Knights
14
Match Complete
Panthers
16
| K. Ponga |  | 73 | ||
| M. Barnett |  | 72 | ||
| 45 | | N. Cleary | ||
| 44 | | I. Yeo | ||
| 35 | | N. Cleary | ||
| 34 | | F. Winterstein | ||
| K. Ponga | | 29 | ||
| E. Lee | | 27 | ||
| 18 | | J. Fisher-Harris | ||
| K. Ponga |  | 10 |
| 2 | Tries | 3 | ||
| 2 | Conversions | 2 | ||
| 1 | Penalty Goals | 0 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
Match result:
The Panthers have just done enough tonight and get their first two points of the NRL competition.
James Maloney was immense tonight with his defence at key moments proving the difference. Campbell-Gillard and Yeo were big for the Panthers as was Dylan Edwards, who was peppered by Mitchell Pearce all night.
The Knights were close to a win but they just lacked a bit of composure when the match was on the line. The Panthers contained Kalyn Ponga and other coaches will be checking the video to see how.
But, all in all, a deserved win for the Panthers who play the Storm in Bathurst next weekend
Final score
Newcastle Knights 14
Penrith Panthers 16
Match preview:
Round 2 of the NRL season continues this Saturday evening as the Newcastle Knights take on the Penrith Panthers at McDonald Jones Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 5:30pm AEDT.
There was a fair bit of hype around Nathan Brown’s Knights team leading into the 2019 season and they got the best possible start with a 14-8 win over Cronulla.
It certainly wasn’t pretty but it was a gritty win over a team that prides itself on sometimes winning ugly. With another home game this weekend, the Knights have a good chance for back to back wins to start the season.
The Knights only have 1 change to their team, with Herman Ese’ese replacing the injured Daniel Saifiti.
When the Panthers started to fight back from their 14-0 deficit to the Eels last weekend, Parramatta fans started feeling physically ill while Penrith fans were getting ready for another epic come from behind win.
When Michael Jennings scored with just a few minutes left, it became clear that there was to be no miracle comeback this time around.
Starting the premiership as one of the favourites, the Panthers will be keen to get off the mark this weekend. Sione Katoa returns from concussion at hooker, with Wayde Egan moving to the bench and Jarome Luai out of the 17. Frank Winterstein replaces Tyrell Fuimaono on the interchange and Reagan Campbell-Gillard has been named to start.
Prediction
With scandal surrounding the Panthers in the preseason and a lacklustre performance in the first round, Ivan Cleary will be keen to silence the critics.
The Panthers won’t have it easy against a Newcastle team that will be keen to build on its first-round success.
I think that a packed out McDonald Jones Stadium will be enough to get the Knights home – just.
Newcastle Knights by 2.
When: 5.30pm AEDT
Where: McDonald Jones Stadium
TV: Fox League
Online: NRL Live, Foxtel app or Foxtel now
Betting: Newcastle Knights: $1.76, Penrith Panthers $2.05
Newcastle Knights
1 Connor Watson 2 Edrick Lee 3 Hymel Hunt 4 Jesse Ramien 5 Shaun Kenny-Dowall 6 Kalyn Ponga 7 Mitchell Pearce 8 David Klemmer 9 Danny Levi 10 James Gavet 11 Siona Mata’utia 12 Lachlan Fitzgibbon 13 Tim Glasby.
Interchange: 14 Kurt Mann 15 Aidan Guerra 16 Mitchell Barnett 17 Herman Ese’ese.
Penrith Panthers
1 Dylan Edwards 2 Josh Mansour 3 Dean Whare 4 Waqa Blake 5 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 6 James Maloney 7 Nathan Cleary 8 James Tamou 9 Sione Katoa 10 Reagan Campbell-Gillard 11 James Fisher-Harris 12 Isaah Yeo 13 Hame Sele.
Interchange: 14 Wayde Egan 15 Frank Winterstein 16 Moses Leota 17 Jack Hetherington.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Would someone like to explain to me how Winterstein's try was allowed? When MWZ palms the ball back he is clearly on the back of and making contact with a person standing well out of bounds. The ball therefore has contact to the ground through the human chain and is clearly out.
Dutski
Roar Guru
Maloney winning a game with his immense defense. What kind a crazy tops turvy world have I found myself in?
David Holden
Roar Guru
Don't go far, Roarers, we are off to Lottoland now as the Sea Eagles take on the Roosters. But, from me, good night
David Holden
Roar Guru
Well, the Panthers have just done enough tonight and get their first 2 points of the NRL competition. James Maloney was immense tonight with his defence at key moments proving the difference. Campbell-Gillard and Yeo were big for the Panthers as was Dylan Edwards, who was peppered by Mitchell Pearce all night. The Knights were close to a win but they just lacked a bit of composure when the match was on the line. The Panthers contained Kalyn Ponga and other coaches will be checking the video to see how. But, all in all, a deserved win for the Panthers who play the Storm in Bathurst next weekend
David Holden
Roar Guru
FT' Panthers maintain possession and its full time. Panthers have won 16-14 Knights 14 Panthers 16
David Holden
Roar Guru
79' Guerra gets the Knights moving. Short side play from the Knights but its a forward pass and the Panthers should get home in this. Knights 14 Panthers 16
David Holden
Roar Guru
78' Short drop out taken by Maloney. Yeo almost scores. Whare knocks on and Knights have one last chance. Knights 14 Panthers 16
David Holden
Roar Guru
77' Maloney puts Yeo through half gap. Egan puts kick into ingoal and Ponga forces it dead Knights 14 Panthers 16
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
Gavet is a wild player with way too many errors and ill-discipline in his game. That could have cost the Knights any chance to win this one.
David Holden
Roar Guru
75' Great defence from Knights before backline play gets them to the 40m. Poor kick from Cleary there and Knights start the set on thier 40m. Gavet has knocked on and Panthers have the feed Knights 14 Panthers 16
David Holden
Roar Guru
74' Klemmer met by some big defence. Barnett makes another good run. Pearce goes high again and taken by Edwards Knights 14 Panthers 16
73
72
David Holden
Roar Guru
74' Ponga's conversion is good and we have a great finish coming up Knights 14 Panthers 16
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
Here we go. Barnett scores next to the posts and it is a 2 point ball game with 7 mins to go!
David Holden
Roar Guru
73' Pearce passes to Barnett on the fly and he manages to crash over next to the posts. Great TRY Knights 12 Panthers 16
David Holden
Roar Guru
72' Gavet goes very close. Here's another penalty. Three in a row Knights 8 Panthers 16
David Holden
Roar Guru
71' Ponga almost gets through a gap. Knights get a penalty for offside. They take tap Knights 8 Panthers 16
David Holden
Roar Guru
69' Panthers still throwing the footy around before Whare's kick goes dead Knights 8 Panthers 16
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
Two big back to back plays from Maloney have killed any chance for the Knights to come back late. Edrick Lee had to score then for the Knights to have a realistic chance. Bad call about giving the Panthers the ball. The ball was stripped in the act of scoring.