The Newcastle Knights put on a vintage performance at Hunter Stadium in Heritage Round, beating the Gold Coast Titans 30-2 despite finishing the game with 15 men.
Jarrod Mullen was a big contributor to the scoreline, notching several try-assists with his classy kicking game and also grabbing a try of his own in the second half.
With Sione Mata'utia failing to recover adequately from the concussion he suffered last round, Jake Mamo secured a start on the wing and James McManus shifted into the centres. Chris Houston was also a late inclusion in his return from hand surgery while Clint Newton took Joe Tapine's place on the bench.
The Titans registered first points when a penalty conceded by Kade Snowden on the ten metre line was converted into two points by Daniel Mortimer.
Things got worse for the Knights in the 14th minute when hooker Tyler Randell had to be helped from the field with concussion.
Four minutes later fortunes seemed to improve for the Novocastrians when Korbin Sims was the first to ground a deflected grubber from Tyrone Roberts in-goal, but the referee ruled offside.
There was no stopping the Knights in the 23rd minute though when Jarrod Mullen placed a teasing high ball that fell directly beneath the uprights.
Kurt Gidley did well to beat his opposite number to score, and three minutes later Korbin Sims was again in the thick of things when he bulldozed his way over.
While he lost the ball diving over the line, Mamo was the first to react and quickly grounded it in-goal. Roberts converted both tries, pushing the Knights' lead to 12-2.
With eight minutes to play in the first half Beau Scott earned his side a penalty two metres from the Titans' line. Tariq Sims took full advantage, barging his way over to score his first try at Hunter Stadium two minutes later.
Roberts added another two points seconds before half time when Dave Fa'alogo was fouled, pushing the score to 20-2.
The red and blues kept up the intensity early in the second half despite losing Dane Gagai to illness, McManus slipping through the defensive line in the 45th minute to run thirty metres and feed Mullen for his first try of 2015.
Roberts' attempted conversion ricocheted off an upright, but ten minutes later Danny Levi caught his markers off guard when he drove his way over the line from dummy-half.
With 20 minutes to play Snowden showed up in the centres, throwing a flick-pass to Akuila Uate who strolled over in the right corner. The referee ruled obstruction in the build-up though, denying a try that would have put Snowden in all the highlight reels.
While the Knights continued to push for more points, the final score remained 30-2 to give the red and blues a massive win.
The Newcastle Knights put on a vintage performance at Hunter Stadium in Heritage Round, beating the Gold Coast Titans 30-2 despite finishing the game with 15 men.
Jarrod Mullen was a big contributor to the scoreline, notching several try-assists with his classy kicking game and also grabbing a try of his own in the second half.
With Sione Mata'utia failing to recover adequately from the concussion he suffered last round, Jake Mamo secured a start on the wing and James McManus shifted into the centres. Chris Houston was also a late inclusion in his return from hand surgery while Clint Newton took Joe Tapine's place on the bench.
The Titans registered first points when a penalty conceded by Kade Snowden on the ten metre line was converted into two points by Daniel Mortimer.
Things got worse for the Knights in the 14th minute when hooker Tyler Randell had to be helped from the field with concussion.
Four minutes later fortunes seemed to improve for the Novocastrians when Korbin Sims was the first to ground a deflected grubber from Tyrone Roberts in-goal, but the referee ruled offside.
There was no stopping the Knights in the 23rd minute though when Jarrod Mullen placed a teasing high ball that fell directly beneath the uprights.
Kurt Gidley did well to beat his opposite number to score, and three minutes later Korbin Sims was again in the thick of things when he bulldozed his way over.
While he lost the ball diving over the line, Mamo was the first to react and quickly grounded it in-goal. Roberts converted both tries, pushing the Knights' lead to 12-2.
With eight minutes to play in the first half Beau Scott earned his side a penalty two metres from the Titans' line. Tariq Sims took full advantage, barging his way over to score his first try at Hunter Stadium two minutes later.
Roberts added another two points seconds before half time when Dave Fa'alogo was fouled, pushing the score to 20-2.
The red and blues kept up the intensity early in the second half despite losing Dane Gagai to illness, McManus slipping through the defensive line in the 45th minute to run thirty metres and feed Mullen for his first try of 2015.
Roberts' attempted conversion ricocheted off an upright, but ten minutes later Danny Levi caught his markers off guard when he drove his way over the line from dummy-half.
With 20 minutes to play Snowden showed up in the centres, throwing a flick-pass to Akuila Uate who strolled over in the right corner. The referee ruled obstruction in the build-up though, denying a try that would have put Snowden in all the highlight reels.
While the Knights continued to push for more points, the final score remained 30-2 to give the red and blues a massive win.
SUMMARY
Newcastle Knights 30 (T: Gidley, Mamo, T Sims, Mullen, Levi, G: Roberts 5/6)
Gold Coast Titans 2 (P: Mortimer 1/1)
