The NYC Newcastle Knights have secured the under 20s Holden Cup minor premiership with a victory after sitting on top of the ladder for most of their stellar 2014 season.
The side accomplished the feat with a 36-26 victory over St George Illawarra Dragons at Hunter Stadium on Sunday.
The fight for the minor premiership was a tight one with the top four teams battling it out in the final rounds of the competition.
But after recent strong wins against the Parramatta Eels and Warriors, the Knights maintained their dominating position coming into the final match against their closest contenders, the Dragons.
The feat is the first time the Knights have won the minor premiership since the competition’s inception in 2008.
The NYC side has been a nursery for a number of the game’s rising stars and has seen three of its under 20 members, Jake Mamo, Joseph Tapine and Sione Mata’utia make their debut.
The side’s talent has also been aptly recognised with four of its players in Danny Levi, Jake Mamo and Sione Mata’utia and Joe Tapine being named in the NYC team of the year along with the team’s coach Mick Crawley.
The Numbers:
Points: 38
Wins: 16
Draws: 2
Losses: 5
Season Overview:
Round 1 Panthers v Knights 22-34
Round 2 Knights v Raiders 34-28
Round 3 Storm v Knight- 0-50
Round 4 Knights v Sharks 56-10
Round 5 Cowboys v Knights 28-48
Round 6 Raiders v Knights 28-48
Round 7 Knights v Broncos 34-34
Round 8 Bulldogs v Knights 18-30
Round 9 Panthers v Knights 40-22
Round 10 Sea Eagles v Knights 40-38
Round 11 BYE
Round 12 Warriors v Knights 34-22
Round 13 Knights v Wests Tigers 22-28
Round 14 Roosters v Knights 24-28
Round 15 Knights v Cowboys 64-16
Round 16 Eels v Knights 16-20
Round 17 BYE
Round 18 Sharks v Eels 22-22
Round 19 Knights v Titans 42-12
Round 20 Knights v Roosers 16-40
Round 21 Rabbitohs v Knights 18-32
Round 22 Knights vStorm 38-0
Round 23 Knights v Warriors 40-34
Round 24 Broncos v Knights 36-16
Round 25 Knights v Eels 34-30
Round 26 Knights v Dragons
