The St George Illawarra Dragons have been dealt a huge blow to their finals hopes, becoming only the third team to lose to the Newcastle Knights in 2017.
Final score
Newcastle Knights 21
St George Illawarra Dragons 14
The Newcastle Knights are destined for the wooden spoon but will still fancy their chances of severely denting the finals hopes of the St George Illawarra Dragons this afternoon. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 3pm AEST.
After losing four of their previous five matches, the Dragons responded superbly at home last week against the Manly Sea Eagles, securing a 30 point victory in one of the more entertaining matches of the season.
Despite the victory, there will be concerns raised about the Dragons’ defence, after the hosts nearly gave up a 30-nil deficit before racing away with the contest in the second half.
Indeed the Knights themselves troubled the Dragons significantly earlier this season, racing out to a big lead away from home before losing another high scoring encounter.
Recent contests between these two sides have usually been close affairs and another high scoring match awaits between two teams desperate to win for vastly different reasons.
The Knights need to go on a winning run of sorts to avoid the wooden spoon. More importantly, Newcastle needs to establish some winning momentum heading into a 2018 season that promises to be more productive than the present campaign.
Having secured the services of several players for next season, the onus is on the Knights to start winning matches in front of a home crowd that has had to put up with a lot of poor results over the past two seasons.
The Dragons meanwhile are well in the hunt to securing a top eight birth and another win here will further entrench their place in the finals – a great achievement for club not expected to even feature in September at the start of the year.
Just like last week’s match against Manly, the Dragons will aim to establish dominance up front in order to pry open Newcastle’s defence. If the likes of Paul Vaughan, Jack De Belin and Tyson Frizell are allowed to dominate, then St George Illawarra could rack up another high score this afternoon.
On form, the Knights have been competitive in recent defeats to the Bulldogs, Manly and Roosters all away from home and are a chance of causing the upset if the Dragons turn up merely expecting the competition points.
Prediction
The Dragons simply have too much to play for to let this match slip. The Knights will pose problems with the football but the Dragons should get the job done in another high scoring encounter.
Dragons by 12
Scott Pryde
Expert
He already has. Labelled them 'incompetent' and 'embarrassing'. I find it hard to disagree.
Dufeyz
Guest
Will be interesting to see if Mary does a Ricky Stuart/Neil Henry after the game and blame the officials for their abysmal effort. As a Penrith supporter, i really gave Manly a huge chance of beating the Dragons - they stuffed that up. Thanks newcastle, you really helped us out here!
Joe
Roar Rookie
Very true. It looks like they've decided to manufacture an exciting finish for the eight because it was looking to be decided several rounds out.
Joe
Roar Rookie
I guess there are no gimme games. I have to say though i thought the reffing was abysmal. Apart from some of the decisions for tries the Knights 10m was non existent. I get there are home town decisions but this was ridiculous. The race for the eight is still well and truly alive.
Johnybulldog
Guest
Yep...BS Scotty,what a joke.
Alan
Roar Guru
The Knights have secured their third win of the season, defeating the Dragons by 7 points in a contest that now has huge ramifications for the make-up of the top eight. With this loss, the Dragons remain level with the Panthers on 24 points and the Raiders and Titans still have a glimmer of hope of perhaps securing an unlikely finals birth if they both manage to win their respective matches this week. Newcastle started quickly and raced out to a 12 nil lead before the Dragons hit back. From there, an arm wrestle ensured for the remainder of the contest. The Dragons though had two tries disallowed in the first half and that will no doubt be a major focus post match. A 12 point swing could have seen the Dragons end up with the win themselves but the Knights have done enough to secure a much needed victory for morale. Overall, the Dragons were no where near as sharp with the footy as they were last week. Credit must be given to Newcastle's defence though, particularly on their own line as they denied Nightingale from scoring a cracker in the first half. FULLTIME Knights 21 Dragons 14
Scott Pryde
Expert
Well, that'll do me. Absolute joke of a game.
Alan
Roar Guru
Newcastle will win this. No question now. Tough loss for the Dragons and those two disallowed tries in the first half will be focused on more closely as a result.... FULLTIME Knights 21 Dragons 14
Alan
Roar Guru
And that should be it for the Knights as they celebrate! Hodkinson with the field goal and that should ensure Newcastle's third win of the year! Knights 21 Dragons 14
The Spectator
Roar Guru
Boomo!
Alan
Roar Guru
FIELD GOAL KNIGHTS Knights 21 Dragons 14
Scott Pryde
Expert
Someone has decided they don't want the Dragons in the finals. This has been a very painful 80 minutes.
Alan
Roar Guru
77' - Knights hanging on. Fans urging them to victory. Dragons working it out from their own half. Knights 20 Dragons 14
Alan
Roar Guru
75' - Dragons need a converted try to send this into extra time. Do or die now for both teams. Knights shaking things up here... Knights 20 Dragons 14
Alan
Roar Guru
Saifiti is over for the Knights and that could season-defining for both teams! Newcastle on the verge of a third win of the season. Dragons on the verge of a defeat that gives hope to the chasing pack! CONVERSION SUCCESSFUL Knights 20 Dragons 14
Alan
Roar Guru
TRY KNIGHTS Knights 18 Dragons 14
Alan
Roar Guru
70' - This game could very well go to golden point. Knights knuckling down big time. Referees will try to keep whistle in their pocket from here on in. Knights with a chance now though... Knights 14 Dragons 14
Alan
Roar Guru
68' - So much for a high scoring contest. The Knights and Dragons have now knuckled down defensively and both are desperate to secure the win here. Knights 14 Dragons 14
Alan
Roar Guru
65' - The arm wrestle continues here. Neither team now keen to risk much with the scores all locked. More pressure on the Dragons though given the tight race for the top eight. Knights 14 Dragons 14
Alan
Roar Guru
Widdop levels things up for the Dragons and this game going down to the wire. Who does one back from here??? Dragons really need this win to entrench themselves inside the top eight. Knights 14 Dragons 14