Newcastle took a big step towards locking up a playoff spot by thrashing Canterbury 42-6 but their finals chances could be hobbled after Jackson Hastings suffered a suspected serious ankle injury.
The seventh-placed Knights walloped the inept Bulldogs for the second time this season to sit just one competition point behind Cronulla and Canberra in fifth but they could be without their chief playmaker for the rest of the season.
In a similar tackle to the one from Patrick Carrigan which broke his leg late last season, Hastings limped off in the 23rd minute after Canterbury forward Jacob Preston swung his body weight around to the back of the Newcastle playmaker’s heels as he came to ground.
He will have scans on Monday to determine the extent of the damage and after being sin-binned for the incident, Preston may not play again this season once the match review committee hands down their charges.
“It’s not looking good,” coach Adam O’Brien said. “They (the medical staff) are talking syndesmosis. Fingers crossed on that one, he’ll get scans tomorrow.
Jackson Hastings. (Photo by Jenny Evans/Getty Images)
“He’s done a helluva job for us, Jacko. He’s allowed this guy (Kalyn Ponga) to do what he’s been doing for us. We’ll come up with a plan. Adam Clune’s played well, he’s back from injury, in NSW Cup.
“You’re never going to replace like for like but I think it was reported this week we’ve had the second-most injuries in the last three years. You’ve just got to find a way to get on with it. We’ve done that in the past so we’ll do it again.”
Time to start giving Knights their shine
Expectations have been low at Newcastle all season and they’ve been underestimated as a finals contender.
Perhaps it’s time to take notice that they can not only make the playoffs but keep punching above their weight.
There’s little flashy about the Knights apart from the playmaking class of Kalyn Ponga and the finishing capability of Dominic Young out wide, but they have morphed into an effective unit which has now won six straight.
They are seventh, just a point behind Cronulla and Canberra, heading into the final three rounds.
The Knights have fellow top-eight contenders South Sydney and Cronulla as their next two opponents so they can not only seal a playoff berth but rise as high as fifth if they keep surging and the sixth-placed Raiders continue being late-season faders.
“I was really happy with our defence, especially on our goal line. Our resilience there. I don’t think it was a particularly great game of footy, especially the second half. I think the players understand we need to be better next week,” O’Brien said.
“It was only six or seven weeks ago I was under a bit of pressure and there was speculation but I don’t think I’m any different but you’ve got these Ws stacked up in the wins column and it changes the narrative.”
A tale of floggings in two cities
The Knights thrashed Canterbury 66-0 at the start of last month in Sydney which triggered their five-game winning streak leading into the return bout at Newcastle.
They extended their season tally to 80-0 inside the first 10 minutes of Sunday’s stoush after Dane Gagai and Tyson Gamble strolled through some toothless Bulldogs defence.
The pain of conceding those two converted tries was exacerbated by Harrison Graham being sin-binned for a professional foul to prevent a third try.
After taking the penalty goal option, the Knights then went close to making it three unanswered tries when Dominic Young careened to the cornerpost but the bunker ruled Matt Burton was obstructed by Tyson Frizell even though he was little chance of reeling in the English winger.
The Dogs were down to 11 players when Jacob Preston was binned after a hip-drop tackle on Hastings and with Phoenix Crossland switching to the halves when their chief playmaker limped off, Kurt Mann slotted in at hooker and scored a try within a minute of entering the fray.
Tyson Gamble touched down after an attacking raid which looked little more than a training drill and Enari Tuala raced the length of the field after Preston fumbled a touchdown after a bomb to make it 30-0 at the break and 96 unanswered points for Newcastle in three halves of football against the Dogs this season.
It took him 37 matches to score a try but Knights prop Leo Thompson crashed over midway through the second half to spark jubilation among his teammates and continue Canterbury’s misery.
Thompson breaking his duck enabled Newcastle to bring up their century against the Dogs with Ponga’s conversion making it a combined 102-0.
Mahoney finally made a dent in the Knights when he scurried over from dummy-half with 15 minutes remaining.
It turned out to be the briefest of respites with Jack Hetherington winning the race to a grubber to swing the momentum back to the home side and the scoreboard to a 42-6 advantage.
Bulldogs all bark no bite
Canine training is all about reward for doing well and punishment for misbehaviour.
If that’s the case then these Bulldogs get no treats for their efforts on Sunday and should be doing laps of Belmore all week at training.
They look like they skipped puppy pre-school because they lacked discipline in all facets of the game on Sunday.
They were not committed to doing the hard work in attack or defence and they were constantly earning the ire of referee Peter Gough.
“Ill-discipline killed us, like it has a number of times this year,” coach Cameron Ciraldo conceded. “Penalties, missed tackles, errors, around hitting and sticking in tackles and covering each other’s missed tackles.
“We actually defended with our most energy when we were down to 11.
“The second half ended up 12-6 and I thought we did a lot better.”
Graham’s sin-binning was not the worst indiscretion but warranted while Preston thoroughly “deserved” his 10-minute sabbatical in the first half with a nasty hip-drop tackle on Hastings which should result in a ban of a few weeks from the match review committee.
Canterbury co-captain Reed Mahoney was lucky not to concede an eight-point try when he tackled Tyson Gamble late after he’d scored, sparking a scuffle which nearly spilled into the crowd.
It wasn’t the worst “dog act” but typical of this team which barked like mongrels but showed as much bite as a toothless chihuahua.
Typical of Canterbury’s complaining, Josh Addo-Carr was arguing with the officials instead of playing the whistle late in the first half when he could have tracked down Tuala, who only just outlasted the cover defence who bothered to chase him.
“We turned the ball over too many times and gave them easy field position. It’s a hard game to play at the best of times and when you don’t hold the ball and make more tackles than them, it’s as simple as that,” said Mahoney.
“Too many times we weren’t vicious enough with our defence. Games just can’t keep blowing out to 40 points, it’s not enjoyable.”
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Scratch like a bulldog Punch like Tevita
souvalis
Roar Rookie
‘ in his head ‘ ? If you’re familiar with NRL physio on Twitter have a look at his slow motion replay of the tackle, the ankle entrapment, the force of the defender’s body, and the reaction and diagnosis.
Cam
Roar Rookie
I've done a similar syndesmosis where the ligament was ripped off the bone and the fibula snapped. I'm pretty sooky at the best of times, but didn't feel the need to roll around like a La Liga soccer player. Hastings was carrying on because he thought he'd done the same injury to the same ankle with the same severity. That pain was in his head.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Cheers mate It’s sort of cathartic to write about it and work out the demons It’s not all bleak, but I was hoping this would be a stabilising season to build combinations and launch into more competitive years But it looks like we’ll be starting next year from scratch
Maxtruck
Roar Rookie
Gould thew the towel in a month ago when he said Ciraldo should have come next year, now the players have followed suit.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
I’m not sure what ‘carry on ‘ means. Clearly in enormous pain and straight into a boot at the 23’ mark with fears of syndesmosis. That was the end of his day.
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
JH is healthy! Hallelujah!
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
I think I saw it, you wont believe it, in a rugby 7s carnival 15 years ago. The gun players used that technique to effectively use their own weight to pull down the attacker, slingshot in front of them to be in a position to ruck for the ball. There wasnt much leg contact from what I recall but it would just be a minor technique for these blokes to change to reduce the risk of injury.
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Can Kikau save his Kiks for another player? The rise of the Phoenix from his own ashes is a vastly overrated and overquoted myth.
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Jeez you do a quality analysis, TB. As hard as it must be for you to discuss the loss, its been compelling reading. Gus outdates all the coaches (even Sheens and Bennett) in that he won a comp coaching the Dogs in 88. Sure it was on the back of the flint-hard team Warren Ryan weaponised, but Gus knows how to turn a club around. And he knows the Dogs. And its Ciraldos first year coaching. He will learn a ridiculous amount from this year and build on that next year. And Burto can have the Blues 6 for the next half a dozen or so years.
NQR
Roar Rookie
Sadly I do feel there are people that don’t give a dam about an opponents welfare. In those people’s minds what ever gives you an advantage is worth doing? I’d like a dollar for every comment I heard about hurting an opponent during my time. It’s up to officials and administrators to protect players and set the acceptable standard.
NQR
Roar Rookie
I agree it wasn’t something I was taught 40+ years ago. It’s definitely something that has been around more in the last 10 or so. Not trying to target an individual but Hindmarsh was someone that used that technique to pull players down on occasion. Beau Scott was also an exponent. Maybe it was something players have learned and picked up on as an effective means of taking a player to ground? They certainly weren’t the only ones doing it either.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Not if you end up around your opponents knees making a traditional tackle. As soon as you release they can jump up and play the ball and you can’t get to marker You land on top, by dragging him backwards, you can control the play the ball speed If you watch that style of tackle that doesn’t end up a hip drop, the defender usually ends up on top
The Barry
Roar Guru
If you’re not signing an assistant from somewhere it’s hard finding a well credentialed coach. Because of the Panthers / Roosters / Storm dominance of the past 6-7 years, there’s only three recent premiership winning coaches Bennett’s not available. Hasler’s been gone and gone and helped create the mess we’re in So then you’re either trying to sign a coach who’s been around a while and not won anything (Griffen, Arthur) or trying to find the next big thing assistant But you’re right, it’s pretty risky Warriors are an interesting comparison. They’ve got a few gun players. But also a lot of journeymen. But they look like they’re playing together. Everyone knows their role. Dogs were the exact opposite to that yesterday in attack and defence and have been for most of the season. We don’t have a style That’s what worries me. The last 6-7 years I’ve gotten used to what a rabble looks like. This year doesn’t look much different
Rellum
Roar Guru
Can you guys hurry up and fix this mid season yip. The Broncs are a good shout for a GF birth over the next 2-5 years. We need Redcliffe and or the Titans to join them so we get an all SEQ grand final. Of course hopefully all three and top 4 material for the next 20 years
Rellum
Roar Guru
Mam is a future Origin 6 or 7. He would be fast tracked over Gamble.
Rellum
Roar Guru
I don't know, an old school legs tackle and a hip drop would have the same effect on who is on top for the ruck for mine, unless the injury risk is taken into account.
Rellum
Roar Guru
4 or 5 years ago when I first really noticed the hip drops coming in I would say there were deliberate. Not deliberate in regards to injuring anyone, but the technique was there to bring the player down. Those efforts were also obvious. Now we have the grey area of are the plyers trying a hip drop or is it momentum.
Cam
Roar Rookie
Ciraldo might end up to be a genius coach and I hope he ushers in a new golden age at the Dogs, but there is so much risk signing a rookie coach to a long term deal. Anthony Siebold's Broncos tenure should be a cautionary tale to all CEO's. Having said that, maybe Gus got the wrong Panther's assistant, Andrew Webster has been a revelation at the Warriors.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Back in the day if you were going to make a tackle like Preston’s or JDB’s from a few weeks ago, you’d tackle at the hips or thighs and slide down the legs. Your own legs would be out behind you The way defenders are grabbing opponents above the waist and swinging their legs around behind is dangerous. I don’t think it’s deliberate, but they completely lose control of the tackle and don’t know where they’re going to land I saw the Cherrington tackle - it was a shocker. Haven’t seen too much ofvtga5 in the men’s