Newcastle Knights have got a much needed win with Edrick Lee's five try haul breaking a club record in their 38-12 win against a woeful Gold Coast Titans team on Friday night at Hunter Stadium.
It was a winger's wonderland in the first half. All five of the Knights tries went to their backline. Edrick Lee was prolific in getting a hat-trick while Dominic Young touched down twice.
Young got the Knights on the board after they were running downhill in the first half. It was a nice kick from Clune which landed right in the winger's hands to make it 4-0.
Newcastle in front of a hardy crowd on Friday night, dominated the opening exchanges. Anthony Milford paired with Adam Clune provided the wonderful pass for Lee to dive over.
The Knights kept the foot on the pedal with Lee repeated the dose, this time the pass came from Clune in a rapid fire start for a side that truly needed something after their recent horror run at home.
Young need provided a splashy finish to complete his double. It was another wonderful pass from Milford which gave the English winger the room to plant it just inside the whitewash.
Lee put the exclamation point on the impressive first half. Enari Tuala had them on the front foot with an intercept then a Clune kick was right into Lee's hands to make it 22-0 at the break.
Titans were the first on the board in the second half. It was a wonderful run from AJ Brimson from the scrum to outpace the chasers to the line and get the visitors on the board.
The nerves started to jangle for the Knights when Titans made it back-to-back scores. Greg Marzhew finished the move off in the corner then a stylish kick from Jamayane Isaako made it 22-12.
Newcastle gave themselves some breathing room when Edrick Lee joined the four-tries club at Newcastle with an effort that was ticked off by the bunker review to make it 26-12.
Both teams were reduced to twelve men in the final ten. Jarrod Wallace was sent directly for a dangerous tackle on interchange Knights forward Simi Sasagi while David Klemmer was binned for a punch in the ensuing melee.
It was the Edrick Lee night. The winger made it a club record five tries with a sumptious pass from Tex Hoy gave him so much room for activities to add his fifth score.
Knights topped off the win with Young's hat-trick in the final minutes. He scooped up an errant pass and strode away to make it 38-12 at a wet Hunter stadium.