Knights
38
Match Complete
Sharks
10
| M. Lino |  | 79 | ||
| J. King |  | 78 | ||
| M. Lino | | 71 | ||
| K. Ponga | | 69 | ||
| L. Fitzgibbon | | 66 | ||
| 57 | | B. Goodwin | ||
| 56 | | C. Tracey | ||
| M. Lino | | 34 | ||
| K. Ponga | | 32 | ||
| M. Lino |  | 21 | ||
| M. Lino | | 18 | ||
| S. To'a | | 17 | ||
| K. Ponga | | 13 | ||
| S. To'a | | 9 | ||
| 5 | | R. Mulitalo |
| 7 | Tries | 2 | ||
| 4 | Conversions | 1 | ||
| 1 | Penalty Goals | 0 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
The Newcastle Knights try to bounce back from an embarrassing performance, when they host a Cronulla Sharks side looking to string wins together. Join The Roar for live scores from 6:00pm (AEST)
The Knights were humbled in Tamworth by the New Zealand Warriors last start, with a disgusted Mitchell Pearce commenting on Fox post-match that they “got what they deserved”.
Cronulla put a poor performance against the Panthers behind them with a convincing victory over the Cowboys 28-12. It was an improved defensive performance from John Morris’s team, who had held some frank team discussions in a bid to plug their porous defence.
The Knights may well have had some crisis-talks of their own during the week, after conceding an avalanche of second-half points in Tamworth to a side they were expected to beat.
For the Sharks, the win over the Cowboys will mean little if they can’t back it up with another solid showing. Cronulla hasn’t won a single game against top-eight opposition all year, and will be desperate to do so before the start of the finals.
Game information
Kick-off: 6pm (AEST)
Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
TV: Fox Sports
Live stream: Kayo Sports, Foxtel, NRL Live Pass
Odds: Knights $1.72, Sharks $2.15
Teams
Knights
1. Kalyn Ponga, 2. Starford To’a, 3. Enari Tuala, 4. Gehamat Shibasaki, 5. Hymel Hunt, 6. Mason Lino, 7. Mitchell Pearce, 8. David Klemmer, 9. Kurt Mann, 10. Jacob Saifiti, 11. Lachlan Fitzgibbon, 12. Aidan Guerra, 13. Mitchell Barnett
Bench/Reserves: 14. Phoenix Crossland, 15. Herman Ese’ese, 16. Josh King, 17. Brodie Jones, 18. Tex Hoy, 19. Jirah Momoisea, 20. Tautau Moga, 21. Chris Randall
Sharks
1. Will Kennedy, 2. Sione Katoa, 3. Josh Dugan, 4. Jesse Ramien, 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo, 6. Braydon Trindall, 7. Chad Townsend, 8. Braden Hamlin-Uele, 9. Blayke Brailey, 10. Aaron Woods, 11. Briton Nikora, 12. Wade Graham, 13. Toby Rudolf
Bench/Reserves: 14. Connor Tracey, 15. Scott Sorensen, 16. Siosifa Talakai, 17. Royce Hunt, 18. Jack Williams, 19. Bryson Goodwin, 20. Teig Walton, 21. Andrew Fifita
Robbo
Guest
issue is Ponga stopped on refs whistle if no whistle he would not have been hit, at least not with head turned away and motion stopped
Nick
Roar Guru
So why are you surprised?
Nick
Roar Guru
That was a send off even in the 70's and 80's, GH. But I'll concede the ref blowing the whistle moments before impact made it unnecessarily worse. Townsend was committed by the time the whistle blew.
Gray-Hand
Roar Rookie
Send offs are pretty rare. A yellow, definitely.
Ash
Guest
What controversy!? It was a shoulder charge, he jumped high, he hit Ponga in the head! Absolutely reckless, deliberate and dangerous and NRL need to stamp this stupid stuff out. My only complaint is that it should've also happened with Heatherington's hit on Marty Taupa'u Off! - any day of the week!
Nunnsy
Guest
The ball was not in play the ref had blown the whistle for ponga to take it back to the mark.
mrl
Roar Rookie
Shouldn’t Ponga be sent off for a voluntary tackle.,he was not even trying to run and break a tackle..it’s like a race horse not trying. Got what he deserved...have the bookies been in his ear!
Kdog
Guest
It was dangerous, and reckless, it was always a sendoff
Adam
Roar Guru
Only just watched it and it was a shocker, deserved a send off 7 days a week
Dogs Boddy
Roar Rookie
Well, well, well. Just got the kids to bed and checked in to find out we got thrashed by the Knights. The Knights!!!! Aren't they supposed to be terrible now?? And Chad Townsend got sent off for a reckless high shoulder charge. I told him getting a haircut like Dugan and Fifita would only end in tears. Congrats to the Red and Blue faithful. I haven't seen the game yet but hopefully this gives you a bit of confidence going into the pointy end. It wouldn't be a finals series if we didn't scrape in by winning the last game of the season. It's the Sharks way. Up Up
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Good point, we'll see in 2 weeks then. :thumbup:
Rob
Guest
Henry P was only in the Bunker tonight. He couldn’t help them.
Nunnsy
Guest
Knight's already beat both south's and the raiders have not played roosters yet.
Robert Haberl
Guest
Why the big surprise from the commentators when Townsend was sent off?!
Rob
Guest
If you jump into contact, with a shoulder charge or swinging arm making contact with the head it’s a no brainer send off decision. Something just tick the required boxes. Didn’t hurt him but is it just as stupid a brain snap as Proctor’s nibble? Probably more dangerous IMO.
WithTheDawn
Roar Rookie
In all fairness, I’d say at least half the teams in the comp fit that general description...
Wannabe
Roar Rookie
yeah mate, just knew from the get go it was going to be the beginning of the end
souvalis
Roar Rookie
The ball goes out on the field from the kick off you get the feeling it’s going to be along long long night.
WithTheDawn
Roar Rookie
Warriors beat Knights by 30. Knights beat Sharks by 26. Warriors to beat Sharks by 56? Only time will tell...
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