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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 1:45pm (AEST) and don’t forget to comment if you’re following along with the action!
The eye
Guest
How can a player with blood streaming down his nose as Mamo did,and after viewing the Robbo hit,not be awarded a high shot penalty ?Bit of a sour taste at the end there.. Cant not imagine Jack Bird being the Blues 5/8 this time next year
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me here this afternoon on The Roar for our live coverage of Sunday afternoon footy between the Newcastle Knights and the Cronulla Sharks In what was an awesome game! Hopefully you enjoyed the coverage. Remember to stick with out live coverage of the Storm v Broncos game now. I'll be back next weekend with more rugby league. Until then, Enjoy the rest of your afternoon.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks Renegade, One of the games of the season.
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME: 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. 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. 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.
jamesb
Guest
That win will make 108 year old Thelma very happy.
Renegade
Roar Guru
Classic game of footy that... Good call Scott.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Full report to come. In the meantime the Storm v Broncos clash is about to kick off. Why not check out James Anderson's coverage right here: http://www.theroar.com.au/2015/06/21/melbourne-storm-vs-brisbane-broncos-nrl-live-scores-blog-
Scott Pryde
Expert
Man of the Match is JACK BIRD
Scott Pryde
Expert
80' - The Sharks have 2 hit ups and that will be that as the ball is kicked into touch. Kurt Gidley not happy with the Mamo tackle not being called a penalty but that will be all it wrote. What a game of footy! FULLTIME: CRONULLA SHARKS 30 defeat NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS 28
Scott Pryde
Expert
80' - Mamo plays the ball on half way and Rochow has the next hit up. They now come left from Gidley to Tuimavave and Sims gets held 35 out. Now to the left and Mamo has it. He takes it to the line, grubbers through but it has been deflected. Looks like we have a change over. Under 20 seconds to go and its a Sharks ball. They will hang on. Sharks 30 Knights 28
Scott Pryde
Expert
79' - Nope not a penalty. Sharks 30 Knights 28
Scott Pryde
Expert
79' - Back underway with a deep kick off and it's Snowden who has the first hit up. An offload on the second with the Sharks racing up in defence. They now come left and Mamo goes through the line, He gets tackled on half way and stays down. Graham and Gagai are going at it. Time off, and replays show this is a high tackle. This should be a penalty. Sharks 30 Knights 28
Scott Pryde
Expert
CONVERSION SUCCESSFUL by KURT GIDLEY 1:48 to go. Sharks 30 Knights 28
Scott Pryde
Expert
78' - TRY KNIGHTS, KADE SNOWDEN Holmes drops out and Uate brings it back to the 30 for the Knights. Now Vaivai runs before Tuimavave gets an offload away and they come back to the posts through Tapine who is stopped a metre out. Now the pass comes to Gidley on the right hand side before he drifts back across the posts and passes to Snowden who is claiming a try! Upstairs we go, and he could well have been held up here. On field decision was a try. This shouldn't be over ruled. Grandstand finish coming up here folks! Sharks 30 Knights 26
Scott Pryde
Expert
77- The Knights start the set from about 30 metres out and come to the left through Gidley before Mamo appears to have knocked it on but he is allowed to keep going. To the right now but the defence holds strong. Back to the left and Mamo links with Mata'utai butcant go through. Sims back for the left corner but cant get over. Now Gidley kicks back to the posts and it wasn't a great kick. Graham though has knocked. it dead. Drop out Sharks. 3 minutes to go. Sharks 30 Knights 22
Scott Pryde
Expert
76' - The Knights work it through their forwards and Gagai goes across the line but not going forward. Now the ball has come lost but it is ruled to be stripped. Knights have to score here one would think. Sharks 30 Knights 22
Scott Pryde
Expert
75' - The Sharks again just working it up through the middle here and bring it over half way through Lewis. on the third. Ennis darts out of dummy half and finds Bird. Ennis kicks out of dummy half with a tackle still to go and Mamo has to bring it out of his own in goal area. Sharks 30 Knights 22
Scott Pryde
Expert
74' - The Knights with some big runs now and look to have some sort of energy back into their game. Its a disappointing end to the set though with some wasted plays and then a kick that rolls dead. Seven tackle set for the Sharks. Sharks 30 Knights 22
Scott Pryde
Expert
73' - The Sharks come left from the scrum and then work it up through the forwards. Tagatese now brings it up to the half way line and then Pror brings it over. The Sharks just trying to grind the Knights out of this now as they shift left and Graham grubbers for the corner, sending it over the side line. Sharks 30 Knights 22
Scott Pryde
Expert
72' - The Knights work it forward and then come back towards the posts after chancing their arm down the left hand side. Gidley tries to go back on the inside and it is called a forward pass! Not what the Knights needed. Sharks 30 Knights 22