The Wests Tigers beat the Newcastle Knights 33-12, and in the process snapped a seven-game losing streak to go off the bottom of the table through a Luke Brooks and Aaron Woods masterclass.
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Final score
Newcastle Knights 12
Wests Tigers 33
Pride, bragging rights, and movement off the bottom of the ladder are all on the line when the embattled Newcastle Knights take on the injury stricken Wests Tigers in a battle of the wooden spoon contenders. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog starting from 2pm AEST.
You’d be forgiven if you thought that this contest didn’t look like the most appetising on paper.
Tied on competition points, the Tigers and Knights are separated by a point differential of only 33 at the dead bottom of the table.
Looking at both sides recent form, this game is tough to call.
The Wests Tigers have been awful this season. Ivan Cleary’s men have been hit with injuries, and they’ve already announced the departures of three of their big four to rival clubs for season 2018.
However, there have been flashes of gold in the pan, not least their stirring performance against the Cronulla Sharks two weeks ago.
In a match they should’ve won, they lost their grip on the match in the dying stages of the game and their losing streak continued.
A lacklustre performance against the Titans last start, however, was more indicative of how 2017 has gone for the men from the West.
The Tigers are on a seven-game losing streak, and if they record their eighth that will be their longest losing streak in the clubs history.
They also welcome back superstar James Tedesco from an ankle complaint. Will these two factors combined be enough to push them over the line?
The Knights will be boosted by the return of Jamie Buhrer who should provide a steady head to a team that desperately needs leaders right now.
They have objectively been better than the Tigers this season, and have had close losses to the Sharks, Dragons and the Sea Eagles.
Who knows? These two sides could surprise us. I’m tipping it to be the game of the round as two sides with nothing to lose meet on a brisk Sunday in Newcastle.
Prediction
Newcastle haven’t been awful this season, and this is a perfect opportunity for them to repay the faith of their ever loyal home crowd.
Expect the men in blue and red, spurred on by the return of Buhrer to make comfortable metres up the middle and play an expansive brand of football.
They may concede a few, but I can’t see them getting beaten in front of their home crowd.
Knights by 14.
Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 2pm AEST.
Big Daddy
Guest
Good to see 40k in Newcastle and central coast. NRL need more matches on central coast.
Nick Kelland
Roar Guru
FULL TIME TIGERS 33 - 12 KNIGHTS Match Result: The Wests Tigers beat the Newcastle Knights 33-12, and in the process snapped a seven game losing streak to go off the bottom of the table through a Luke Brooks and Aaron Woods masterclass. It was all the Tigers from the first whistle. Luke Brooks spoke of their sides keenness to exploit some of the fragility down the Newcastle left and right edges and boy did they do that. They opened the scoring through Watene-Zelezniak who was great all afternoon. Dane Gagai tore shreds off of his opposite number, and Luke Brooks and man of the match Aaron Woods were immense. For the Knights? They travel to play the Bulldogs next, while the Tigers can enjoy their bye week with a win under their belt. Thanks for joining me for the call - The Tigers move off the bottom of the ladder and the Knights confirm their spot as cellar dwellers for the time being. Until next time, Ciao!
Nick Kelland
Roar Guru
79′ TRY TIGERS!! Tigers 33 – 12 Knights Aaron Woods offloads, Mcilwrick busts, Brooks finishes. Take a bow Tigers. Clinical finish with a try on the bell. Lolohea finishes things here - 33-12 the final score.
Nick Kelland
Roar Guru
79′ Tigers 27 – 12 Knights Lolohea knocks over the penalty and the margin is 15.
Nick Kelland
Roar Guru
78′ Tigers 25 – 12 Knights Salt in the wound... Mitch Barnett coat hangers Brooks late and he goes on report. The Tigers opt to shoot for goal which will wind down the clock almost to 80 minutes. The Knights look a dejected outfit.
Nick Kelland
Roar Guru
78′ Tigers 25 – 12 Knights Very very professional from the Tigers. Watene-Zelezniak runs the ball to the midfield, a simple pass to Brooks in the pocket who knocks over a simple drop goal to put the game out of reach. Simple, smart and effective play from a best on ground Brooks.
Nick Kelland
Roar Guru
76′ Tigers 24 – 12 Knights Knights need to score here... And they knock it on. Buhrer's ball to Fitzgibbons is too powerful from close range - and that has to be it.
Nick Kelland
Roar Guru
75′ Tigers 24 – 12 Knights Forward pass from Aaron Woods his first mistake of the day. Again, dubious however. The referees have been very tight with their forward pass calls this afternoon.
Nick Kelland
Roar Guru
74' Tigers 24 – 12 Knights Knock on from the Tigers followed by a knock on from Nathan Ross. No advantage and the Knights have a scrum 25 from their own line. Some tired bodies out there now.
Nick Kelland
Roar Guru
73′ Tigers 24 – 12 Knights Great defensive set from the Tigers and the Knights only make 20m in their five tackles. Hodkinson's kick was an absolute shocker and the Tigers are in possession on halfway. They should close the game out from here with 7 minutes left.
Nick Kelland
Roar Guru
71′ Tigers 24 – 12 Knights A good, composed set of six from the Tigers finishes with a punchy kick from Brooks to the air. Mauta'auti gathers and goes cross field before being picked off by Eisenhuth in a good tackle.
Nick Kelland
Roar Guru
71′ Tigers 24 – 12 Knights The Knights roll forward and have found some serious intensity. However, their 5th tackle option lets them down, Ross' kick rolls into touch and offers little in the way of attacking potential. Tigers ball 25m from their line - first tackle.
Nick Kelland
Roar Guru
70′ Tigers 24 – 12 Knights Brave take from Ross at the back from a nicely weighted Tigers kick. He has grown into this game after a few early errors.
Nick Kelland
Roar Guru
69′ Tigers 24 – 12 Knights Cleary empties his bench as we roll into the last 11 minutes of the game.
Nick Kelland
Roar Guru
67′ Tigers 24 – 12 Knights The Knights gather the restart safely this time, and Buhrer carries well. They roll up the middle through Wardle and Levi. Some hot potato passes on the last results in a nothing grubber and the Tigers settle things, 20 out from their own line.
Nick Kelland
Roar Guru
67′ TRY KNIGHTS!! Tigers 24 – 12 Knights That is pure class from Dane Gagai... He shoots from dummy half and beats a lazy defender next to the ruck. He drops the ball on his left foot and finds a rampaging Joe Wardle who scores untouched. Class player, class kick, class finish. Hodkinson kicks the conversion and we have a ball game on our hands!!
Nick Kelland
Roar Guru
65′ Tigers 24 – 6 Knights Liddle with a cute grubber in behind, but Fitzgibbons does well to clean things up and run to the 10m line. The Knights now run with it, sweeping from their try line to halfway.
Nick Kelland
Roar Guru
62′ Tigers 24 – 6 Knights Oh no. Miscommunication off the restart and Gagai clashes with King as they both try and claim possession - ball is knocked on as a result. The Tigers have a set of six on the Knights line now. Own worst enemies again!
Nick Kelland
Roar Guru
62' Tigers 24 - 6 Knights TRY KNIGHTS!! Can they roll from here? Does the comeback begin? Feeney pushes through a gap and shows and goes - He's dragged down on the line by Naiqama and Fitzgibbons does really well to play quickly from dummy half and dive over. Hodkinson kicks the conversion and there's a flicker of hope for the Knights here. Bumper last 20 coming up.
Nick Kelland
Roar Guru
61′ Tigers 24 – 0 Knights Hodkinson throws a long cut out for Mata'utia who does really well to stay in the field of play. 3rd tackle, Knights on the attack.