It looks like you may be using adblocking software to view this site.
Many features on the site, such as video playback, may not work properly when using adblocking software.
Please whitelist our domain or disable your adblocker to access all features and videos.
It was a hard day at the office for the nib Newcastle Knights as they succumbed to a 40-0 loss to the Penrith Panthers at Pepper Stadium on Friday evening.
The Knights made a number of forced changes before kick off, which included the debut of Joe Wardle.
The Panthers started the show with a flick pass to a leaping Dallin Watene-Zelezniak on the right side to cross over for the first points of the match.
Minutes later it was almost number two from the winger but with a foot over the line, Watene-Zelezniak was disallowed the try.
A 60-metre run from Ken Sio showed some spirit from Newcastle but it didn’t deter the home side as Corey Harawira-Naera broke through the Knights defence to cross the line on debut. Nathan Cleary converted to lead the Knights 10-0.
UK import Joe Wardle made his NRL debut, coming on in the 21st minute before a third from Penrith, via Te Taire Martin to lead 16-0.
Jacob Saifiti was welcomed to the game with a heavy hit and was assisted off the field before Penrith’s Harawira-Naera offloaded to Tyrone Peachey for the home side's fourth try.
Cleary booted the conversion to lead the Knights 22-0 at halftime.
The Panthers’ Cleary opened the scoring account in the second half with a penalty goal out front.
Almost for the Knights, Sam Stone threw the ball to Ken Sio in the right corner, but it was deemed a forward pass while down the other end, Panthers hooker Peter Wallace and winger Dean Whare found space to crash over.
There was no-one to back up Nathan Ross as he made a 60-metre sprint down the field and within five minutes, Cleary struck again for the Panthers to make the final score 40-0.
SUMMARY
Newcastle Knights 0
Penrith Panthers 40 (T: Watene-Zelezniak, Harawira-Naera, Martin, Peachy, Wallace, Whare, Cleary, G: Cleary 5/7, PG: Cleary 1)
| BID ON JAMIE BUHRER'S MATCH WORN JERSEY, WITH MONEY RAISED DONATED TO THE MARK HUGHES FOUNDATION |
