Cronulla have savaged a hopelessly out-classed Newcastle with a record 62-0 NRL rout at Hunter Stadium, stretching their winning streak to seven on a black day for the Knights.
The Sharks led 28-0 at half-time and ran in 11 tries to nil, handing the Knights their worst-ever loss on home soil, surpassing a 50-0 shut-out by Parramatta in 2005 amid Newcastle’s club-record 13-game losing streak.
It was Newcastle’s second-worst loss anywhere, behind only a 71-6 thrashing from Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium in 2007, and displacing the 53-0 loss to the Broncos at Suncorp on April 16 this year.
On a day of records, the Sharks equalled their biggest-ever winning margin, matching a 68-6 victory over Manly in 2005.
It was also Cronulla’s biggest win over Newcastle, going past the 64-14 hammering they handed out at Cronulla in 2002.
The Sharks moved to second place on the ladder, behind leaders Brisbane only on percentage and also tied on 16 points with third-placed Melbourne.
They left the Knights languishing at the bottom with just one win and a draw from 10 matches.
Wing sensation Valentine Holmes scored three of his four tries in the first 26 minutes as the Sharks attacked Newcastle’s brittle left-edge defence and reaped the rewards.
Cronulla left winger Sosaia Feki scored a treble, back-rower Luke Lewis bagged a brace, fullback Ben Barba scored a try and was involved in the lead-up to several others and Wade Graham also crossed.
Newcastle were held scoreless for the second straight match after going down 38-0 to Sydney Roosters at Allianz Stadium on April 30, making it a combined 100-0 against in their past two games.
The Knights fielded the youngest halves pairing in their history because NSW hopeful Trent Hodkinson was ruled out with a knee injury and Jarrod Mullen is sidelined with a torn hamstring.
Eighteen-year-old Jack Cogger, the son of former Wests Magpies playmaker Trevor Cogger, became the 10th NRL debutant Knights coach Nathan Brown has blooded this season.
Cogger joined 19-year-old Brock Lamb, who made his NRL debut against the Roosters a fortnight earlier, in the halves against Cronulla’s experienced duo of James Maloney and Chad Townsend.
Maloney did his chances of a NSW Origin recall no harm by kicking nine goals from 11 attempts and helping Townsend, Barba and hooker Michael Ennis steer the Sharks around against the Knights.
Lamb and Cogger, who have formed a friendship and strong bond rising through Newcastle’s junior ranks together, became the youngest NRL halves in Knights history.
They surpassed Mullen and Luke Walsh, who were both 20 when they teamed up against Canberra on June 18, 2007.
Nathan Ross suffered a hamstring injury in the warm-up, earning 18-year-old Cory Denniss a late call-up to the left wing and giving Newcastle seven players aged 20 or under in their starting side.
Denniss joined Sione Matautia (19), Cogger, Lamb, 20-year-old twins Jacob and Daniel Saifiti and 19-year-old hooker Danny Levi in one of the youngest teams the Knights have ever put on the field.
Squidward
Roar Rookie
Also though. Ben Hunt dropping a kick off in golden point seems like an epic finals crumble to me
Renegade
Roar Guru
Yes, if you judge this Sharks team based on it being early 2000's and are judging the Broncos side based on it being 1992.... But I just looked at the calendar and its 2016.
Richard Maybury
Guest
It was a dreadful game though. A lot of fans left early in the second half. Not a good advertisement for our game at all.
JVGO
Guest
The Knights were just about as good as the Broncos in the first half.
Vortex
Guest
Will be interesting to see how they go next week against Manly who will be looking to bounce back. The difference I believe is the Broncos are a finals team, where the Sharks crumble in September.
Albo
Guest
That's three weeks in a row of blowouts ! Sure they might be down on some troops , but what has happened to that Knights spirit ? Seems there has been no passion in that club since Joey retired ! Even Bennett couldn't raise a whimper from them !
Renegade
Roar Guru
I love it squid... Brisbane beat Newcastle 53-0 at suncorp and people start saying hand them the premiership and no one can stop an QLD grand final, etc, etc.. Sharks give Knights a record 62-0 thrashing at Newcastle and no one bats an eyelid.... Dessie would love this as much as we do - it's gold!
Renegade
Roar Guru
Yeah even Brisbane put 50 on them a couple weeks ago ?
Squidward
Roar Rookie
Under the radar baby. How I like it. Even with the floggings and 7 in a row
up up cronulla
Guest
Fair dinkum we win by 62, beat brisbane and storm, lose by 6 in round one with new halves yet , we are in 2nd place by percentage yet people still bag us!!!
The eye
Guest
Much more telling than the 60 is keeping your opponents to zero in a thumping..thats committment and a real statement of intent..
Vortex
Guest
The Jillaroos could put 60 on the Knights at the moment. Isn't really saying much about Sharks.
Don
Guest
Cannot believe in this day and in professional sports that we can witness a blow out like that ,knights fans can count themselves lucky that the NRL don't have the relegation systems in place.
jamesb
Guest
I think Newcastle had problems before Nathan Brown arrived and that's thanks to Newcastle management, Tinkler and Bennett. The Jets in the A League ain't going flash either.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Nathan Brown has had 1 pre-season with a roster that goes into many games weaker in every position bar 1 or 2 than the other team.
Jaws
Guest
What stage of the rebuild is this Brownie?
Doug Graves
Guest
Nathan Brown is a Rugby League genius.