FINAL SCORE: Knights 42-18 Dragons
The nib Newcastle Knights have thrashed the Dragons 42-18 at McDonald Jones Stadium, reclaiming the coveted Alex McKinnon Cup.
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FULL-TIME | This one's for the Old Boys, our Women in League, and Alex.
79' | A KP chip for To'a goes out on the full, and that'll just about do us here!
78' | SET RESTART for the Knights.
77' | ANOTHER ERROR from the Dragons early in the count. That one's a coach killer!
77' | KP saves a certain try!! Great stuff at the back, knocking down Dufty's final pass.
76' | Lomax adds the extras from in front. Knights 42-18 Dragons
75' | Zac Lomax hits straight back for the Red V. Knights 42-16 Dragons
73' | Shibasaki drops one over the line!! SO close to a double
72' | SET RESTART for the Knights!
72' | Lino maintains his perfect record! Knights 42-12 Dragons
70' | THE BOY JUST CAN'T STOP SCORING!! Another double to Enari Tuala, taking his 2020 tally to 11! Knights 40-12 Dragons
69' | ERROR, with the Dragons again making a mistake coming out of trouble.
68' | Another positive set from the Knights following the restart, forcing the Dragons back down their end.
67' | Matt Dufty has knocked the ball on over the line! A certain try bombed.
66' | DROP OUT, with Zac Lomax forcing To'a in goal.
65' | Massive shoutout to the 6659 fans in at McDonald Jones today! Atmosphere has been electric.
65' | A forward pass from Hymel Hunt sees a turnover called.
63' | It's another dropped ball by the Dragons, this time on the Knights 40.
63' | PENALTY Dragons for a mid-air tackle on Corey Norman.
61' | ERROR, with the Dragons spilling the ball on their own line. Another big chance for Newcastle.
59' | Lomax adds the extras. Knights 36-12 Dragons
58' | Corey Norman hits back for the Dragons. Knights 36-10 Dragons.
56' | Lino knocks on, and the Dragons are off the hook.
55' | It'll be another set here for Newcastle.
54' | PENALTY Knights, with Jordan Pereira offside after Matt Dufty dropped a bomb. Another chance for the Knights here.
53' | Lino raises the flags from in front! Knights 36-6 Dragons
52' | Too big, too fast, too strong!! J-Saf gets over!! Knights 34-6 Dragons
50' | PENALTY Knights, with the Dragons caught offside.
49' | I was wrong. It's no try. Damn.
49' | I think we have a try! The Ref doesn't agree with me. We'll see about this one!
48' | An attempted intercept from Ramsey will result in the Knights getting another set of six, albeit from well inside their own half.
47' | Another strong set from Newcastle ending in the Dragons corner
45' | Current prognosis is a hip flexor injury for Fitzgibbon. No word on seriousness yet.
45' | So close! Starford To'a is bundled into touch into row three after some quick hands created a chance.
43' | ERROR, with Corey Norman dropping the ball. Big chance for the Knights.
43' | Meanwhile, the Knights have forced the Dragons deep into their own corner.
42' | Lachlan Fitzgibbon has left the field injured. Not sure what the problem is, but we'll keep you updated.
41' | A solid opening set from Newcastle, working the ball into Dragons territory. The Red V are now with it around the halfway line.
40' | We're back underway!
HALF-TIME HIGHLIGHTS | Well, what a half that was! Enjoy a few of the highlights so far below!
Daniel Saifiti reaches out
Ponga puts Guerra over
Shibasaki somehow manages to get the ball to the line
Randall opens the Dragons up and Ponga dives over
HALF-TIME | A first to savour at McDonald Jones!
40' | Lino again makes no mistake! Knights 30-6 Dragons.
39' | IT'S TEN TRIES FOR ENARI TUALA!! The centre got over absolutely untouched after a neat pass from Mitch Pearce. Knights 28-6 Dragons
38' | ERROR, with the Dragons losing it in their own red zone.
37' | Lomax adds the extras. Knights 24-6 Dragons.
36' | Zac Lomax nabs one back for the Dragons. Knights 24-4 Dragons
36' | ERROR, with Shibasaki dropping the ball. More defending coming up for Newcastle.
35' | Ponga covers a Dufty grubber AND stays in the field of play!
34' | DROP OUT, with Shibasaki again forced in goal.
33' | The Dragons have worked their way back into the arm-wrestle here, and again find themselves on the attack.
32' | Enari Tuala does well to take a Hunt bomb, and the Knights are off the hook. They never looked like conceding a try there.
31' | Challenge is successful, and it's another set for the Dragons.
31' | CAPTAIN'S CHALLENGE, with Norman challenging a knock-on call.
30' | PENALTY Dragons, with Lino caught offside.
29' | DROP OUT. A good kick sees Shibasaki taken in his own in goal. Bit of defence coming for the Knights now.
28' | A great set ends with a great kick from Pearce, splitting the fullback and winger and grassing Pereira inside his own ten.
26' | Love you Lino! No mistake as always! Knights 24-0 Dragons
25' | D-SAAAAAAAAAFFFFFF YOU MACHINE! Loving every second of this one! Knights 22-0 Dragons
24' | AAAAAND the kick off goes out on the full. Call this first half a red and blue-wash!
24' | Mason Lino raises the flags!! Knights 18-0 Dragons
22' | TRYTRYTRTRYTRYTRYTRYTYRTRYTRYTRY!!! Guerra gets over of a lovely Ponga short ball. Knights 16-0 Dragons
22' | SET RESTART for the Knights, as the Newcastle chant rings around the stadium.
21' | DROP OUT. A good kick from Pearce forces Cody Ramsey dead.
20' | PENALTY Knights, with Tyson Frizell pinged for an escort.
19' | ERROR, with the Dragons spilling it on the half-way line.
18' | Dufty takes a Pearce kick in the in-goal, and makes solid metres off the ensuing re-start. Dragons attacking now.
16' | BEN HUNT KICKS OUT ON THE FULL! Another attacking set here for the Knights!
15' | The Knights continue to defend well, and the Knights will now work it away from their own end.
14' | ERROR, with Mitch Barnett losing possession on the halfway line.
13' | Matt Dufty finds the dead-ball line with his grubber, and the Knights get away with one. Dragons looking threatening down our end.
12' | PENALTY DRAGONS, with Shibasaki called offside.
11' | Pearce loses it on the last, and the pressure valve is released.
10' | JORDAN PERAIRA DROPS A KICK! Knights are going right back on the attack.
9' | Lino makes no mistake! Great start. Knights 12-0 Dragons
9' | IT'S GREEEEEEEN LIGHTS!! Beauty Beauty! Knights 10-0 Dragons
9' | Shibasaki goes over!! We have a try, however the bunker will need to have a look at it.
8' | PENALTY, with Ben Hunt pinged for a crusher tackle. Knights on the attack.
7' | Hymel Hunt and Kalyn Ponga come awfully close to colliding when taking a Hunt bomb.
6' | A great set after points with Pearce getting to his kick, finding Dufty on his own 20. Knights right on top here.
6' | And Mason Lino does his thing from in front! Beautiful start, and the crowd here at McDonald Jones are buzzing! Knights 6-0 Dragons
4' | TRYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!! Chris Randall with the bust and KP with the finish! Incredible stuff! Knights 4-0 Dragons
3' | Ben Hunt's grubber kick rolls dead on the last, and the Knights will have a 20m restart and seven tackles.
2' | A forward pass from Mason Lino stifles the Knights attack. It's a shame, the boys were on a real roll early in this one.
1' | A great first set in D for the Knights, forcing Corey Norman to kick from inside his own 30m line.
0' | We're underway at McDonald Jones Stadium! Knights 0-0 Dragons
Sunday 3:55pm: Not long til kick-off Knights fans! This is what we're playing for today - The Alex McKinnon Cup.
Sunday 3:05pm: LATE MAIL | Adam O'Brien has confirmed the 17 for today's game.
Tautau Moga and Josh King come out of the squad, leaving the remainder of the team unchanged as per yesterday's squad update.
KNIGHTS: 1. Kalyn Ponga, 22. Gehamat Shibasaki, 3. Enari Tuala, 4. Hymel Hunt, 5. Starford To'a, 19. Mason Lino, 7. Mitchell Pearce, 8. David Klemmer, 9. Chris Randall, 10. Daniel Saifiti, 11. Lachlan Fitzgibbon, 12. Aidan Guerra, 13. Mitch Barnett. Interchange: 14. Phoenix Crossland, 15. Jacob Saifiti, 16. Herman Ese'ese, 17. Sione Mata'utia
DRAGONS: 1. Matt Dufty, 2. Jordan Pereira, 20. Braden Williame, 4. Zac Lomax, 5. Cody Ramsey, 6. Corey Norman, 9. Ben Hunt, 8. Kaide Ellis, 13. Cameron McInnes, 10. Paul Vaughan, 11. Tyson Frizell, 14. Tariq Sims, 12. Jackson Ford. Interchange: 15. Josh Kerr, 16. Blake Lawrie, 17. Max Feagai, 19. Tyrell Fuimaono.
Sunday 2:45pm: Oh, and one of the greatest Old Boys of all time is here too...
Sunday 2:40pm: Our team has arrived as one.
Sunday 1:26pm: Back home, hopefully not for the last time this year!
Sunday 1:12pm: GAME-DAY | Let'sssss go!
Saturday 4:05pm: SQUAD UPDATE | Tex Hoy is a late scratching from Sunday’s Round 19 match against the Dragons.
Named in the No.6 for the nib Newcastle Knights, Hoy picked up a hamstring twinge during the Club’s final training run on Saturday.
As a result, he will miss the McDonald Jones Stadium clash.
Mason Lino slots back into the halves in Hoy’s place.
Pasami Saulo also comes out of the squad, leaving Tautau Moga and Josh King on the extended bench.
TEAM LIST: 1. Kalyn Ponga, 22. Gehamat Shibasaki, 3. Enari Tuala, 4. Hymel Hunt, 5. Starford To'a, 19. Mason Lino, 7. Mitchell Pearce, 8. David Klemmer, 9. Chris Randall, 10. Daniel Saifiti, 11. Lachlan Fitzgibbon, 12. Aidan Guerra, 13. Mitch Barnett. Interchange: 14. Phoenix Crossland, 15. Jacob Saifiti, 16. Herman Ese'ese, 17. Sione Mata'utia, 18. Josh King, 21. Tautau Moga.
Saturday 10:00am: The boss has his say ahead of our clash with the Dragons.
AOB: Hoy chance, missing Mann, honouring the past
Saturday 9:00am: It's been a massive week on the training oval, with the Boys doing everything to get the W for the Old Boys and Women in League Round clash! View the gallery below or click here if you're on the app.
Saturday 9:00am: Find out which Old Boys our players look up to!
Who is your favourite Old Boy?
Saturday 9:00am: Who are the special ladies in our players lives? Find out below!
The special ladies driving our Knights
Saturday 9:00am: The Great Man runs his eye over tomorrow's game.
Joey's Rd 19 Preview: Strike weapons, Hoy the six fix
Saturday 9:00am: It's also Women in League Round! Meet the amazing ladies who help make our Club great.
Meet some of our Women in League
Saturday 9:00am: It's the biggest day of the year for our Club: Old Boys Day.
An ode to 2020 from our Old Boys
Saturday 9:00am: Adam O'Brien and Dean Young named their 21-man squads on Tuesday afternoon, and there's some massive changes to our team!
KNIGHTS: 1. Kalyn Ponga, 22. Gehamat Shibasaki, 3. Enari Tuala, 4. Hymel Hunt, 5. Starford To'a, 6. Tex Hoy, 7. Mitchell Pearce, 8. David Klemmer, 9. Chris Randall, 10. Daniel Saifiti, 11. Lachlan Fitzgibbon, 12. Aidan Guerra, 13. Mitch Barnett. Interchange: 14. Phoenix Crossland, 15. Jacob Saifiti, 16. Herman Ese'ese, 17. Sione Mata'utia, 18. Josh King, 19. Mason Lino, 20. Pasami Saulo, 21. Tautau Moga.
DRAGONS: 1. Matt Dufty, 2. Jordan Pereira, 3. Euan Aitken, 4. Zac Lomax, 5. Cody Ramsey, 6. Corey Norman, 7. Adam Clune, 8. Kaide Ellis, 9. Ben Hunt, 10. Paul Vaughan, 11. Tyson Frizell, 12. Jackson Ford, 13. Cameron McInnes (c). Interchange: 14. Tariq Sims, 15. Josh Kerr, 16. Blake Lawrie, 17. Max Feagai, 18. Eddie Blacker, 19. Tyrell Fuimaono, 20. Brayden Wiliame, 21. Jayden Sullivan
Saturday 9:00am: Welcome to our official Game-Day Blog for our massive Round 19 clash with the St George Illawarra Dragons at McDonald Jones Stadium. Check back here for all the latest both today and on game-day, including live scores, blow by blow updates, breaking news, squad reduction, late mail, behind the scenes clips, photos and more.
