FULL TIME and the Tigers have beaten Newcastle 20-24 this afternoon. An error riddled game has cost Newcastle a perfect 3-0 start to the year. The Tigers will be pleased they were able to hang on and come away with their first win of the season.
The debutant puts the ball down and the Tigers are a step closer to victory.
Mbye bombs a certain try over the line and gives Newcastle a glimmer of hope.
Newcastle let the ball bounce and pay for it, with a goal line drop-out coming up for the Tigers.
From the sideline, Adam Doueihi nails it and makes it 20-24 in favour of the Tigers.
The Tigers score and hit the front again following a Gehamat Shibasaki error.
Gehamat Shibasaki puts the ball down from a kick on his own line and the Tigers have a golden opportunity to hit the lead again.
Tex Hoy converts from in front again and the Knights are in front at 20-18 with 10 to go.
Tyson Frizell scores for Newcastle and the home side look like they may be about to hit the lead for the first time this afternoon following the conversion to come.
Frizell loses the ball going into contact and lets the Tigers off the hook.
PENALTY KNIGHTS. The Tigers kick it out on the full from the kick off and put themselves under a huge amount of pressure after just conceding.
Tex Hoy converts from in front and this game is now very tight once again. Tigers lead 14-18.
Mitchell Pearce has scored in game 300. Connor Watson makes a break off the offload from Daniel Saifiti, before handing it off to Pearce who was backing up in the middle.
Kepaoa puts it down after a good run from Daine Laurie got the Tigers out of trouble. The hard work is undone and the Tigers will have to defend again.
Trying to get to his feet to play the ball, Daniel Saifiti puts it down and releases the pressure on the Tigers.
Set restart for the Knights in attacking position.
Hunt is back up now and playing on.
Hymel Hunt is down struggling with what appears to be an ankle complaint.
Set restart for the Knights around the halfway mark and they now have a chance to mount an attack.
Doueihi converts and the Tigers lead 8-18.
Stefano Utoikamanu has his first try in the NRL after making a break from a Luke Brooks pass into a hole. Utoikamanu still had plenty of work to do, but beats Tex Hoy to get over the line.
A six-more for the Tigers ends this set-for-set start to the second half.
The second half is underway in Newcastle through the kick off from Tex Hoy.
HALF-TIME at McDonald Jones Stadium and the Tigers lead the Knights 8-12. The Knights will need to improve their handling if they're to win this one. The Tigers will want to fix up their handling as well and, having gone on the back foot late in the first half will be pleased to see half-time. This is shaping up as a game that could go down to wire. Strap in for the second half of action!
Hoy can't handle the pass out the back and the Knights have turned over around about the halfway mark.
Barnett can't convert his own try as he swings the kick across the face of the uprights. Score remains 8-12 to the Tigers.
Barnett crashes over the line to score a timely four-pointer for the Knights.
Set restart on the last tackle for the Knights means they have a real shot on the Tigers line.
A poor ball to Tommy Talau from Luciano Leilua puts the Tigers under pressure.
Time back on. Jacob Saifiti has been assisted from the field and doesn't look likely to return this afternoon.
Time off here as Jacob Saifiti is assessed for a lower leg injury.
Daine Laurie saves a 40/20 from Jayden Brailey.
No try. Daine Laurie has managed to hold Mitch Barnett up over the line, also losing possession as the Tigers get a seven tackle set from their twenty.
We're going upstairs for a possible four-pointer to Mitchell Barnett.
The Knights put it down on the last and the Tigers can now work it away from their line.
The Tigers have dropped the kick off after points and hand the Knights a golden opportunity to hit back straight away.
Doueihi makes it 2/2 and the Tigers now lead 4-12.
Adam Doueihi plucks the ball out of mid-air off a cross-field kick from Luke Brooks and plants it down for the Tigers' second.
Tex Hoy can't handle a kick from Adam Doueihi. The momentum may just wing back the Tigers' way now.
Barnett hooks the conversion to the right of the posts and the scoreline remains 4-6 in favour of the Tigers.
Tex Hoy scores for the Knights with their first real attacking opportunity of the match after a dummy fools Tommy Talau.
PENALTY KNIGHTS. The Knights will get their first opportunity on the Tigers line, with Dominic Young being taken out from a kick contest.
Asu Kepaoa makes a break down the left touch line, but kick the ball out as he toes it ahead. Another warning shot fired by the Tigers.
Doueihi lands the goal inside the left upright. Tigers lead 0-6.
The Knights can't hang on after an assault from the Tigers on their goal line, with Tommy Talau getting over the line.
The Tigers will heap more pressure on the Knights after a kick along the ground couldn't be handled by Daniel Saifiti.
Coming out of their own end, the Knights again put it down and put themselves under pressure.
Tigers afforded the first opportunity of the match after a drop inside Newcastle's 20.
The ball heads out over the sideline from a Luke Brooks kick, as the Knights bring it out of their end.
PENALTY KNIGHTS. The Knights get some early help out of their end after a high tackle catches Gehamat Shibasaki high.
We're underway as Daniel Saifiti takes the first hit-up
We're about two minutes from kick-off in Newcastle for Mitchell Pearce's 300th NRL game. The Newcastle Knights will face the Wests Tigers as the Knights look to go 3-0, whilst the Tigers are looking to avoid going 0-3 to start the year. It shapes to be a competitive contest, so stay tuned!
Referees & scorers:
Referee: Gerard Sutton
Touch Judges: Belinda Sharpe, Chris Butler
Video Referee: Henry Perenara
NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS (20)
Tries: Tex Hoy, Mitchell Barnett, Mitchell Pearce, Tyson Frizell
Field Goals:
Two Point Field Goals:
Conversions: Tex Hoy (2/2), Mitchell Barnett (0/2)
Penalty Goals:
WESTS TIGERS (24)
Tries: Tommy Talau, Adam Doueihi, Stefano Utoikamanu, David Nofoaluma
Field Goals:
Two Point Field Goals:
Conversions: Adam Doueihi (4/4)
Penalty Goals: