Knights
14
Match Complete
Sharks
8
| K. Ponga |  | 75 | ||
| E. Lee |  | 74 | ||
| 72 | | S. Johnson | ||
| 71 | | S. Katoa | ||
| K. Ponga | | 69 | ||
| T. Glasby | | 68 | ||
| K. Ponga |  | 49 | ||
| 46 | | S. Johnson |
| 2 | Tries | 1 | ||
| 2 | Conversions | 1 | ||
| 1 | Penalty Goals | 1 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
The Newcastle Knights are primed and ready for a finals charge in 2019, and get to open their season at home against the in-turmoil Cronulla Sharks. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage of this clash from 6pm (AEDT).
It was only six months ago the Sharks were heading to Melbourne for a preliminary final, but they come into the new season all over the place.
A self-reported salary cap problem led to the NRL discovering Shane Flanagan communicated with the club while suspended. He has now been de-registered, meaning John Morris takes over the running of the side.
Add to that Wade Graham’s injury – he’ll miss the first half of the season with a torn ACL – and the loss of Valentine Holmes, and this is a different Sharks outfit.
They have signed Shaun Johnson, but his off-the-cuff style of play may not suit a side which loves to grind out victories in the middle third. Even that might get tougher this year with Paul Gallen starting to slow down and the pack changing shape.
Against the new-look Knights, that tough, attritional style of play will be their best shot at getting two competition points, with Newcastle likely to build momentum in front of a big home crowd.
Newcastle’s biggest problem in the early rounds may be their new combinations not clicking.
Kalyn Ponga’s move to the halves is the biggest question. His trial form indicates there might be an issue moving to the no.6 jersey, but alongside Mitchell Pearce, who was their best player before succumbing to injury last year, they will be hoping to get things right in Round 1.
If they click, then the talent out wide, particularly on the right-hand side where Shaun Kennny-Dowall is joined by new recruit Jesse Ramien, will have a field day.
They also need their forwards to lay a platform for Ponga’s running game. With Ramien’s fellow new recruits, David Klemmer and James Gavet, leading the charge, they should do just that.
If they can stay patient and starve the Sharks of the footy, building with lots of repeat sets, then they are going to be hard to beat.
Prediction
The Knights are at home, and even with new players still building their combinations, I expect them to take the chocolates over a weaker-than usual Sharks side.
Knights by 8.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of this Friday night NRL match from 6pm (AEDT) and don’t forget to leave a comment below.
Game information
Kick-off: 6pm (AEDT)
Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
TV: Live, Fox League 502
Online: Live, Foxtel app, Foxtel now, Kayo Sports
Betting: Knights $1.91, Sharks $1.91
Overall record: Played 52, Knights 27, Sharks 24, drawn 1
Last meeting: Round 24, 2018 – Sharks 38 defeat Knights 12 at Shark Park
Last five: Sharks 5, Knights 0
Record at venue: Played 25, Knights 14, Sharks 9, drawn 1
Referees: Peter Gough, Phil Henderson
Teams
Newcastle Knights
1. Connor Watson, 2. Edrick Lee, 3. Hymel Hunt, 4. Jesse Ramien, 5. Shaun Kenny-Dowall, 6. Kalyn Ponga, 7. Mitchell Pearce (c), 8. David Klemmer, 9. Danny Levi, 10. James Gavet, 11. Lachlan Fitzgibbon, 12. Sione Mata’utia, 13. Tim Glasby
Interchange: 14. Kurt Mann, 15. Aidan Guerra, 16. 17. Daniel Saifiti, 18. Jamie Buhrer, 19. Herman Ese’ese, 20. Josh King, 21. Brodie Jones
Cronulla Sharks
1. Matt Moylan, 2. Sosaia Feki, 3. Josh Dugan, 4. Josh Morris, 5. Sione Katoa, 6. Shaun Johnson, 7. Chad Townsend, 8. Andrew Fifita, 9. Jayden Brailey, 10. Matt Prior, 11. Briton Nikora, 12. Kurt Capewell, 13. Paul Gallen
Interchange: 14. Blayke Brailey, 15. Jayson Bukuya, 16. Aaron Woods, 17. Jack Williams, 18. Scott Sorensen, 19. Kyle Flanagan, 20. Bronson Xerri, 21. Braden Hamlin-Uele
Scott Pryde
Expert
They will never go a penalty try and sin bin in the same play. Them's the rules.
AE47
Roar Rookie
Professional foul = bin ? Yeah ? So what exactly happened tonight
Paul
Guest
New season, same useless officials. 99% of the time the on field call is not over turned. Shocking.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Nothing in that . The Sharkies defense was top notch as usual. Johnson struggled to get into the game but he will work it out. Nothing to see here really , both teams can take positives out of that one,
Renegade
Roar Guru
Good game, better team won..good to see the knights show grit. Edrick Lee the star against his old team. Sharks round 1 blues continue, always start the season slow…I think it’s been 10 years now since they won a round 1 game….effort is there, the combos will click as the season goes on. Good to have the footy back!!
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me this evening on The Roar for our live coverage of the 2019 NRL season. Hopefully you enjoyed the call. I'll now be moving on to cover the Sydney Roosters and South Sydney Rabbitohs. Join me now for that one.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Absolutely , and that was the right call. Not sure who the penalty try favoured , maybe The Knights.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts on the game Roarers?
Joe
Roar Rookie
The Knights off season purchases have paid off big time. Klemmer, Edrick and Glasby played massive parts in tonights win. Both teams look very good. I thought Sharks had a lot more chances but were let down by their finishing. The Knights took everything that came their way and ended up with the win. Both teams will be pretty ok with that.
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME Well, the Knights weren't great in winning this, but they did what was required to get the job done against a gallant Cronulla Sharks outfit. The Knights dominated the game almost from start to finish, in terms of possession and territory. It was nil-all at halftime, before a couple of penalty goals opened the scoring in the season. The first try of the game was scored in the 68th minute through Tim Glasby, before the Sharks hit back with a controversial penalty try. That controversy won't be allowed to bubble though, after Edrick Lee took an intercept and ran 80 metres to put the game away. Knights 14 Sharks 8
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Wow - good tough win by the Knights. Against one of the heavies over the past few years
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME The Knights will run as much time off the clock as possible now. Gavet with a great run back on angle as he beats one and almost two. Now it's Barnett up the middle, before Watson takes the final play of the game, and the Knights have won in Round 1 over the Sharks. What a game that was. Exhausting from the couch, let alone on the park. Knights 14 Sharks 8
a
Roar Rookie
Nice to see Paul Gallen cost another game for the Sharks
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
And Gallen drops the ball - can it get any better?
Scott Pryde
Expert
79' - Oh Gallen! He drops it cold running up to the line, and the Knights should survive now. Knights 14 Sharks 8
Scott Pryde
Expert
79' - Into the final two minutes we run, and the Knights are only going to have to defend out one more set, but they are going nowhere fast here, so need to get it out of their own end first. Kenny-Dowall takes the last 25 out from his own line and Pearce thumps it down the ground, with Moylan knocking it backwards, then being stopped 20 short of halfway. 70 metres, 80 seconds. Knights 14 Sharks 8
Scott Pryde
Expert
78' - The Sharks start this set from 45 out and Moylan takes it right, steps away from Fitzgibbon and then goes left, passing back to Townsend who is pulled down. Gallen up the middle third with the next, then they go left from Fifita, across to Morris and he is tackled as well there. Three plays left from 20 out and they go right from Townsend to Johnson and Dugan before Katoa switches across to the left, Townsend again and then Capewell is tackled. Two to go now, with Townsend showing, finding Johnson and it's Nikora tackled. Final play, and Johnson goes to Katoa who steps, grubbers, and Newcastle come up with it! Knights 14 Sharks 8
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Always liked Edrick - even if he cost the Raiders a GF
Scott Pryde
Expert
76' - Short kick-off, batted back, it's a lottery on halfway and it looks like Sione Mata'utia has knocked it on. Knights 14 Sharks 8
75