The NYC Newcastle Knights trounced the Melbourne Storm 26-18 at AAMI Park on Monday evening.
Despite a late surge from the home side, the Knights hung on to record a well deserved win and keep their slim hopes of finals football alive.
The young Knights didn't get off to the best start with back-rower Bradie Smith dropping the ball in the first minute, but the Storm weren't able to capitalise in the following set.
First points were scored in the eighth minute when chief playmaker Brock Lamb put Jack Kelly through for his first NYC try.
Lamb added the extras from in front, but five minutes later the home side bounced back when Tony Tumusa broke through the line to give Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad an easy try.
With the scores even once more, it wasn't until the 24th minute that the Knights crossed over again, this time via Fuaimamao Uta following an impressive 40 metre run.
Ten minutes later the red and blues doubled their lead, imposing forward Daniel Saifiti bulldozing his way over on the left edge.
15 minutes into the second half the Knights furthered their lead via fullback Bryce Donovan, who collected another clever ball from Lamb. Lamb missed his attempted conversion, but the Knights still led 22-6.
Soon after Melbourne's Nicoll-Klokstad made it a brace when he crashed over the line, and then Junior Kirisome followed suit with a try of his own to narrow the margin to eight points.
With six minutes left on the clock Jacob Gagai just about ran the length of the field to score and settle his side's nerves, but the Storm again bounced back via Josh Cullen-Minhinnick to push the final score to 26-18.
SUMMARY
Newcastle Knights 26 (T: Kelly, Uta, D Saifiti, Donovan, Gagai; G Lamb 3/5)
Melbourne Storm 18 (T: Nicoll-Klokstad 2, Kirisome, Cullen-Minhinnick; G: Mason 1/4)
TEAM
Donovan, Gagai, Birch, Uta, Robson, Lamb, Cogger, King, Kelly, D Saifiti, Smith, Faitotua, B Stone. Bench: Fepuleai, S Stone, Starling, Jones.
