NRL.com Wrap | Knights edge closer to finals with thrilling Canberra win

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Liddle comes up big: Dragons hooker Jacob Liddle played the full 80 minutes and got through a mountain of work in defence, peeling off 56 tackles. Liddle had some nice touches out of dummy half and came up with a line break as the Dragons stunned their more highly fancied rivals.

All the king's men: Dragons skipper Clint Gutherson set the tone with 201 metres form 26 runs to go with seven tackle breaks while young forwards Hamish Stewart (78 run metres and 42 tackles) and Ryan Couchman (148 run metres and 67 tackles) were immense.

Full-time: A stunning upset for the Dragons as they take down the fourth-placed Sharks in front of a pumped-up crowd at their spiritual home Kogarah. Just the third win of the season for the Dragons who remain an outside chance of avoiding the first wooden spoon in joint venture history.

79 min: The Sharks run the ball last and don't get to a kick with Mawene Hiroti shut down by Moses Suli.

77 min: The Dragons go to the right from the scrum and Setu Tu skips to the outside and leaves Mawene Hiroti in his wake to race away for a try. The crowd at Kogarah is in raptures as the Dragons close in on just their third win of the season. Val Holmes converts. Dragons 24-16

77 min: Briton Nikora loses the ball in the ruck and a knock-on is called. The Sharks challenge but the bunker rules Jacob Liddle was only making a tackle. Dragons scrum 40m out.

75 min: Tyrell Sloan makes big metres on the left before the Dragons go quickly to the right where Moses Suli tips it on for Setu Tu whose knee touches the sideline at the same moment he grounds the ball. A desperate cover tackle by Mawene Hiroti is enough to deny Tu. Dragons 18-16

73 min: A poor pass by Nicho Hynes as he floats it over towards Sione Katoa who can't handle the pass.

69 min: The Dragons squander their first opportunity with an extra man when Ryan Couchman comes up with an error 20m out.

68 min: Addin Fonua-Blake is penalised and sent to the sin bin for shoulder contact to the head on Hamish Stewart.

65 min: Jesse Ramien leaves the field with what appears to be a pectoral injury.

64 min: The Dragons are inside the red zone on the back of a Nicho Hynes error but Clint Gutherson throws a forward pass to Tyrell Sloan and the Sharks are off the hook.

63 min: Braden Uele comes off the bench for his first NRL action since Round 4.

61 min: Val Holmes converts the penalty goal. Dragons 18-16

59 min: Kyle Flanagan grubbers, Jesse Ramien impedes Val Holmes on the chase, Dragons penalty. 

58 min: Mawene Hiroti comes up with an error coming out of his own end and the Dragons go on the attack.

57 min: Nicho Hynes plays short to Briton Nikora but the Dragons close the space quickly and the back-rower puts the ball down.

52 min: Braydon Trindall gets an offload away close to the line and Jesse Ramien does brilliantly to pick the ball up off his bootlaces and plunge over for a try. Nicho Hynes converts. 16-16

51 min: Kyle Flanagan is penalised for not being square at marker after he chopped at Nicho Hynes' arm and forced an error but the Dragon is pinged.

50 min: Braydon Trindall goes to the air and Setu Tu comes up with a solid catch. Tu has taken over on the right wing with Mat Feagai leaving the field with a back injury during the first half.

45 min: The Dragons go to the left edge and Hamish Stewart comes up with a sweet offload for Tyrell Sloan to score. Jesse Ramien raced up out of the line and came up empty and the Dragons made him pay. Val Holmes fails to convert. Dragons 16-10

44 min: Jacob Liddle catches Tom Hazelton not square at marker and the Dragons have a relieving penalty.

43 min: The Sharks get a full set from close range but the Dragons hold firm and shut down Mawene Hiroti on the last play.

32 and done: Nicho Hynes' pursuit of Hazem El Masri's record of 35 successful shots at a goal in a row came unstuck in the sixth minute when he failed to convert Sione Katoa's try. El Masri's record has stood since 2003.

Half-time: The Sharks completed 18 of 20 sets at 90 per cent while the Dragons came up with seven errors but the home side hung tough with Clint Gutherson producing a great trysaver and Hamish Stewart showing his class with a special try off a bomb.

40 min: Blayke Brailey tries to slip an offload but the ball goes astray and the Dragons will take a two-point lead to the break.

35 min: A high shot by Nicho Hynes allows the Dragons easy passage out of trouble.

33 min: A crash play by Billy Burns from close range and he gets through four Dragons defenders to plant the ball down next to the posts. Nicho Hynes converts. Dragons 12-10

31 min: Mat Feagai leaves the field with a back injury.

29 min: Jacob Webster is sent into the game by Dean Young for his NRL debut.

25 min: Kyle Flangan goes to the air and Hamish Stewart comes up with an athletic catch above his head and rides the contact from Sharks defenders to reach out and score the Dragons' second try. Val Holmes converts. Dragons 12-4

23 min: Moses Suli makes a meal of a play-the-ball and the Dragons squander the chance that McInnes handed them with his mistake.

22 min: A bad couple of minutes for Cam McInnes as he goes on report for a trip in an earlier play and then comes up with an error in the play-the-ball.

19 min: Nicho Hynes gets over the line and looks certain to score but Clint Gutherson comes up with a trysaver with a ball-and-all tackle that prevents the Sharks No.7 from getting the ball to ground.

18 min: The Sharks go high and the ball bounces off Kyle Flanagan's back and into touch. Sharks scrum.

14 min: The Dragons hit back through Val Holmes courtesy of a well-weighted Lyhkan King-Togia grubber into the in-goal. Holmes converts. Dragons 6-4

12 min: A loose offload by Ronaldo Mulitalo coming out of his own end has the Sharks under pressure 20m out.

8 min: Jacob Liddle's offload puts Tyrell Sloan into space and he chips over the top and Will Kennedy gets back to tidy it up. The Sharks go with a short dropout and Clint Gutherson bizarrely tries to tap it back instead of taking the bouncing ball and the Sharks come up with it.

6 min: Braydon Trindall and Nicho Hynes handle on the right edge before Hynes lobs a pass over for Sione Katoa to cross untouched. The conversion attempt is pushed across the face and Hynes' streak of 32 successful kicks in a row comes to an end. Sharks 4-0

5 min: Blayke Brailey puts in a grubber from close range and the ball rolls into the in-goal where Dylan Egan grounds the ball for a line dropout.

4 min: The Sharks swing to the right where Nicho Hynes' pass is knocked down by Tyrell Sloan to avert danger for the Dragons. 

 

Late Mail

Dragons: The Dragons are 1-17 with no late changes. Emre Guler comes into the starting side in place of Toby Couchman, who has entered the concussion protocols. Kempsey product Jacob Webster will make his NRL debut off the bench after racking up 40 NSW Cup appearances across the past two seasons in the front row. 

Sharks: No late changes for the Sharks. The loss of KL Iro (concussion) and Siosifa Talakai (biceps) sees Mawene Hiroti comes in at centre and Hohepa Puru join the bench. Braden Uele has been added to the interchange as he chases a first NRL appearance since Round 4 while potential debutant Michael Gabrael is also listed on the six-man interchange. 

Numbers Game

• The Dragons upset the Sharks 22-14 at Kogarah in the corresponding round in 2025.
• The Sharks have won 11 of their last 12 games against the Dragons.
• The Dragons have lost four of their last five games at St George Events Jubilee Stadium.
• Sharks halfback Nicho Hynes has succeeded with 32 consecutive attempts at goal.
• Dragons winger Tyrell Sloan has scored six tries in his last six games.

 

Raiders v Knights at GIO Stadium

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Full-time: A crucial win for the Knights as they climb to sixth on the ladder on the back of monster games from Dom Young (203 run metres, 11 tackle breaks, 2 tries) and Francis Manuleleua (153 run metres, 11 tackle breaks).

80 min: The Raiders get the ball back from the kick-off and throw it around to look for a miracle but Kalyn Ponga intercepts a pass and the Knights hang on.

79 min: On the back of another powerhouse run by Francis Manuleleua down the left side, the Raiders go back to the right where Sandon Smith lobs the ball to Dom Young who defies the efforts of three defenders to slam the ball down for his second try. Smith takes every available second before he takes his conversion from touch. The clock is stopped with 15 seconds to play and Smith misses. Knights 30-24

78 min: Ethan Sanders is under pressure on the last tackle and chips the ball over the top where it bounces awkwardly for Kalyn Ponga but the Raiders chasers are ruled offside. Knights penalty.

76 min: Ethan Sanders launches a wicked spiral bomb and Kalyn Ponga comes up with a great catch under pressure.

74 min: A huge moment in the game as Dane Gagai and Corey Horsburgh scuffle and argue just 20 metres out from the Knights tryline. Gagai is penalised by Ashley Klein but the bunker overturns the decision and Horsburgh is sin binned for a slap. The Raiders are down to 12 for the rest of the match.

71 min: The Raiders go to the left edge on the last but Ethan Sanders' tip-on to Ethan Strange goes to ground and the Knights come out of trouble.

70 min: Ethan Sanders grubbers and Kalyn Ponga is forced to knock it dead. The Knights go with a short dropout but Jed Stuart takes it well.

69 min: Dane Gagai loses the ball on first tackle and the Knights are under the pump.

68 min: Corey Horsburgh tries to play the ball too quickly and loses control and the Raiders squander a chance to hit back.

67 min: Dom Young looks to power into the corner but Jed Stuart does a great job to get underneath the Knights winger with Corey Horsburgh also coming back to lend a hand. Young loses control of the ball.

64 min: Joe Tapine is penalised for a high tackle and Sandon Smith nails the penalty goal from 35m out to put the Knights back in front. Knights 26-24

63 min: Ata Mariota goes on report for a crusher tackle and the Knights are inside Canberra's half on the back of the penalty.

62 min: Ethan Sanders' bomb is taken on the full by Jed Stuart who tries to offload for Ethan Strange but Dane Gagai manages to knock the ball down and the Knights hang on.

58 min: The Knights hit back after Dom Young makes 50 metres down the right before picking up Jermaine McEwen who is cut down by Simi Sasagi with a trysaver. The Knights swing the ball to the left and Dane Gagai finishes off the movement after Francis Manuleleua delivers the final pass. Sandon Smith converts. 24-24

55 min: Dane Gagai lifts Corey Horsburgh above the horizontal after the prop had passed the ball and is penalised for a dangerous tackle. Ethan Sanders knocks over the penalty goal. Raiders 24-18

54 min: A golden chance goes begging for the Knights as Fletcher Sharpe busts through and sends a pass back inside for Kalyn Ponga but the fullback puts it down.

53 min: The Raiders make just 16 metres in a tough set coming off their own line.

47 min: Dane Gagai makes big metres down the right before Sandon Smith hoists the ball towards the posts on the last but the Knights knock-on in the contest.

44 min: Simi Sasagi again bamboozles Fletcher Hunt and Fletcher Sharpe on the Knights' left edge and crashes over to complete his double. Ethan Sanders fails to convert. Raiders 22-18

43 min: The Raiders go to the air on the last, the referee rules a knock-on by Xavier Savage in the contest with Kalyn Ponga. The Raiders lodge a captain's challenge and come up trumps with the bunker ruling a Ponga knock-on.

No.1 gun: Canberra fullback Kaeo Weekes ran for 78 metres and came up with a try assist to go with eight tackle breaks as he proved a real handful for the Knights defence.

Half-time: We go to the break all square after an entertaining first half in tough conditions. The Knights completed at just 66 per cent and came up with six errors but the individual brilliance of Kalyn Ponga kept them in the match.

39 min: Lachlan Crouch muscles up in defence and forces an error from Ethan Sanders just as the Raiders threatened late points.

35 min: Great speed from Kaeo Weekes as he splits Fletcher Sharpe and Fletcher Hunt and gets his hands free to slip a superb offload for Simi Sasagi to score. Ethan Sanders converts. 18-18

34 min: Ethan Strange is placed on report for a high tackle.

33 min: A loose carry by Kalyn Ponga turns the ball over on halfway.

32 min: Simi Sasagi gets outside Fletcher Hunt and could have got across the line himself but chooses to flick pass for Xavier Savage but the pass goes astray.

31 min: An error by Sandon Smith invites the Green Machine into the red zone.

27 min: A 60-metre special from the Knights as Kalyn Ponga and Dane Gagai combine to put Dom Young away down the right wing and Ponga backs up on the inside to take the return pass and score. Sandon Smith converts. Knights 18-12

26 min: Tyson Frizell takes the field in career game No.300.

23 min: On the back of a Kalyn Ponga error from a bomb the Raiders reload and dummy half Tom Starling picks up Zac Hosking and the back-rower surges over on the left edge. Ethan Sanders converts. 12-12

21 min: Greg Marzhew has no space to operate on the left edge and loses the ball as the Raiders get across in cover. The Knights went too close to the sideline in the slippery conditions and are bundled out. Raiders scrum.

18 min: The Raiders grab one against the run of play as Jed Stuart picks off a Kalyn Ponga pass and races 70 metres to score, showing great footwork to evade Greg Marzhew who came across in cover but slipped over. Ethan Sanders converts. Knights 12-6

17 min: A high tackle penalty against Morgan Smithies allows the Knights to come out of trouble.

16 min: A pinpoint kick from Ethan Sanders for Jed Stuart to contest in the air with Dom Young and it's the Knights winger who wins the day.

14 min: A neat grubber from Simi Sasagi is tidied up by Kalyn Ponga but the Knights are under pressure to get out of their own end. Matt Timoko is penalised on the last play for ruck interference. The Raiders put in a captain's challenge and come up trumps after the bunker rules a loose carry by Ponga.

11 min: The Knights go to the right and Sandon Smith finds Kalyn Ponga who sends it on to Dom Young and the winger shows great strength to carry Kaeo Weekes over the line with him and slam the ball down. That's 18 tries for the season for Young. The conversion from Smith is good. Knights 12-0

6 min: A penalty against Cody Hopwood for a slow peel hands the Raiders good field position and Joe Tapine goes close in the final play but the Knights hold him up.

3 min: A sensational start for the Knights with Francis Manuleleua busting the line from his own side of halfway and picking up Fletcher Sharpe in support. The five-eighth races away to score next to the sticks. Sandon Smith converts. Knights 6-0

Late Mail

Raiders: Tom Starling will start the game with Owen Pattie moving to the bench in a game day swap. Simi Sasagi is back from a hamstring injury so Seb Kris makes way. Back-rower Matty Nicholson has now had two games back off the bench and is part of the interchange again with Stuart indicating he will play NSW Cup later on Sunday if he doesn't get on in NRL. The Raiders have won four of their last five games on their home patch at GIO Stadium. 

Knights: Phoenix Crossland has come out of the side on Sunday with Harrison Graham starting the game in his return from a hamstring injury. Diesel Hagan joins the six-man interchange in jersey No.22 and could make his NRL debut. Centre Bradman Best dropped out on Saturday due to a calf strain suffered in last week's win over Brisbane. Fletcher Hunt comes into the starting side at centre, with Toby Winter moving onto the six-man bench. Tyson Frizell comes from the bench in his 300th NRL match. 

Numbers Game

• The Raiders have won four of their last five games at GIO Stadium.
• Knights winger Greg Marzhew has scored six tries in his last five games against the Raiders.
• Raiders winger Xavier Savage has scored five tries in his last six games.
• Knights prop Tyson Frizell will make his 300th NRL appearance.
• Raiders fullback Kaeo Weekes has scored four tries in six games against the Knights.