Knights barely land a blow as Tigers end seven-game losing run

Wests Tigers have snapped a seven-game losing streak against Newcastle, claiming a resoudning 20-4 victory at a sold-out McDonald Jones Stadium on Sunday. Login or signup to continue reading Missing six of their NRL regulars, Newcastle were up against it from the outset but their lacklustre display in front of 25,960 fans left a lot to be desired. The Tigers led 14-0 at half-time after scoring three tries in the space of 15 minutes down Newcastle's left edge.

The Knights failed to strike a blow in the first half but they didn't help themselves by making several basic mistakes, an error count that finished at 15 overall. Club legend and Nine commentator Andrew Johns labelled Newcastle's defence after one try "insipid", when former Knight Starford To'a strolled through virtually untouched from a scrum. It didn't get much better after the break, several errors limiting Newcastle's time with the ball before they lost Dane Gagai to the sin-bin midway through the second half.



The Tigers lost To'a at the same time after the duo had a scuffle. A penalty goal in the aftermath and Adam Doueihi try soon after pushed the visitor's lead out to a dominant 20 points with a quarter of the game still to play. Fletcher Sharpe scored in the 79 th minute to ensure Newcastle didn't go scoreless for a second consecutive match.

The loss left Newcastle with a 2-3 record and placed 11th heading into next weekend's clash with Cronulla at home. The Tigers jumped to 10th and moved to 3-3 for the year. "Ill-discipline, errors," Knights skipper Kalyn Ponga lamented.

"We've got to be a lot more disciplined." Newcastle had enjoyed the lion's share of the possession early on but it was the Tigers who struck first, winger Sunia Turuva finishing off a play down the right flank in the 20th minute. The Tigers crossed again on the same edge eight minutes later when To'a beat incumbent NSW centre Bradman Best to give his side an 8-0 lead.

Fullback Jahream Bula kicked for himself to score the Tigers' third in the 33rd minute. The Knights finished the half with three repeat sets in attacking range but failed to make the most of it, Kalyn Ponga spilling a stock-standard pass to end their run of ball. Repeat errors in their own half after the break left Newcastle buried at the wrong end of the field, and the Tigers took advantage.

They kicked a penalty goal in the 53rd minute after Gagai and To'a were binned, and then just as Newcastle looked to be gaining some momentum, pounced on a dropped ball to set up Doueihi in the corner. It left Newcastle trailing 20-0 with 20 minutes left to play, but the result was all but assured. Sharpe scored from a kick in the final minute to reduce the deficit.

The victory was the Tigers' first over the Knights since 2021. Max McKinney is a sports reporter with the Newcastle Herald. He previously worked in news, covering mainly local government and transport.

Max mostly reports on the Newcastle Knights, but also covers a mix of local sport. Max McKinney is a sports reporter with the Newcastle Herald. He previously worked in news, covering mainly local government and transport.

Max mostly reports on the Newcastle Knights, but also covers a mix of local sport. Daily Today's top stories curated by our news team. Also includes evening update.

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