Newcastle have taken the first step to washing away a horror 2014 after Dane Gagai inspired them to a come-from-behind 24-14 NRL win over the Warriors at Hunter Stadium on Saturday.
The home side scored the final three tries to run over the top of the Warriors and get their campaign off to a confidence-boosting start.
The Knights lurched from low point to low point last year with Alex McKinnon’s neck injury and ownership disputes disrupting their season.
Those ownership disputes would eventually lead to Wayne Bennett standing down as coach.
However the Knights put in a gutsy performance with Gagai starring with two tries and an all-important intercept in front of 16,146 fans.
The turning point came in the 66th minute when the Warriors were up 14-12 and holding a one-man advantage after Newcastle front-rower David Fa’alogo was sin-binned for a professional foul.
A Bodene Thompson penalty gifted the Knights field position and utility Tyler Randall burrowed over to snatch the lead back for the Knights.
“(To go ahead when a man down) is a a big boost, absolutely,” Knights coach Rick Stone said.
“With Dave off the field and scoring a couple of tries and getting back in a winning position, that was a real big boost.
“We still didn’t manage the game well down to the wire, but hopefully there’ll be a bit more in us in the next couple of weeks and there’ll probably need to be.”
The Knights sealed the game in the 75th minute after Gagai came out of the line to take an intercept and run 70 metres to set up Robbie Rochow’s try a few plays later.
Gagai was a standout, scoring the Knights’ opening two tries, making two line breaks, nine tackle busts and running for 197 metres in a display which would have caught the eye of Queensland coach Mal Meninga.
The Warriors are now winless in NSW since round 19 2013 and have lost all of their past six opening round games.
Warriors coach Andrew McFadden was blunt in his assessment of his team, claiming “we blew it”.
“We had a huge opportunity and we lacked that composure, it was very disappointing, he said.”
Both sides lost their fullbacks before kick-off with Knights veteran Kurt Gidley and the Warriors’ Sam Tomkins both ruled out due to hamstring injuries. However both are expected to be fit for round two.
Warriors centre Konrad Hurrell spent half the match on the sideline with a knee injury. McFadden said he was expected to be ok but Hurrell was on crutches in the dressing sheds after the game.
Knights halfback Tyrone Roberts will have a nervous wait after he was put on report for leading with the knees as Thomas Leuluai scored. Leuluai left the field with a cut head and his side was awarded an eight-point try.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
Oh well. Reports are that he banked most of his wages over those three years (I think he was on 350k a year?) because the broncos were paying for everything from his surgeries to his special rehab equipment. Then they gave him a decent job after it all failed. Plus he has that missus with the Brazilian body and the right kind of British accent.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
It's called losers remorse. AKA the "we was robbed" mentality.
Jay C
Roar Guru
I know. I hope it goes well for him. Saw an interview with him the other day and it's a bit sad that his office overlooks the gym. Must be hard some days. Tim could have put him on the list of top blokes I reckon.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
Poor Yowie. It's good to see what he's found at Brisbane now that he no longer plays though. Couldn't have a nicer bloke engaging with the aboriginal community.
Jay C
Roar Guru
Even Boyd, Yow Yeh, Gagai, Hodges, Robinson, K. Hunt, B. Hunt if you want to go all home grown
Jay C
Roar Guru
Must have put on a good spread in Newcastle over xmas hey.
Jay C
Roar Guru
Folau, Yow Yeh, Gagai, Hodges, Copley, Milford, Hunt. This is what our back line should be.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
Jay C. Could you imagine the attacking threat of having Gagai and Copley in your centres? My favourite thing about Gagai is that he can really put in on defence against some of the bigger centres.
chris_n
Guest
I believe he has the potential to be the best he has raw natural ability and aggressive every time he gets the ball you get exited he needs to work on his football smarts he does make some silly mistakes. I believe he played in the second row as a junior still don't know if he would be as damaging in the middle. Tariq should add a bit more grunt when he comes back from suspension hopefully vaivai or mataora will be able to make the step up to first grade soon.
The eye
Guest
I'm his biggest fan,IMO hes the Knights best player..if Stoneys got a mindset of squeezing Gids in,might be the go having him play lock,getting more ball,more size and pushing Rochow forward..just don't feel there's enough meter eaters up front..
Sideline Comm.
Guest
Chris, I'm a Newcastle fan too, but in the end I'd rather see him go. He'd prefer to be in Brisbane by most accounts, so rather than keep an unhappy player I think we should let him go. I also think Sione Mata'Utai could well be better than him anyway, and we have to do everything possible keep him. He wants to play for Newcastle, after all.
chris_n
Guest
Yeah mate I know he was still 120kg a couple weeks ago and there was talk of stone not playing him because of his lack of fitness he still ran hard and busted plenty of tackles.
Jay C
Roar Guru
He was looking a little tubby to me yesterday?
Jay C
Roar Guru
He is a natural replacement for Hodges and would be a huge addition to the Broncos lineup. He has what no other outside back at the Broncos has and that is speed. I expect him to come home next year. Also how good would it be to see Tha Monstar getting a run for the Broncos now he is off contract with Seattle
chris_n
Guest
He is great and if uate can get back to his best this year which I have a good feeling he will the gagai/uate combo is going to cause I lot of headaches for rival teams.
chris_n
Guest
Yeah mate another decent prop would be great I think BJ could play prop but why move him when in my opinion he is one of if not the most damaging centres in the game with ball in hand.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
I'm a Brisbane fan and I was livid when they sacked him, but I think that made him wake up to himself a bit coupled with his origin exile last year. Id love him back but as long as he stays in RL I'd be a happy man. He's a great player to watch.
chris_n
Guest
Fair enough as a knights fan I want him to stay as you said he has the potential to be one of the superstars of the game but if he is not happy at the knights then Im happy for him to go elsewhere.
The eye
Guest
The only thing the Knights are missing is a refrigerator body like Kasiano in the front row..dunno if Mataora is ready..can BJ play prop ?....
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
Get rid of might've been a bit strong but their have been multiple reports that their relationship is strained at best and that Gagai is a "low priority" for Newcastle retention.