Newcastle dine-and-dash Bathurst victory over wounded Panthers

Penrith Panthers v Newcastle Knights

The barrage started early from Newcastle, when Fletcher Sharpe broke through just four minutes into the game, powering through the tackle of Daine Laurie and Liam Henry to put Newcastle on the board.

The next 15 minutes can only be described as the Dylan Lucas and Tyson Gamble show. The Knights five-eighth had three try assists, with two short balls and a kick setting up his back rower for the first hat-trick of his career. 

Lucas almost had a fourth on half time, but a great cover tackle by Laurie forced an error, while twice Penrith were denied before half time when Tom Jenkins dropped the ball over the line and Paul Alamoti found to have run a disruptor before Jesse McLean grounded the ball.

Newcastle seemed to take a step back after halftime, but Penrith could not find a way to break through their line until the game was almost an hour old, when debutant Harry Hassett steamed onto a Brad Schneider short ball and scattered several white jerseys in his path. After that Newcastle survived a few scares, and by the time Jack Cogger kicked a field goal in the final minutes the game was already sewn up.

Penrith drop to last on the ladder after 12 words, something that feels unfathomable after their last four years of dominance. Newcastle, despite their slow start to the season, are now just one win outside the top 8 and will hope this game can be a springboard to a rise in form as the season hits the nitty-gritty.

One piece of bad news for the Knights is Adam Elliott, who is set to miss an extended period of time with a torn bicep, while debutant Paul Bryan made a commendable effort to play through a dislocated shoulder.