NRL.com Wrap: Knights outlast Dragons in Friday night thriller

Late bloomer: Dragons winger Setu Tu made his NRL debut in Las Vegas at the age of 27 and he continues to make every minute count in his first season at the top level. Tu had 22 runs for 198 metres, busted nine tackles and grabbed a late try as the Dragons fought back to almost run down the Knights.

Dylan delivers: With Kalyn Ponga rested, plenty of responsibility fell to Dylan Brown and the Kiwi playmaker delivered big time with 195 run metres, two try assists and six tackle breaks.

80 min: A Hail Mary by the Dragons as Dan Atkinson's bomb bounces into the in-goal where Kyle Flanagan tries to bring the ball to the ground for a try but can't control it. The Knights hang on to win by two points.

78 min: Hamish Stewart is penalised for late contact on the kicker. The Knights elect to turn down two points and stay on the attack but they turn it over.

76 min: Dom Young gets into space and picks up Dylan Brown who is dragged down just short by Jacob Liddle. The Knights' last-tackle play is a poor one by Sandon Smith.

75 min: Jacob Liddle tries to catch a Dan Atkinson bomb but makes the error and the Knights come out of their own end.

70 min: Dan Atkinson goes to the air from 30 metres out, Setu Tu chases hard and manages to tap the ball back to Dylan Egan who gets over in the corner. Val Holmes hits the upright with the conversion attempt. Knights 22-20

64 min: Kyle Flanagan is penalised for going up too early and impeding Fletcher Sharpe on a catch. The Dragons challenge unsuccessfully.

61 min: Luciano Leilua puts Clint Gutherson into space and from there the Dragons go to the right where Dan Atkinson's kick takes a wicked bounce and Fletcher Sharpe can't control it. The ball spills to Setu Tu who strolls over for a try. Val Holmes misses an easy conversion. Knights 22-16

54 min: Bradman Best chases a high ball and can't control the catch but the ball comes down to Dylan Brown who puts in a grubber. Sandon Smith follows through and reaches around behind Setu Tu to ground the ball. No desperation from Tu as he tried to shepherd the ball dead but Smith outsmarted him. Smith converts. Knights 22-12

50 min: Another good kick from Kyle Flanagan from close range but Josh Kerr can't control the catch under the goal posts and the Knights come away.

47 min: Fletcher Sharpe scrambles well to cover up a Dan Atkinson grubber and is tackled in goal. The Knights go short with the dropout and Dom Young claims it.

46 min: Greg Marzhew goes high on Setu Tu and is penalised and placed on report.

43 min: Sandon Smith's kick is brought down right on the goal-line by Bradman Best but the Dragons wrap him up immediately and come out of trouble.

42 min: Hamish Stewart gets a loose offload to Val Holmes is ruled to have knocked on the bouncing ball. The Dragons throw in a captain's challenge but the bunker supports the referee's call.

Couchman class: The Dragons' brothers in arms again worked the house down at McDonald Jones Stadium with Ryan making 81 run metres and 31 tackles while Toby had nine runs for 83 metres and made 19 tackles.

Looking Sharpe: Knights flyer Fletcher Sharpe had an early double inside the first 10 minutes and picked up 117 metres from 12 runs. He also broke five tackles while Dane Gagai had four tackle breaks on the right edge.

Half-time: Both sides completed 17 of 19 sets at 89 per cent and put on two tries each in a tight contest that saw the Dragons go down by 12 before fighting back to draw level courtesy of two tries set up by Kyle Flanagan. Two late penalty goals gave the Knights a four-point lead.

40 min: Dane Gagai again busts the Dragons and picks up Dylan Brown who finds Phoenix Crossland who is dragged down just short by Damien Cook who lays in the ruck. Fletcher Sharpe gets into dummy half and tries to dive over but is pinged for a double movement. Cook is penalised for interfering with Sharpe's attempt to get over the line. Knights penalty. Sandon Smith kicks the goal. Knights 16-12

39 min: The Dragons are penalised for being inside the 10 metres at a set scrum and Sandon Smith knocks over the easy shot at goal. Knights 14-12

33 min: Another try for the Dragons from a Kyle Flanagan kick as the halfback chips in behind Dom Young for Tyrell Sloan to use his explosive speed and touch down for the 50th try of his NRL career. Sloan did a superb job to control the rolling ball at full tilt. Val Holmes converts from wide out. 12-12

25 min: The Dragons are on the board through Val Holmes courtesy of a neat left-footed grubber from Kyle Flanagan. The try is converted by Holmes. Knights 12-6

22 min: A high tackle by Greg Marzhew on Dan Atkinson gives the Dragons the chance to go on the attack.

20 min: Dan Atkinson's launches a spiral kick from his own side of halfway but it is way too long and goes dead. Seven-tackle set Newcastle.

19 min: The Dragons are under siege but Clint Gutherson comes up with a great catch off a high ball.

16 min: Dom Young climbs over Tyrell Sloan to try and tap back a Sandon Smith kick but the ball travels forward.

14 min: Hamish Stewart offloads for Val Holmes but the veteran centre comes up with a cold drop and the Knights start a set 45 metres out.

12 min: Damien Cook darts out of dummy half and grubbers into the in-goal but the kick is too long and the Knights have a seven-tackle set.

11 min: The Knights run the ball on the last but Dylan Brown comes up with an error and the Dragons move into Newcastle territory.

9 min: Dylan Brown goes to the air, Bradman Best takes the catch and unloads for Fletcher Sharpe to make it an early double. Sandon Smith adds the extras. Knights 12-0

6 min: The Knights produce a 60-metre raid down the right with Dane Gagai's flick pass sending Dom Young away before the winger picks up Fletcher Sharpe who sprints away to score. Sandon Smith converts. Knights 6-0

5 min: The sides are trading sets early with no mistakes and the Knights start another set from their own 20m line after allowing a Dan Atkinson kick to bounce and roll into touch.

BREAKING: A blow for the Dragons with centre Moses Suli suffering a back injury in the warm-up. Suli has a hip issue that is bleeding into his back. Mat Feagai will move into the centres and Tyrell Sloan comes in on the wing.

Late Mail

Knights: A host of changes an hour before kick-off with Fletcher Sharpe moving to fullback while Sandon Smith comes in at five-eighth in his return from a calf injury and Blues forward Dylan Lucas is rested. Back-rower Francis Manuleleua has been promoted to the starting side. Star fullback Kalyn Ponga will sit out the match after a taxing Origin contest. Interchange forward Pasami Saulo will miss the clash after fracturing his foot at training this week. Star centre Bradman Best makes his return from a hamstring injury.

Dragons: The Red V will line up 1-19 with no late changes. Winger Christian Tuipulotu will return from a hamstring injury through NSW Cup meaning Setu Tu and Mat Feagai line up as named on the flanks. Luciano Leilua is back in the mix after Jaydn Su'A suffered a pec injury a fortnight ago and is set to come off the interchange. Lyhkan King-Togia dropped off the bench 90 minutes before kick-off.

Numbers Game

• The Knights have won three of their last four games against the Dragons.
• The Dragons have won only one of their last 14 away games.
• Knights second-rower Dylan Lucas has scored six tries in his last five games.
• Dragons winger Setu Tu has scored four tries in his last six games.
• Knights winger Greg Marzhew will make his 100th NRL appearance.