Sharks have one last chance. 100 metres to go with the clock ticking down. Moylan got the ball and monstered by the defense. FULLTIME.
Sharks go the power route and Rudolf loses it. KNIGHTS WIN.
Sharks go short and get it back!
Ponga converts his own effort.
WHO ELSE FOR THE KNIGHTS! It was scrappy but it will do! Green with a terrible kick, Jones gets it to Frizell who throws a hail mary to Ponga who strides over.
PENALTY KNIGHTS! Ponga with a classic catch which would make Bill Lawrie shout! He then gets an offside call on the Sharks defense.
Sharks die with the ball on last. Kennedy. Knights have to go the length though.
Barnett with a sloppy play the ball.
Sharks go their go to man Kennedy. He dabs a kick behind for Kurt Mann to retrieve and he pinballs across the field.
Oh dear! Poor kick from the Knights. Townsend who is still running on adrenaline puts a foot out.
From the right. Chad Townsend who is getting pelters from the crowd. Halfback takes his time and squeezes it inside.
GREEN LIGHTS.. TRY! It took some balance and Hiroti stayed in the field. Sharks have leveled this up.
BUNKER TIME! Has Mawene Hiroti kept his feet in! Checking it.
Tough kick for Townsend again. From the right sideline, can he bring them within two. He studies, takes in the jeers and misses.
Mr Kennedy does it again. Sharks sweep left, Kennedy with the wonderful pass and Tracey just has to finish it off.
Superb set from the Sharks in defense. Knights were trapped and Hiroti takes first inside the Knights half.
Ponga keeps the kicking duties. Close range and nails it.
Ponga who apparently has an upset stomach but he just upset the Sharks there. Ponga dug right into the line before a lovely late pass for Brodie Jones to cross. Due reward for Jones who has been everywhere tonight.
PENALTY KNIGHTS! Jack Williams takes Josh King past the horizontal. Easy call. A bit of push and shove after.
Now the Knights have allowed the ball to bounce. Strategy maybe? No harm done. Knights rucking it out.
Sharks put together nothing in that set though. Kick pinballs around and is knocked on by the Sharks. Ponga is going, going and caught.
CHALLENGE FROM THE SHARKS! Saying it wasn't a knock on. It was another big challenge on Ponga. Nikora comes off second best. SUCCESSFUL! Sharks will get the ball back.
Tougher kick for Townsend this time. Right side, he swings the arms and swings it over.
Sharks must've got a rev up at the break. Some delightful football since the restart. A nice short ball puts Nikora over after a set restart gave them the extra tackles.
Brodie Jones is everywhere! Sharks shift it left to put Tracey away. His kick was shallow and Jones was there to save the day.
Here come both sides for the second half! Sharks trailing by eight. Can they end a tumultous week on a high or will the Knights go on with this? Let's find out!
The traditional fourth tackle hit up from Tolman has the Sharks in step ready for something on last. Sharks go left to Jack Williams who is wrapped up well. HALFTIME.
Kennedy tries to do it himself with a kick through but Ponga cleans up.
Sharks go to the air again. This time Moylan loses it forward. Knights ball.
I hope Blake Green was hungry because the half made a meal of that. He drops it before getting to the kick. Sharks have a chance to hit back.
Townsend besides the try hasn't found his radar with his kicks. This one was too deep. Ponga easily able to drag a foot in goal.
Ponga from the right, nails it.
Razzle dazzle from the Knights! It was quick hands on the right. Enari Tuala puts in the kick and like a shooting star Kurt Mann is there to pick it up!
Jacob Saifiti had the tryline in his sights! The forward busted through, got on his hands and knees, but loses it at the last hurdle.
PENALTY KNIGHTS! Crusher from Tolman.
Sharks were caught on the short side on last. Some slippery handling and they get a kick away.
Right in front. Chad can't even miss this. Kicks it.
GREEN LIGHTS.. TRY! Contest is cleared. Rudolph had eyes for the ball. No knock on. Picked up by Ramien who does the rest.
BUNKER TIME! Jesse Ramien ends with the four pointer. Checking if Ponga was taken out by Rudolph.
Easier kick for Ponga this time. He studies none the less and.. hooks it again.
Knights make the advantage count! Ponga took it right on the line again, offloaded late and Barnett just holds on.
Sharks don't obey the golden rule. No not that one. Never let the bomb bounce. Kurt Mann hoisted one in the air which the Sharks backs allowed to bounce. Tracye is tasked with taking it and is easy meat for the chasers to claim him in goal.
Ponga aims to convert his own effort. Headgear is off but so is the radar.
Ponga goes over for the first points of the night. Knights swept left, the fullback takes the Barnett pass, goes himself, and scores.
Green is golden from inside his own 40. Boots one which lands perfect and becomes a 40/20.
Both sides throwing the ball around with abandon. Sharks end the set with a kick which saw the Knights back three look at it like your sibling when your mother asks who ate the last cookie.
Townsend forgets to catch the ball. A big skill in rugby league I hear. Knights get a relief.
Sharks put on a fantastic move on the left. Kennedy with a sublime pass to put Connor Tracey away. The makeshift winger kicks inside for Kennedy who is just beaten to the ball by Brodie Jones. Dropout.
Kennedy saves the day at the other end. Knights probed well. Grubber through is taken dead by Kennedy. Hang on! Decision is changed. Knock on Knights. Some early casualties as well. Hymel Hunt is gone for the Knights while Toby Rudolph is helped off for the Sharks.
PENALTY KNIGHTS! Woods catches Barnett high. Big chance for the Knights to post first points.
Sharks counter attacked well through Nikora and Ramien. The kick on last is too deep from Kennedy. Seven tackle set coming for the Knights.
Moylan tries a short ball to Nikora who loses it.
Barnett gets jammed by Ramien and loses the ball.
Both teams through their first sets. Sharks test out Brayden Musgrove with the first kick but the debutant comes up trumps.
Here come the sides! Sharks were first out in their black, blue and white before the home side trot out to a wonderful reception from the locals despite their form. We're ready to go! Strap in and feel the gs for the whole 80 minutes
Happy Friday! Sit back and relax for a fantastic double header for you to enjoy! We start in the Hunter. Two sides coming off last start losses and teams that have had one hell of a week. Newcastle are down to their bare bones of their squad although they welcome back Bradman Best. Cronulla have had a week of turmoil with the signing of Craig Fitzgibbon for 2022 then the departure of John Morris. So it will be interesting to see how both sides shape up tonight as they chase a win.
Referees & scorers:
Referee: Matt Cecchin
Touch Judges: Darian Furner, David Munro
Video Referee: Ashley Klein
NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS (26)
Tries: Kalyn Ponga (2), Mitchell Barnett, Kurt Mann, Brodie Jones
Field Goals:
Two Point Field Goals:
Conversions: Kalyn Ponga (3/5)
Penalty Goals:
CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS (22)
Tries: Jesse Ramien, Briton Nikora, Connor Tracey, Mawene Hiroti
Field Goals:
Two Point Field Goals:
Conversions: Chad Townsend (3/4)
Penalty Goals: