: Knights
Kicked by Mason Lino.

Ponga has sacked himself from kicking now. Lino, who set up the try, takes the tee. Nails it.

Knights lead Knights 14 - 4 Sharks
18min

Try: Knights
Scored by Starford To'a. Kick to come.

GREEN LIGHTS.. TRY! No dramas there! The kick was manic and the finish was fantastic. To'a has a double now.

Knights lead Knights 12 - 4 Sharks
18min

BUNKER TIME! Knights on fire now! Lino kicks past a sea of defenders and it ended up with Starford To'a again. Checking grounding.

17min

Oh dear, it has all gone tits up for the Sharks. Will Kennedy tried to get the side off to a positive start and got clobbered, lost it and has the wobbles.

14min

Conversion: Knights
Attempted by Kalyn Ponga.

From besides the sticks, Ponga contrives to hit the post.

Knights lead Knights 8 - 4 Sharks
14min

Try: Knights
Scored by Kalyn Ponga. Kick to come.

That was all Ponga power there. He threatened earlier to burst through but was caught. This time, inside ball and the fullback did the rest. Knights in front.

Knights lead Knights 8 - 4 Sharks
10min

Conversion: Knights
Attempted by Kalyn Ponga.

Left side kick for Ponga to start the night. He studies the kick, fades it wide.

Tied up at Knights 4 - 4 Sharks
10min

Try: Knights
Scored by Starford To'a. Kick to come.

Lovely response from the Knights. Kurt Mann rushed into dummy half and spirals one to Starford To'a to walk in.

Tied up at Knights 4 - 4 Sharks
9min

PENALTY KNIGHTS! Ruck stuff. Newcastle get a chance to set up now.

9min

Knights fans have been baying for the bell in the first few minutes and get some delight here. Knights chance to answer back now.

5min

Conversion: Sharks
Attempted by Braydon Trindall.

Youngster Trindall steps up for the conversion, waves it away.

Sharks lead Knights 0 - 4 Sharks
5min

Try: Sharks
Scored by Ronaldo Mulitalo. Kick to come.

Simple work and Ronaldo gets on the outside to open the scoring.

Sharks lead Knights 0 - 4 Sharks
5min

Ponga goes high and misjudges it. Sharks have both the first and second restart here as they attack.

1min

RED LIGHTS.. NO TRY! He tried hard to sell that but no dice for Klemmer. His initial pick up was dicey, the follow up wasn't good and it was fumbled.

1min

BUNKER TIME! Lino kicked for the upright and the chasers look to ground it. David Klemmer is claiming it.

Here we go! Oh dear. Not the start the Sharks wanted. Kick-off from Blayke Brailey is out on the full.

Chad Townsend is back for the visitors. He strides out with his Sharks teammates who look to quiet the small but vocal crowd in tonight. The Knights quickly follow and aim to replicate the lyrics of their theme song: this game is their game and this is definitely their town. Time for them to defend it. KICK-OFF is moments away.

Happy Friday everybody! I hope you are rugged up, got a cold drink and a nice kebab (without a fight breaking out) and ready for tonight's doubleheader! Both these sides are finals bound.. probably but tonight is for seeding purposes and who might get a home finals in the first weekend. Sharks have been on a roll whilst the Knights were embarrassed last weekend against the Warriors. Settle in and enjoy!

Referees & scorers:

Referee: Ben Cummins

Touch Judges: Phil Henderson, Matt Noyen

Video Referee: Henry Perenara, Bryan Norrie

NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS (38)
Tries: Starford To'a (2), Kalyn Ponga (3), Lachlan Fitzgibbon, Josh King
Field Goals:
Conversions: Kalyn Ponga (0/2), Mason Lino (4/5)
Penalty Goals: Mason Lino (1/1)

CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS (10)
Tries: Ronaldo Mulitalo, Connor Tracey
Field Goals:
Conversions: Braydon Trindall (0/1), Bryson Goodwin (1/1)
Penalty Goals: