FULL TIME: Not exactly a comprehensive win from Brisbane but they did look back to near their best and they'll take a 30-14 victory with glee. Match coming... right after I have a feed
Adam Reynolds can't find space with a 5th tackle kick
Right on the Knights line are Brisbane
Brisbane so close to scoring again. They press on
Another set restart to the Broncos
6 AGAIN BRISBANE
Reece Walsh running the ball with intent. He wants one more!
Newcastle nifty up the middle. Showing a bit of fight albeit far too late
Jackson Hastings must have a leg injury. Tyson Gamble tacking over the in play kicking and Kalyn Ponga attempting the most recent conversion
Ponga takes over the kicking but bends it too far. Newcastle trail 30-14
But they won't stop Greg Marzhew! Jackson Hastings finds his winger who has all the space in the world
Dylan Lucas nearly scores but Jesse Arthars and Kotoni Staggs stop him
Newcastle really throwing the ball around but come up with a set restart. 25m out
Knights penalty for a dangerous tackle on Phoenix Crossland
Adam Reynolds kick sits up perfectly but Kalyn Ponga just brings it back into the field of play
Tyson Gamble with a bomb into the breeze and the hosts can't make anything of it
The Knights spreading the ball. Trying everything
Crossfield kick on the last from Tyson Gamble but it falls right into the arms of Corey Oates. Poor end to the set after it started so well
Kalyn Ponga converts
Greg Marzhew makes a break down the right
Phoenix Crossland takes the line on
It was Tyson Gamble who came up with a beautiful 5th tackle chip kick to find Croker who still had plenty to do chasing it down
Newcastle attacking here. 2nd tackle 40m out
Patrick Carrigan comes back onto the field and Kevin Walters is spotted with a wry smile
Walsh tries to put Riki through a hole
Corey Jensen with a big run
Reynolds makes no mistake from right in front. Brisbane lead 30-4
WHAM BAM THANK YOU MAM! Deine Mariner with the linebreak and he finds Ezra who prances over the line
Jackson Hastings has been poor in this second half and comes up with a past that goes into touch. The hosts squander another great chance
Brendan Piakura is unlikely to return after suffering a groin injury
Slow your brain! Reece Walsh tries a long kick but it goes out on the full. Rocks and diamonds in this second half
Tyson Smoothy onto the field. Apologies if I missed it earlier but he'll take over the dummy half role
Gamble seems to be doing most of the kicking here but is certainly looking respectable with a bomb that goes high and long to Corey Oates
Newcastle spread it wide and Kalyn Ponga finds some space through Dylan Lucas
Brendan Piakura is off with the trainers and looks to be hurt, we'll soon see how severe it is
Deine Mariner with a nice run from dummy half
Tough kick from Tyson Gamble but Walsh makes no mistake at the back
Reece Walsh tries to DRILL it downfield but can't find touch, and Kalyn Ponga brings the ball back to his own 30m line
Now it's the Broncos who are helped by a penalty to carry the ball out of their own half
BIG CONTACT ON TYSON GAMBLE who manages to come up with a nice kick to the corner, but it's knocked on by Krystian Mapapalangi
3-0 penalty count to the hosts in the second half and it shows. Controlling the momentum now
Knights penalty. Getting a bit of groove in this second half
Big carry from Greg Marzhew off the restart
Hastings shanks the kick from right in front. Very poor effort. Newcastle trail 22-4
Jack Hetherington storms his way over! Phoenix Crossland finds him with a nice short ball from dummy half to find the Knights first points of the night.
Newcastle spreading it and Kalyn Ponga looks dangerous
Brisbane go long off the drop out
Newcastle find a repeat set as the bunker takes as close look at the 5th tackle kick
Newcastle close to Brisbane's line with a couple of plays left
Dane Gagai is trying everything in attack but Deine Mariner is all over him
Newcastle into Brisbane's half
Adam Reynolds with a monster bomb and Greg Marzhew comes up with it
Are Brisbane back in 2024? They'll have to face much tougher opponents than the Knights on the run home but boy they've been good tonight
The Skipper makes no mistake. Brisbane lead 24-0
Another assist for Walsh as he throws yet another pinpoint pass this time to find his second rower. Piakura crashes over
Payne Haas put on his back
BRISBANE WITH A FRESH SET! Can Newcastle defend their line here?
Dane Gagai knocks on and Deine Mariner nearly scores!
Newcastle penalty to carry them out of their own half
Walsh loses it on the last, Newcastle hang on
Billy Walters into the backfield
Trying to ward off two dogs, watch the game and blog at once... bear with me
No he doesn't! The Bunker overturn the decision and Brisbane are awarded a 20m tap
The Knights fullback chipped it over on the last and by the finest margin comes up with a repeat set
Wild long ball by Kalyn Ponga goes to ground
The sets on Brisbane's line are adding up here. How long can they hold on?
Penalty Knights. Corey Jensen collects Kalyn Ponga up high
Jackson Hastings looks dangerous but Brisbane wrap him up
6 AGAIN NEWCASTLE
If the Knights score here well we will have a game on our hands that for one is certain
Newcastle attack from right in front
Deine Mariner knock on! Reece Walsh chanced his arm but the Broncos centre couldn't hang onto the pass
Tyson Gamble kicks it deep. His side needed that
Newcastle pinned in their own 20. 3 plays done
Brisbane throwing the ball around already. Not a conservative start by any stretch
And we're underway in the second half! Brisbane with the ball off the kick off
HALF TIME: Brisbane Lead 18-0 and dominated the whole half. Big second 40 coming
Ezra Mam looks dangerous with 20 seconds to play in the first half
Reynolds hooks it back and converts from the sideline. Brisbane lead 18-0
The hosts can't hang on this time! Reece Walsh puts the ball on a string to Deine Mariner who crashes over for his second try of the night
Walsh through to Staggs looks dangerous but Newcastle hang on
Kalyn Ponga made a break but the pass to Krystian Mapapalangi was poor and he can't hang onto it
Brisbane have dominated the last 25 minutes or so. Newcastle lucky to only be down by 12
Adam Reynolds finds the corner right up in the Knights end. It'll take a mighty effort to bring the ball back
Tyson Gamble puts it up high but its taken cleanly by Corey Oates
Ezra Mam got SO CLOSE on the last but is barely held up. This now looks like the Brisbane of old, Walsh, Riki and Staggs look lethal
LINE BREAK BRISBANE AND THEY NEARLY SCORE! STILL ON THE ATTACK
Martin Taupau on for Brisbane and makes a nice run
Good kick from the Knights and Walsh is left with no room
Daniel Saifiti comes off and is replaced by his brother, Jacob Saifiti
Newcastle try and work the ball out of their own 20
Walsh and Mam chipping away in the middle of the field
Corey Jensen bringing the ball back off the kick off
Right from the sideline this time Reynolds threads the needle. Brisbane lead 12-0
WALSH IS BACK! Running the ball off the scrum down the left and no one could stop him. How good!
Knights knock on as they try and come back with with the ball through a short drop out
Billy Walters runs from dummy half on the last and grubbers deep to force a drop out. It's been a great game so far from the Brisbane number 9
Payne Haas marches the ball into the Knights 40
And Brisbane march the ball up 10m before kicking to touch. Looked to be dissent from the Knights. Stupid play and playing right into the visitors hands
Broncos penalty.
Deine Mariner comes up with the Jackson Hastings' bomb
Newcastle try and spread the ball on the 4th to no avail
Brisbane dominating the ruck now. The Knights linespeed is slow and they have no answers to the Broncos middles
Play is underway again through Corey Oates
Reynolds makes no mistake from about 20m wide. Brisbane lead 6-0
Points finally! Billy Walters throws a good ball from dummy half and Brisbane's halves combine to put Mariner over
Tyson Gamble has passed his HIA and will return shortly
Reece Walsh tried a kick which was cleaned up, but Leo Thompson knocks it on the in play the ball. Coach killer from the Knights
Billy Walters gets over the line but is pushed back from Tyson Frizell in a strong tackle
Brisbane from 5m out
But there's a challenge! And it's successful! Jackson Hastings played at the last tackle kick and it's Brisbane's set restart
Newcastle hold on yet again
Kotoni Staggs got through multiple tackles and is barely stopped before the try line
Jesse Arthars with a tackle break nearly getting through
Brisbane work the ball away from outside their own half
Bradman Best has officially been ruled out of the remainder of tonight's clash
And a forward pass. Brisbane throw away the chance. How disappointing for them
Adam Reynolds threw a wild pass and Krystian Mapapalangi had a golden chance to intercept but knocks on. Tackle count restarts
Can the Knights hold on? Brisbane look dangerous
Another set restart. Brisbane lose it but will take the penalty
6 AGAIN BRISBANE and Payne Haas nearly gets through to score
Brisbane right on the attack at Newcastle's line
Penalty Brisbane. Greg Marzhew tried to intercept an Adam Reynolds pass but tipped it into his own player who was offside
Corey Oates with a strong run. He's been solid tonight
Shallow kick from Jackson Hastings and Jesse Arthars makes the catch on his 30m line
Kudos to Tyson Frizell leaping high for the catch
NEWCASTLE COME UP WITH IT ON THE SHORT DROP OUT
Repeat set Brisbane. The first of the night. Adam Reynolds with a nice kick to force a drop out
Reece Walsh looks very dangerous early as he makes yet another break
Jackson Hastings put Kai Pearce-Paul through a beautiful hole but a diving effort from Adam Reynolds forces him to attempt to offload. Forward pass. Brisbane just hang on
Another Penalty to the Knights for a late shot on Jackson Hastings
6 Again to Newcastle who move their way into Brisbane's 20
Newcastle penalty. Kotoni Staggs lost the ball right into Jordan Riki who was standing in an offside position. Lost opportunity by the visitors
Penalty Brisbane. Momentum starting to swing back into their favour here
Phoenix Crossland moving into the halves with Jayden Brailey at hooker after Gamble's HIA
Bradman Best limps from the field with what looks to be a hamstring injury. Two big blows for the Knights
Bradman Best looks in trouble too, pulled up quite ginger after a tackle
Tyson Gamble is sent from the field for HIA in his first game back
Reece Walsh makes a line break and kicks infield to Ezra Mam who can't hold onto it! Try blown by Brisbane
Strong contact on Brendan Piakura who tries running it down the short side
And it's a knock on by Tyson Frizell as Phoenix Crossland misses a 6-3 overlap on the right edge. Both coaches would be fuming so far
Newcastle right on the attack. Near full set of 6 on Brisbane's line
Leo Thompson cleans up a Reece Walsh pass that went to ground. Clunky so far from both teams
Dane Gagai makes a dangerous run but Corey Oates drags him into tough. Probing start by the hosts
Brisbane decided to run the ball on the last but Kotoni Staggs with an error
Billy Walters nifty from dummy half finding Ezra Mam with the offload
That was good attacking footy but Kalyn Ponga comes up with a knock on. Kotoni Staggs with a strong defensive effort
Newcastle just outside Brisbane's 20
Penalty to the hosts early inside their own half
Reynolds goes for an attacking kick on the last but well defused by Newcastle
Payne Haas and then Patrick Carrigan with strong runs
Reece Walsh with his first carry of the night bringing back the kick
Newcastle with first use of the footy sorry... gonna be a long night at this rate
And we're underway! Brisbane with first use of the football
For the Knights, Dane Gagai, Kalyn Ponga and Blues Origin hero Bradman Best are all named to start
Brisbane is bolstered by the return to captain and halfback Adam Reynolds, who is joined by Reece Walsh, Payne Haas and Patrick Carrigan who all back up from Origin
For many of us, rugby league is the only constant we have in the tumultuous world we live in. For both these teams, however, they can take nothing for granted as the top eight scrap heats up. Tonight’s matchup live from McDonald Jones stadium looks to have major ramifications for both Brisbane and Newcastle's 2024 campaigns. I’m Aidan Edgecomb, and I'm thrilled to bring you live blog coverage this evening!
Referees & scorers:
Referee: Chris Butler
Touch Judges: Drew Oultram, Kieren Irons
Video Referee: Kasey Badger
NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS (14)
Tries: Jack Hetherington, Mathew Croker, Greg Marzhew
Field Goals:
Two Point Field Goals:
Conversions: Jackson Hastings (0/1), Kalyn Ponga (1/2)
Penalty Goals:
BRISBANE BRONCOS (30)
Tries: Deine Mariner (2), Reece Walsh, Brendan Piakura, Ezra Mam
Field Goals:
Two Point Field Goals:
Conversions: Adam Reynolds (5/5)
Penalty Goals: