Knights
42
Match Complete
Cowboys
6
| M. Lino |  | 74 | ||
| M. Lino |  | 72 | ||
| M. Lino | | 67 | ||
| S. Mata'utia | | 66 | ||
| M. Lino | | 62 | ||
| M. Barnett | | 60 | ||
| M. Lino | | 59 | ||
| M. Pearce | | 57 | ||
| M. Lino | | 39 | ||
| K. Ponga | | 38 | ||
| 28 | | J. Kahu | ||
| 27 | | J. Clifford | ||
| M. Lino | | 9 | ||
| M. Pearce | | 7 | ||
| M. Lino | | 7 | ||
| K. Ponga | | 6 |
| 7 | Tries | 1 | ||
| 7 | Conversions | 1 | ||
| 0 | Penalty Goals | 0 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
Match result:
The Newcastle Knights have come away with their equal-biggest victory over the North Queensland Cowboys by 36 points at McDonald Jones Stadium.
The Knights, who snapped a six-match losing streak in the process of winning the game, were dominant almost from start to finish.
A Jake Clifford try on the back of a mountain of Cowboys possession in the first half gave them some life, but their attack was poor and defence non-existent at times as Mitchell Pearce and Kalyn Ponga enjoyed a field day with the ball in hand.
Ponga and Pearce both had try-scoring doubles, but the writing was on the wall for the Cowboys after a pair of tries in the first ten minutes and another on the stroke of halftime, before they bolted away during the second half.
The kicking game of Pearce and Mason Lino was spot on, their forwards dominated the battle for possession and territory, and while not clinical for the entire game, the home side did more than enough to grab a big win which keeps their season and pursuit of finals footy alive.
Final score
Knights 42
Cowboys 6
Match preview:
The Newcastle Knights will need something of a miracle to play finals footy, and it must start with a big win over the struggling, understrength North Queensland Cowboys on Saturday afternoon. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 3pm (AEST)
There is no sugar coating just how bad the last eight weeks have been for the Knights. They have lost seven of those games, including all of their last six, and shockingly poor performances against Parramatta and Manly in the last fortnight have all but sunk their season.
They find themselves four points out of the eight, and while four wins from four in the last month of the season could buy them access to the finals, even that would take other results going their way.
Still, it’s gotten to the point where Newcastle need to give their loyal fans something to cheer about, and the situation is ripe for an ambush-style situation on Saturday.
The Cowboys arrive in the Hunter with an ordinary record at the venue, a shocking season under their belt, finals chances gone and two of their best forwards on the sideline.
They were involved in one of the worst games of the season against the Brisbane Broncos last weekend, and now will be without Josh McGuire and Jason Taumalolo for the trip to the Hunter.
Even when they have dominated the game in terms of possession and territory, they have often struggled to put the pieces together in attack, so spending more time on the back foot will only make it worse.
Newcastle’s forwards haven’t been anywhere near their best, however, they did hold their own last week at Parramatta, so if they can do that and capitalise on some ordinary defence, then it could be showtime for Kalyn Ponga and Mitchell Pearce to guide their side back into a winning frame of mine.
And it has to be.
Prediction
The Cowboys are without their two main forwards, and were struggling when they did have possession and territory. The Knights should snap their losing streak in a big way.
Knights by 22.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of this match from 3pm (AEST) and don’t forget to get involved by adding a comment in the section below.
Game information
Kick-off: 3pm (AEST)
Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
TV: Live, Fox League 502
Online: Live, Foxtel App, Foxtel Now, Kayo Sports, NRL Digital Pass
Betting: Knights $1.36, Cowboys $3.05
Overall record: Played 37, Knights 19, Cowboys 18
Last meeting: Round 20, 2018, Cowboys 20 defeat Knights 18 at 1300 Smiles Stadium, Townsville
Last five: Cowboys 4, Knights 1
Record at venue: Played 18, Cowboys 12, Knights 6
Referees: Grant Atkins, Phil Henderson
Newcastle Knights
1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Kurt Mann 3. Hymel Hunt 4. Tautau Moga 5. Shaun Kenny-Dowall 6. Mason Lino 7. Mitchell Pearce 8. David Klemmer 9. Connor Watson 10. Daniel Saifiti 11. Lachlan Fitzgibbon 12. Mitchell Barnett 13. Josh King
Interchange: 14. Jacob Saifiti 15. Herman Ese’ese 16. Sione Mata’utia 17. Aidan Guerra 20. Jirah Momoisea 21. Danny Levi
North Queensland Cowboys
1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Coen Hess 4. Tom Opacic 5. Jordan Kahu 6. Michael Morgan 7. Jake Clifford 8. Matt Scott 9. Jake Granville 10. Jordan McLean 11. Gavin Cooper 12. Shane Wright 13. Jason Taumalolo
Interchange: 14. Reuben Cotter 15. John Asiata 16. Scott Bolton 17. Francis Molo 18. Peter Hola 20. Corey Jensen 21. Murray Taulagi
Wayne Turner
Guest
So, when's Paul Green getting sacked?
Emcie
Roar Guru
Nah, got nothing against the Knights, just think some of the coverage is over the top. Probably doesn't help that my team's copping critiscism every week for everything and anything while others under them on the ladder are getting a free pass despite having less excuses and an easier run. It probably sounds like I don't like Ponga or Hunt either, but it's just the coverage around them that gets to me.
The Barry
Roar Guru
That might be better than wile e coyote and Daffy Duck they’ve got playing for them at the moment...
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Knights stay alive and for the Cows, when you are down it's hard to see the light..
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me on The Roar this afternoon for our live coverage of the 2019 NRL season. Hopefully you enjoyed the call of this game between Newcastle and the Cowboys. I'll be back at 7:30pm (AEST) for Game 2 of Australia and Canada in the basketball, however the NRL continues shortly with Melbourne and Canberra, followed by Canterbury and South Sydney. Daniel Szabo and John Davidson will be in the chair for those games. You can also check out the Bledisloe Cup, AFL and Ashes on site this evening in a huge night of sport. Bye for now, and enjoy the rest of your evening.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
I always get the feeling you don’t like the Knights Emcie . Did a guy from Newcastle steal your girl once.?
Rob
Guest
What is Green attempting to achieve picking 30+ players who’s contract are finishing this year?
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Glad that’s over . Not much to say really but in one way I am pleased. If we put up the ‘ valiant defeat ‘ it makes it too easy to sweep this season under the carpet . The floggings will at least focus the powers that be on how poor some of our players and coaching staff are.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts on the game Roarers?
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME The Newcastle Knights have come away with their equal-biggest victory over the North Queensland Cowboys by 36 points at McDonald Jones Stadium. The Knights, who snapped a six-match losing streak in the process of winning the game, were dominant almost from start to finish. A Jake Clifford try on the back of a mountain of Cowboys possession in the first half gave them some life, but their attack was poor and defence non-existent at times as Mitchell Pearce and Kalyn Ponga enjoyed a field day with the ball in hand. Ponga and Pearce both had try-scoring doubles, but the writing was on the wall for the Cowboys after a pair of tries in the first ten minutes and another on the stroke of halftime, before they bolted away during the second half. The kicking game of Pearce and Mason Lino was spot on, their forwards dominated the battle for possession and territory, and while not clinical for the entire game, the home side did more than enough to grab a big win which keeps their season and pursuit of finals footy alive. Knights 42 Cowboys 6
Emcie
Roar Guru
Well, you have to hand it to the Knights, they're a much better side against the bottom four
Tom G
Roar Rookie
My thinking on the forwards was with Scott retiring and Cooper getting close they provide pretty big holes to fill. They also need to be less reliant on JT13 before they ruin him from overwork. McLean seems handy enough but not really a pack leader. You’re definitely going to need a new coach though, Greens lost it. Clifford is still quite young and may get much better. Hess in the backs is lunacy, he has a turning circle bigger than the USS Enterprise and is MIA in defence
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
Mercifully the rout is over. Commiserations jimmmy and the rest of the Cowboys faithfull. Celebrate Knights fans your team is now in 9th place and unlike the two teams coming 7th and 8th the Knights have a positive points differential.
MarkD
Guest
Spot on!
MarkD
Guest
It was more the re signing of Coote that cost the cows Ponga.
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME The Knights with one last chance to put points on the board then. Ponga on the left, then King offloads to Peace who throws a long ball to Mata'utia and he is stopped. Lino exploring now, but he is held, knocks on and that'll be the end of that. Knights 42 Cowboys 6
Scott Pryde
Expert
79' - Knights with a penalty just short of halfway. Knights 42 Cowboys 6
Scott Pryde
Expert
78' - The Cowboys look lost here. Grubber on the last, and the deflection from Fitzgibbon to Pearce is a good bit of luck for the Knights. Knights 42 Cowboys 6
Scott Pryde
Expert
77' - The Knights only need one more try for their biggest ever win over the Cowboys, but they are starting to wind down now. Good set and Pearce rolls the kick over the sideline. Knights 42 Cowboys 6
Scott Pryde
Expert
76' - The Knights now up to shut down Feldt and Kahu, before Molo is stopped. Cotter a good run out of dummy half and he offloads to Clifford who makes it up to halfway on the fifth. Final play, Morgan bombs down the ground, and Hunt brings it back. Knights 42 Cowboys 6