Thanks for being with us today for a crazy game at Hunter Stadium!
Enjoy the rest of Super Saturday, whatever you get up to!
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It's almost like a soccer game here! 90 minutes and the score is a draw. :)
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Phew! What a finish to a pretty crazy and entertaining game!
Either team could have come away with that victory, but in the end it almost feels that a draw is a suitable result.
Both teams had their chances. There were disallowed tries, penalties galore and frantic passages of play!
In the end, the Knights remain win-less and the Raiders remain loss-less!
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UNSUCCESSFUL FIELD GOAL NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS: Field goal attempt by Jarrod Mullen unsuccessful.
ATTEMPT #7: Mullen tried to secure a memorable victory, but his attempt is short and that's it! The first draw in three years!
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UNSUCCESSFUL FIELD GOAL CANBERRA RAIDERS: Field goal attempt by Sam Williams unsuccessful.
ATTEMPT #6: He missed it! He had all the time in the world! It was right and the Knights have 30 seconds to steal it!
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They're in range now the Raiders...
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The Knights somehow knocked it on when diving on the ball and the Raiders are in the Knights half for a whole set!
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UNSUCCESSFUL FIELD GOAL NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS: Field goal attempt by Trent Hodkinson unsuccessful.
ATTEMPT #5: He's charged down this time and the ball goes backwards towards the Knights' goal line!
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UNSUCCESSFUL FIELD GOAL CANBERRA RAIDERS: Field goal attempt by Sam Williams unsuccessful.
ATTEMPT #4: Williams has the time and the attempt, but it goes right!
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Hodgson. Half-break. Tackled by Lachlan Fitzgibbon.
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The Knights don't make enough metres, don't have the space for an attempt and Mullens kicks it dead. The Raiders will have seven tackles to get back into range!
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Now the Knights have the ball and the breeze. Can they take advantage?
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Phew. Take a quick breath and a drink and get ready for another crazy 5 minutes!
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UNSUCCESSFUL FIELD GOAL NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS: Field goal attempt by Trent Hodkinson unsuccessful.
ATTEMPT #3: The field goal attempt is touched by a Raider this time, but it's short and we're going to half-time of golden point!
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PENALTY: The Knights get a relieving ruck penalty now and will have another chance for a FG!
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UNSUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL CANBERRA RAIDERS: Penalty goal attempt by Jarrod Croker unsuccessful.
It's short and left! Not a great attempt from Jarrod Croker there. The Knights get it back!
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Croker is about 52 metres out. Here we go.
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PENALTY: A poor attempted tackle, lifting the legs and the Raiders' Croker are going to have a crack from 50 metres out! Wind assisted!
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UNSUCCESSFUL FIELD GOAL NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS: Field goal attempt by Trent Hodkinson unsuccessful.
ATTEMPT #2: This attempt is charged down by a team-mate and the Raiders will get a scrum feed.
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UNSUCCESSFUL FIELD GOAL CANBERRA RAIDERS: Field goal attempt by Sam Williams unsuccessful.
ATTEMPT #1: Sam Williams with a pretty poor attempt. Knights get the ball now.
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Edrick Lee with a tasty run down the left. Tackled by Pauli Pauli though.
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COIN TOSS: The Raiders have won the toss and will receive the kick and run with the wind. Huge advantage.
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We're going to golden point here! This match deserved to go another 10, but who will get themselves in position first?
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UNFORCED ERROR NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS: Pat Mata'utia makes an unforced error.
Knights passing back and forth and then Pat Mata'utia fumbles it in a play of the ball!
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Time to start thinking about field goal kickers. The Knights might have the edge in that department?
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This deserves to go to golden point. This second half has been hugely entertaining!
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SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CANBERRA RAIDERS: Conversion attempt by Jarrod Croker successful.
From the sideline, Croker cool as a cucumber, pilots it through. We are TIED!
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What a crazy period of play. The Knights fans went from celebrating a victory to worrying about a loss!
Newcastle Knights 24-22
TRY CANBERRA RAIDERS: Scored by Brenko Lee. Kick to come.
OMG! What a finish here. Rapana tip-toes down the sideline and passes it back inside to Brenko Lee and he's in! The Raiders can tie it up here!
Newcastle Knights 24-22
For the second time this game Williams and Sione Mata'utia dance for an obstruction.
Newcastle Knights 24-18
PENALTY: Gagai busts them open and looks to have scored, but it's been called back for an obstruction! Wow. So close there.
Newcastle Knights 24-18
The Raiders attempt a mid-field chip from Williams but there's a small knock-on and the Knights will get it back.
Newcastle Knights 24-18
Another good attacking set from the Knights, but the Raiders finally get some ball inside their own 20. A long way to the other end!
Newcastle Knights 24-18
SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS: Conversion attempt by Trent Hodkinson successful.
He nails it from the sideline! A converted try ahead now!
Newcastle Knights 24-18
Wow! Three tries in eight minutes and the Knights are in the lead. The crowd are buzzing and the Raiders looked stumped.
Newcastle Knights 22-18
TRY NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS: Scored by Cory Denniss. Kick to come.
The youngster scores a double of debut! Hodkinson to Mullen, cutout to Denniss and he plants it down.
The Knights are in the lead!
Newcastle Knights 22-18
Penalty count: Raiders 9-8
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PENALTY: The Knights work it out and are given a penalty just short of the halfway. Hand on the ball from the Raiders. They attack again!
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SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS: Conversion attempt by Trent Hodkinson successful.
Trent nails it and we are all tied up here at Hunter Stadium!
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Pat Mata'utia couldn't be stopped that close to the line, but really the defence was flimsy from the Raiders. They've really fallen away here. Knights with a wet sail!
Canberra Raiders 18-16
TRY NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS: Scored by Pat Mata'utia. Kick to come.
He steps, he pushes off a couple and he scores! The Knights are rejuvenated!
Canberra Raiders 18-16
Jarrod Mullen is dancing around them this half! Great game for his 200th!
Canberra Raiders 18-12
The Knights attack again! This time down the right and a little kick from Sione Mata'utia has seen the Raiders scramble to knock it dead.
Close stuff!
Canberra Raiders 18-12
SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS: Conversion attempt by Trent Hodkinson successful.
From pretty much in front. Easy.
Canberra Raiders 18-12
If the Knights didn't score there, you'd consider it game over, but now they're within six!
Canberra Raiders 18-10
TRY NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS: Scored by Sam Mataora. Kick to come.
FINALLY! After so many repeat sets, the Knights finally dive up through Sam Mataora!
Canberra Raiders 18-10
The Knights attack down the right, but the final pass to the winger is touched by Edrick Lee. The Knights will get another set!
Canberra Raiders 18-6
Shannon Boyd will be checked for concussion as he groggily leaves the field.
Canberra Raiders 18-6
PENALTY x2: The Knights with some promising play and it results in a close attempt at try and then two penalties in a row. They have to score this time!
Canberra Raiders 18-6
PENALTY: Relieving penalty for the Knights as the Raiders infringe in the ruck this time.
Canberra Raiders 18-6
Up the back from Nathan Ross! Not sure which sport we're watching here but he takes a screamer of a mark on his goal line.
Canberra Raiders 18-6
Penalty count. Raiders 8-4
Canberra Raiders 18-6
PENALTY: A messy play of the ball from the Raiders, but the Knights penalised for lying in the ruck.
Canberra Raiders 18-6
SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL CANBERRA RAIDERS: Penalty goal attempt by Jarrod Croker successful.
Two more for the Raiders.
Canberra Raiders 18-6
PENALTY: Raiders get a penalty for a Knights' ruck infringement and Croker is going to take an attempt at goal to shift lead to 12 points.
Canberra Raiders 16-6
Raiders attack down the left. A touch from the Knights give them six more. The Knights will need some big D here.
Canberra Raiders 16-6
UNFORCED ERROR NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS: Dane Gagai makes an unforced error.
A big set from the Raiders! Sam Williams kicks into the in-goal and Dane makes a meal of it!
Drop-out Knights.
Canberra Raiders 16-6
The Knights have been threatening, but still no points this half. Will they be made to pay by the Raiders?
Canberra Raiders 16-6
NO TRY. Jeremy Smith has lost the ball diving for the line. The Raiders will get it back via a scrum.
Canberra Raiders 16-6
...or he's lost it. The bunker is trying to work out if it was stripped or lost by Smith.
Canberra Raiders 16-6
VIDEO REF: Jeremy Smith might have dived over here, but the ref thinks it's a no-try. I reckon he's just short...
Canberra Raiders 16-6
The Knights attack again. Good play down the left and Gagai grubbers it in-goal for a repeat set. They can't quite get the 4 though!
Canberra Raiders 16-6
SUB: Knights - Tyler Randell ON - Danny Levi OFF
Canberra Raiders 16-6
On the last, the Knights run it on the right, but Sione Mata'utia can't quite make it! A good set from the home side there though.
Canberra Raiders 16-6
Knights looking more crisp this half though. Lots more to come in this game, I'd say.
Canberra Raiders 16-6
HIT! Sione Mata'utia smashes Vaughan in a big tackle!
Canberra Raiders 16-6
The Knights blow it! They had a chance down the right with Gagai, but he doesn't pass to the winger, Denniss. They end up knocking it on and the Raiders get it back!
Canberra Raiders 16-6
And 80 metres back! The Knights take it all the way back to the Raiders in-goal and this time Mullen places the kick perfectly.
Wighton can't escape his zone and there's a drop-out.
Canberra Raiders 16-6
Raiders with a 100 metre set and Wighton with the kick in-goal to finish it off. It's too deep though and the Knights get 7 to work it out.
Canberra Raiders 16-6
UNFORCED ERROR NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS: Pauli Pauli makes an unforced error.
Hodkinson passes it flat to the big man and he puts it down on the goal-line. Chance begging.
Raiders work it out of their half.
Canberra Raiders 16-6
UNFORCED ERROR CANBERRA RAIDERS: Elliot Whitehead makes an unforced error.
Mullen kicks it through and Whitehead puts out a hand. He knocks it on and the Knights get the first real chance of the half attacking from the Raiders 20.
Canberra Raiders 16-6
Jeremy Smith (Knights) and Shaun Fensom (Raiders) are the top tacklers for their teams so far.
Canberra Raiders 16-6
The second half kicks off! Raiders to start with the ball.
Canberra Raiders 16-6
We'll be back shortly with the second half from Hunter Stadium!
Canberra Raiders 16-6
Some stats from the first half:
Possession - 50/50
Completions - Knights 82% - Raiders 81%
Metres - Knights 722 - Raiders 584
Tackles - Knights 186/172
Offloads - Knights 7/4
Errors - Raiders 5/1
Canberra Raiders 16-6
It's half-time here at Hunter Stadium. With the score at 16-6, the Knights will actually feel fairly lucky that it wasn't more.
A sloppy half, at times, and the Raiders looked the much better side, but two denied video ref calls went against the home side.
Canberra Raiders 16-6
SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS: Conversion attempt by Trent Hodkinson successful.
Nice kick from the sideline there!
Canberra Raiders 16-6
It shows what Mullen can do. The Raiders D was split open twice!
Canberra Raiders 16-4
TRY NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS: Scored by Cory Denniss. Kick to come.
WOW! The Knights are in and it's all thanks to Mr. 200, Jarrod Mullen. He started it with a nice run earlier in the set and then splits the defence again and passes it out to the right.
It reaches the man on debut, Cory Denniss and the Knights get their first points of the afternoon, right on the stroke of half-time!
Canberra Raiders 16-4
Nice run for 200 game veteran Mullen there. Knights throwing everything at the Raiders!
Canberra Raiders 16-0
Hodgson attempts to kick it into the ingoal, but it deflects off legs and the Knights survive.
Canberra Raiders 16-0
It'll be a goal-line drop-out for the Knights after a good set and finishing kick from Hodgson.
Can they hold out the Raiders with 3 to go?
Canberra Raiders 16-0
Joe Tapine is on for the Raiders.. The man that the Knights didn't want to lose.
Canberra Raiders 16-0
NO TRY. Sione Mata'utia is ruled to have obstructed Sam Williams, so the bunker calls it quickly.
Canberra Raiders 16-0
VIDEO REF: Gagai has dived for the line and attempts to ground it, but the bunker will have to look at lots of stuff here!
Canberra Raiders 16-0
PENALTY: Cheap penalty. Six more for the Knights.
Canberra Raiders 16-0
PENALTY: Raiders lie on the player a little too long and the Knights will get another set of six on the line.
Canberra Raiders 16-0
Knights attacking the line now and Sam Williams pulls off a try-saving tackle!
Canberra Raiders 16-0
PENALTY: The Knights get just their second penalty of the game for the Raiders being inside the 10.
A bit of a crowd penalty, but fair enough..
Canberra Raiders 16-0
Gagai gets the home team out of trouble with a stepping run. Knights looking for points in this half...
Canberra Raiders 16-0
PENALTY: The Knights complete their set and Wighton runs it out, but Pat Mata'utia attempts a strip with two in the tackle!
Silly penalty again.
Canberra Raiders 16-0
UNFORCED ERROR CANBERRA RAIDERS: Sam Williams makes an unforced error.
Williams drops a simple pass and hands the ball to the Knights on their side of the halfway line.
Just 10 to go in the half.
Canberra Raiders 16-0
The Knights are their own worst enemy so far. That last penalty was for not playing the ball correctly.
Proved costly.
Canberra Raiders 16-0
UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CANBERRA RAIDERS: Conversion attempt by Jarrod Croker unsuccessful.
Jarrod misses this one to the right.
Canberra Raiders 16-0
TRY CANBERRA RAIDERS: Scored by Jordan Rapana. Kick to come.
Down the right wing! Hodgson to Whitehead to Rapana and he just strolls around the Knights' winger, Ross.
Raiders looking pretty hot today!
Canberra Raiders 16-0
PENALTY: Another penalty to the Raiders. It's 6-1 to them now. Ruck infringements galore!
Canberra Raiders 12-0
Midfield bomb from the Raiders! Croker gets it back, still goes nowhere and then they try again.
Knights with the ball on their own 20 now.
Canberra Raiders 12-0
..but the attack falls over as Hodkinson passes to the ground on the right wing. Cory Denniss, the intended receiver.
Canberra Raiders 12-0
Offloads galore here as the Knights attack!
Pauli Pauli is on!
Canberra Raiders 12-0
Nice play down the left from the Raiders, but Croker is dragged over the sideline! Decent defence there, but the Raiders still look very dangerous.
Canberra Raiders 12-0
PENALTY: Paul Vaughan is on a makes a handy 20 and then the Knights concede a penalty!
Poor discipline here.
Canberra Raiders 12-0
There is an offside player that will make this a 'no chicken'. Robbie Rochow was in front of Hodkinson and touched Wighton. Bad luck for the Knights.
Canberra Raiders 12-0
He grubbered in goal for himself, Wighton is wrong-footed and Hodkinson planted it down. Just looking at offsides....
Canberra Raiders 12-0
VIDEO REF: We're going to the bunker for a Hodkinson try here which looks like it'll be a chicken!
Canberra Raiders 12-0
Better set from the Knights!
This time Hodkinson grubbers it into the in-goal they will get another set of six!
Canberra Raiders 12-0
Knock-on Raiders in their own their own half! Sam Williams with poor ball security and the Knights get a chance to get on the board!
Canberra Raiders 12-0
Knights attack on the last, but don't quite make it. Raiders get it back and work their way out..
Canberra Raiders 12-0
The Raiders knocked it on trying to get the regather and the Knights breathe a big sigh of relief!
Canberra Raiders 12-0
Raiders making easy metres again. last tackle on the Knights 30. Bomb goes up....and bounces!
Canberra Raiders 12-0
SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CANBERRA RAIDERS: Conversion attempt by Jarrod Croker successful.
Right in front. Easy.
Canberra Raiders 12-0
Some sloppy defence from the Knights here already. They'll have to tighten things up, or it'll be a long afternoon!
Canberra Raiders 10-0
TRY CANBERRA RAIDERS: Scored by Iosia Soliola. Kick to come.
Too easy for the Raiders! Whitehead runs through, hands it to Iosia and the Raiders are in again!
Canberra Raiders 10-0
PENALTY: Another ruck infringement. This time against the Knights.
Canberra Raiders 6-0
The little kick was from Sam William, in fact. Nicely placed.
Canberra Raiders 6-0
SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CANBERRA RAIDERS: Conversion attempt by Jarrod Croker successful.
Jarrod slots it through easily!
Canberra Raiders 6-0
TRY CANBERRA RAIDERS: Scored by Josh Papalii. Kick to come.
Papalii scores after a deft little kick from Wighton! He was tackled as he dived for the ball but still managed to put it down!
Canberra Raiders 4-0
PENALTY: Too much attention in the play of the ball. Raiders get another chance.
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40/20 CANBERRA RAIDERS: Josh Hodgson kicks a 40/20.
WOW! Hodgson, after his heroics last week, does it again! A 40/20 on the 3rd tackle and nails it to the Knights 10 metre line!
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The Knights use up their tackles and the Raiders get it back, working their way out again. No result!
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Danny Levi, at hooker today, tries to push over from dummy half, but is held back...
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PENALTY: The Raiders are penalised for a shove in the play of the ball. Six more for the Knights on the line
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UNFORCED ERROR CANBERRA RAIDERS: Jarrod Croker makes an unforced error.
Croker knocks-on from dummy half right on his goal-line! Great attacking opportunity for the Knights here!
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The Knights come away with the ball and back up into Raiders territory now. Last tackle.
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PENALTY: Nice run from Rapana there and then the Knights concede a penalty. Raiders on the attack on the Knights 30 metre line.
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Gagai retrieves the Raiders kick this time, playing out of fullback, and four Raiders push him close to his own goal line...
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The Knights complete their first set and kick down to Edrick Lee. Raiders work it out of their half..
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Jarrod Croker gets us underway!
For the record, I think the Raiders will get up here, but the Knights could surprise!
Welcome to Hunter Stadium and League Unlimited's coverage of the Newcastle Knights vs the Canberra Raiders!
Can the Raiders go 3-0 to start the 2016 season, even more impressive as they have used different half combinations every game!
Today, they will have Elliot Whitehead and Sam Williams in the 6 and 7, whilst Soliola starts in the back row.
The Knights have made all sorts of changes and stand at 0-2 to start the season.
Can they scrape a victory out at home this afternoon?
Late Mail:
Quite a few alterations for both outfits today with the Knights losing Jaelen Feeney, Daniel Saifiti and Akuila Uate from the lineup named on Tuesday. Dane Gagai drops to fullback with Sione Mata'utia being promoted to the centres. Cory Dennis debuts for the Knights on the wing for Uate. Pauli Pauli and Mickey Paea join the bench to fill in the vacancies left by Saifiti and Mata'utia. There's also a swap at dummy half with Danny Levi starting in place of Tyler Randell.
The Raiders are missing Lachlan Croker - Elliott Whitehead moves to the backline to accommodate his omission. Sia Soliola starts in the 2nd row for him with Joseph Tapine named on the bench against his former club.
Referees & scorers:
Referee: Ashley Klein, Chris Sutton
Touch Judges: Adam Reid, Rohan Best
Video Referee: Jared Maxwell, Ben Galea, Bernard Sutton
NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS (24)
Tries: Cory Denniss (2), Sam Mataora, Pat Mata'utia
Field Goals: Trent Hodkinson (0/3), Jarrod Mullen (0/1)
Conversions: Trent Hodkinson (4/4)
Penalty Goals:
CANBERRA RAIDERS (24)
Tries: Josh Papalii, Iosia Soliola, Jordan Rapana, Brenko Lee
Field Goals: Sam Williams (0/3)
Conversions: Jarrod Croker (3/4)
Penalty Goals: Jarrod Croker (1/2)