The Newcastle Knights 20-16 win over premiership fancies the Bulldogs will rank as one of the club’s greatest victories, given the tumultuous off season Rick Stone’s men had to endure in the lead up to season 2010.

With key players Danny Wicks and Chris Housten exiting the club in humiliating fashion, the Knights also faced the prospect of being without captain Kurt Gidley for the rest of the season due to a knee injury he suffered in the NRL All Stars match in February.

Although the eventual diagnosis on Gidley’s injury brought relief to Knights fans, it will be a month before the Knights regain the services of their representative fullback.

Indeed his absence against the Bulldogs yesterday would have been enough of a reason to predict a comfortable victory for the home side.

It seemed the Bulldogs themselves felt a little too comfortable against a Knights team that are among the most courageous and determined sides in the NRL.

Kevin Moore’s men must have also forgotten the fact that Newcastle are one of the most skilful sides in the premiership with the ball in hand.

In a devastating first half, The Bulldogs were dealt a brutal reminder of the dangers that come with underestimating an opponent as valiant as Newcastle.

With halfback Jarred Mullen pulling the strings, The Knights found themselves 16 nil up in the first half thanks to tries by Cooper Vuna, Junior Sau and Akuila Uate.

The backline trio of Vuna, Sau and Uate constantly tormented the Bulldogs on the edges, thanks to their mixture of speed, footwork and power.

Newcastle may in fact boost the strongest backline in the NRL in terms of pound for pound strength.

Vuna, Sau and Uate all have the physicality necessary to play in the forwards, yet their speed and footwork also rival some of the fastest and mobile backline players in the NRL.

Sau’s try in particular was made possible thanks to a terrific left foot step near the touchline that left Bulldogs winger Heka Nanai for dead.

Nanai’s missed tackle in defence was just one of many worrying signs from a Bulldogs side that was being torn to shreds up the middle of the park.

Newcastle forwards Ben Cross, Daniel Tolar, Zeb Taia and Cory Paterson each made solid yardage every time they touched the ball.

Paterson proved to be the hardest forward to contain for the Bulldogs, with the Newcastle second rower making six offloads – the most out of any player on the park.

Whilst the Bulldogs managed to fight back in the second half, they were largely helped by four questionable penalties which helped the home side wrestle back momentum from Rick Stone’s men.

Indeed the final 20-16 score line ended up flattering the Bulldogs, and that is certainly not a good sign from a team many expect to be Premiership material by season’s end.

Although Newcastle could have easily won the game comfortably, they will be mightily proud of attaining the two competition points, thus silencing some doubters.

No doubt after that performance, the Knights would have certainly gained new admirers in a time of great difficulty for the club off the field.

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