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[VIDEO] Newcastle Knights vs Cronulla Sharks Highlights: NRL scores, blog

21st June, 2015
Kick-off: 2pm (AEST)
Venue: Hunter Stadium, Newcastle
TV: Live Fox Sports 1
Betting: Knights $1.83, Sharks $2.00
Overall record: Played 45, Knights 27, Sharks 17, drawn 1
Last meeting: Round 6, 2015, Sharks 22-6 Knights @ Remondis Stadium
Record at venue: Played 20, Knights 14, Sharks 5, Drawn 1
Last 5: Knights 3, Sharks 2

Newcastle Knights:
1 Kurt Gidley (c), 2 James McManus, 3 Sione Mata'utia, 4 Dane Gagai, 5 Akuila Uate, 6 Carlos Tuimavave, 7 Tyrone Roberts, 8 Kade Snowden, 9 Adam Clydsdale, 10 Korbin Sims, 11 Beau Scott, 12 Tariq Sims, 13 Chris Houston
Interchange:
14 Tyler Randell, 15 Robbie Rochow, 16 Joe Tapine, 17 Pat Vaivai

Cronulla Sharks:
1 Michael Gordon, 2 Sosaia Feki, 3 Gerard Beale, 4 Ricky Leutele, 5 Valentine Holmes, 6 Jack Bird, 7 Jeff Robson, 8 Andrew Fifita, 9 Michael Ennis, 10 Matt Prior, 11 Luke Lewis, 12 Wade Graham, 13 Paul Gallen (c)
Interchange:
14 Jayson Bukuya, 15 Chris Heighinton, 16 David Fifita, 17 Sam Tagataese,
Andrew Fifita has never shied away from confrontation. (AAP Image/Action Photographics, Grant Trouville)
Expert
21st June, 2015
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3941 Reads

Match Results:

Cronulla Sharks 30
Newcastle Knights 28

We have probably witnessed one of the most entertaining games of the season this afternoon at Hunter Stadium as the Newcastle Knights went down to the Cronulla Sharks by two points, despite what could prove to be the try of the season set up by Jake Mamo.

Things kicked off with Newcastle all over the Sharks, as they kicked two penalty goals in the opening exchanges which gave them a four point lead after about 10 minutes. The Sharks were giving away a lot of penalties early in the game and really struggled to get into it against a Knights side that looked to be on fire.

The decision for two penalty goals however, came back to haunt the Knights as the Sharks scored the first try through Valentine Holmes and a perfectly executed play in the 16th minute. It was the first time the Sharks has been on the attack and it was a worrying sign for the Knights defence.

The momentum of the game was very back and forth for the next 10 minutes, although the Sharks had the running. That was until the Knights scored a great try to Jake Mamo, set up from inside their own half. It was completely against the run of play and allowed the Knights to get back into the game.

The Knights then managed to capitalise on their momentum scoring just six minutes later with another long range try to Beau Scott. The Sharks defence wasn’t looking good at all and halftime couldn’t come quick enough for them.

However, after a strong set and a kick into the corner, Kurt Gidley in dummy half put his foot into touch and allowed the Sharks a massive opportunity to score which they did through Jack Bird after a classic inside ball from Luke Lewis.

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At halftime it was a four point lead to the Knights.

Following the break we saw some up and down footy before the Knights received a penalty and made the most of it. Kurt Gidley attempted to grubber through the line and it was deflected. As the ball came lose Mamo toed the ball through, chased, did a ridiculous dive a metre out of play, batted it back in and Tuimavave scored.

It was one of the tries of the season and will live long in the memory of everyone watching.

However the joy was short lived for the Knights as the Sharks hit back with three tries in six minutes. In an incredible display of attacking rugby league Luke Lewis, Ben Barba and Jack Bird all crossed for the Sharks and took them to an eight point lead, after being 10 points behind.

The Sharks then aimed to grind the Knights out of the game, which they successfully did by running up the middle and kicking for the corners.

However with only an eight point lead, the Knights who were completely up against it managed to score with just two minutes on the clock with Kade Snowden barging over.

As the Knights came back up the field for one final crack, Jake Mamo was taken in what appeared to be a high shot. It wasn’t penalised because it wasn’t a reportable offence and will be one of the talking points tomorrow.

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Next week the Knights play the Broncos and the Sharks play the Cowboys, in what will be very difficult games for the sides.

In the end a brilliant game of rugby league with the Sharks hanging on by two, making it two in a row for them.

Match Preview:

Two teams in desperate need of a win do battle in Round 15 when the Newcastle Knights host the Cronulla Sharks at Hunter Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 1:45pm (AEST).

The Knights will be out to avenge their Round 6 defeat, when they travelled to the Shire and were comprehensively beaten.

It was the start of a horror stretch for the Knights, being their second loss in a row after winning their first four games of the season. Since those first four weeks the Knights have gone on to lose an astonishing eight from nine games.

They didn’t show much last time out before the bye, going down to the Raiders by 22 points. The Knights’ last win was all the way back in Round 10, and this leaves them sitting 14th on the table.

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The Sharks are not doing much better, only ahead of the Knights due to having had both of their byes. Despite this, their last game was a win against the Sydney Roosters. That however was bouncing back from a 42-6 drubbing from the Dragons the week before.

In team news, Joseph Leilua is the most obvious person missing for the Knights, having been released from the club on Monday. This sees Dane Gagai move back to the centres, Kurt Gidley return to fullback, with Tyrone Roberts slotting back into the halves.

David Fa’alogo is out of action, with Korbin Sims replacing him in the front row, which allows Pat Vaivai to come onto the bench. With Jack Stockwell out for the season, Chris Houston will start at lock, with Robbie Rochow and Joe Tapine on the bench.

For the Sharks, Ricky Leutele returns from injury in the centres with Blake Ayshford dropping out. A positional swap also occurs as Michael Gordon goes to fullback and Valentine Holmes will play on the wing.

With neither team’s defence anything to write home about in recent weeks, we should see a lot of points, so I see the game being won in the battle of Jack Bird versus Tyrone Roberts. Bird has been fantastic for the Sharks and has featured heavily whenever they have won, while Roberts, returning from injury and in the absence of Jarrod Mullen, will need a massive game if the Knights are to get home.

Prediction
While the Sharks have been inconsistent, the Knights have been consistently bad.

Sharks by 14.

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