Match Centre

The Knights have broken through for their first win since Round 2 after downing the Bulldogs 16-6 in the opening match of Magic Round.

Forward pass called against the Bulldogs.

Bulldogs penalty.

Clune bombs, but Addo-Carr is up to the job.

Try confirmed for Newcastle.

ADAM CLUNE

Play will resume with a line drop out.

Tex Hoy can't get to Adam Clune's grubber in time, however the referee rules Matt Dufty contacted the ball first.

Clune bombs for Addo-Carr - The Foxx has it covered despite the best efforts of three Newcastle chasers.

Josh Addo-Carr puts in a chip kick. Yep, you read that right.

Crossland makes another incisive run.

Josh Addo-Carr makes a break, but Dominic Young produces a stellar effort to push The Foxx into touch.

The try is overturned - Saulo is ruled to have knocked on.

The bunker is checking the grounding (it does appear that Paulo has knocked on...)

Clune kicks for the in-goal - Saulo is claiming a try.

The Bulldogs come up with an error.

Bailey Biondi-Odo is on for the Bulldogs.

Burton puts another bomb up, Ponga has it covered and is tackled close to his 20 metre line.

Clune finds touch ten metres from the goal line.

Chris Patolo can't hold onto a bouncing ball - this game is for the taking for either side.

That may be crucial in the context of this game.

NO! Phoenix Crossland broke the line and had Leo Thompson over the line, only for the rookie forward to drop the ball!

Chris Patolo is on report.

Chris Patolo concedes a penalty for a high shot on Enari Tuala.

Kalyn Ponga loses the ball just over halfway.

Burton kicks early inside his 40 metre line - Ponga is able to get to the ball before any real danger.

The Knights come up with a terrible last tackle option to give the ball back close to the try line.

Daniel Saifiti is held up over the try line.

Clune kicks cross field for Dominic Young - the Bulldogs knock on and are penalised to boot.

Corey Waddell is assisted from the field.

Corey Waddell is down in distress after copping the hip of Mitch Barnett.

Phoenix Crossland is on for Chris Randall.

Matt Dufty loses the ball on the first tackle from a scrum.

Dufty puts a grubber in for Okunbor - the Knights get to the ball first but knock on through Best.

Saifiti loses the ball.

Things got a little heated between the two sides before the try was finally awarded after Joe Stimson hit Kalyn Ponga off the ball.

Mathew Croker is held up over the line.

The Knights get another set in attacking range after a knock on from Matt Dufty trying to contest a grubber.

Chris Randall is tackled a metre shy of the try line.

Newcastle penalty.

Corey Waddell loses the ball.

The try is overturned with the bunker ruling Josh Jackson was obstructed.

The bunker is checking for an obstruction.

The Knights showed penalty of ball movement before Edrick Lee passed to Saifiti (questions about the pass..), who gets his first try of the year.

Kyle Flanagan puts the ball out on the full - Newcastle will start a set close to halfway.

Tevita Pangai Junior almost loses the ball on halfway only to regather possession.

We're back underway!

Edrick Lee is carried over the sideline close to the try line.

Jayden Okunbor makes an error and the Knights will have a chance to strike before the break.

Tex Hoy is hit while putting the ball on the foot and puts in a terrible kick that goes over the dead ball line.

Clune forces a line drop out with Burton batting the ball dead.

The Knights get a relieving penalty to start a set inside the Bulldogs half.

Adam Clune is on the spot to field an attacking kick intended for Matt Dufty.

Tex Hoy overpowers his bomb to gift Josh Addo-Carr a clean catch in-goal.

Aaron Schoupp tries to put a kick in on the last tackle only to drop the pass.

Hoy goes high with his kick, but Addo-Carr is up to the task.

The Bulldogs will kick to level up at 6-all.

Corey Waddell loses the ball. The Bulldogs challenge the call and Jacob Saifiti is ruled to have dislodged the ball in the tackle.

Another line drop out - the Bulldogs have been on point with their ability to force repeat sets.

Ponga is tackled in-goal once again after a great short kick from Flanagan.

Burton puts another bomb up, Ponga catches, but a strong tackle from Addo-Carr dislodges the ball - the Bulldogs will have another attacking set.

The Bulldogs get a relieving penalty coming out of trouble.

Ponga spills a bomb from Burton backwards - fortunately Dominic Young is there to clean up for the Novocastrians.

The Knights complete a great set after points - Tex Hoy took on the line, Adam Clune produced a great fifth tackle kick.

That was Edrick Lee's first try since Round 20, 2020.

Ponga goes down a short side, fires a pass to Bradman Best, who manages to get a pass to Edrick Lee!

Burton drives the ball downfield - Edrick Lee manages to get a pass away to Tex Hoy, who eventually is tackle 35 metres out from the Newcastle line.

Clune kicks for Ponga close to the posts, but Kyle Flanagan does a great job to get to the ball first.

Matt Burton knocks on trying to field the line drop out - Newcastle get the ball back near halfway.

Burton kicks early for Addo-Carr; Ponga is first to the ball but is tackled in-goal.

The Knights choose to run the ball on the last and then inexplicably give away a penalty to let the Bulldogs off the hook.

Newcastle penalty coming out of their own end.

Kalyn Ponga elects to take the shot at goal 20 metres out from the posts.

Newcastle penalty within kicking distance.

Brent Naden attempts to get an offload away to Jayden Okubor, however the referee rules a lost ball close to halfway.

Tex Hoy kicks straight to Matt Dufty who returns the ball over the 40 metre line.

Edrick Lee makes an important tackle on Josh Jackson close to the try line.

Kalyn Ponga can't get out on the in-goal after allowing a clearing kick from Matt Burton to bounce.

Luke Thompson takes the first carry of Magic Round.

Both teams are on the field - kick-off only moments away.

The Knights are as per program, 1-17, with Mitchell Barnett making his return after serving a six-game ban stemming from a send-off against Penrith.

The Bulldogs have recalled Jayden Okunbor in a backline reshuffle that sees Brent Naden move into the centres and Jake Averillo drop to 18th man.

Welcome to League Unlimited's coverage of Friday Night Football between the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and the Newcastle Knights in the opening match of Magic Round 2022.