NRL.com Wrap | Knights roll Titans to lock in September football

75th min: A captain's challenge from Wests Tigers on a call of a knock on is successful, giving them a chance to attack with a scrum from 10 metres out. 

71st min: A try on debut for Wests Tigers centre Solomone Saukuru. From seemingly nothing, the home side have sparked up the game with this try - showing some attacking enterprise with the ball going from one side to the other as they charged down the field, with a little grubber ahead thrown in as well. But the main play was Jarome Luai putting Api Koroisau through a hole where he runs and then passes out to his left for his rookie to have a game to remember. Adam Doueihi's kick just swings left so it's 24-16 to the Dragons. 

 

 

59th min: They don't have to wait too long however and it's Lyhkan King-Togia who finishes off a good team try. A clever pass from Valentine Holmes out to his left sets off Tyrell Sloan down the sideline who runs away before putting in a well-placed kick that is chased by three Dragons and a lone Jahream Bula, with the five-eighth winning the race. Holmes converts and it's 24-12 now to the Dragons. 

54th min: A missed chance from the Dragons to extend their lead after a great break from Mat Feagai who gets his side down field. They have a line set up to their left but don't go there straight away, but when they finally do, they get pinged for a forward pass out to Tyrell Sloan who had caught the ball out in front of him and acrobatically tumbled over the line - but to no avail. Score remains 18-12. 

49th min: The home fans are cheering with Wests Tigers over for the first try of the second half. Alex Seyfarth steams onto a pass from Adam Doueihi to burst through the line who sets up a trailing Samuela Fainu out to his left to run in and score. Doueihi converts and it's 18-12 to the Dragons.  

Half-time: After trailing early, the Dragons have had the better of the game, running in three tries in a row to end the half and claim an 18-6 lead at the break. 

38th min: Three tries in a row now for the Dragons with Moses Suli, running 50 metres, celebrating before he gets over the line. St George Illawarra capitalise after Terrell May drops the ball in a tackle, Jacob Liddle picks up the scraps and gets the momentum rolling before finding the centre who does the rest. Holmes slots this one and it's 18-6. 

32nd min: The Dragons his the lead with Hamish Stewart running through on the left after the visitors were able to build some pressure, including getting a line drop out. Valentine Holmes passed his HIA and is back on the field so he takes the conversion attempt and is successful. Dragons lead 12-6. 

30th min: Ryan Couchman is off the field for a HIA after copping a Jarome Luai kick fair in his face.

22nd min: A hit-back from the Dragons with Tyrell Sloan reaching his long after over the line after a stepping run against the grain at the line. Back-to-back penalties from Wests Tigers conceded in the lead-up and the Dragons run with it. With Holmes off the field, Kyle Flanagan steps up for the conversion and slots it. Scores level 6-6. 

16th min: Opening points for the game with Sunia Turuva going over in the right corner for the home side. The weight of possession finally told, coupled with an error from the Dragons to give them more time to attack the line. Adam Doueihi converts and it's 6-0 to Wests Tigers. 

13th min: Valentine Holmes is off the field for a HIA. Update - he has passed. 

10th min: No score yet at CommBank, but home side Wests Tigers have looked the most threatening so far. Score remains 0-0.

Match preview

Late Mail 

Wests Tigers: A shuffle to the starting side and the bench on game day with Sione Fainu to start at lock and Alex Twal out of the side due to illness. Javon Andrews comes from the reserves onto the bench. Earlier, there were no changes in the 24-hour update. The leading tryscorer in NSW Cup this season with 20 four-pointers for Western Suburbs Magpies, Fijian powerhouse Solomone Saukuru has been called up for his NRL debut at centre. Heamasi Makasini is the man to make way. Two new faces on the bench with Bunty Afoa and Faaletino Tavana added in place of Charlie Murray and Starford To'a.

Dragons: More changes on game day with Setu Tu and Damien Cook moving to the bench with Daniel Atkinson to start on the wing and Jacob Liddle to start as hooker. Earlier, there was a change in the 24-hour update, with Clint Gutherson (knee) has been ruled out seeing Mathew Feagai come in at the back. Blake Lawrie comes onto the interchange bench in place of Feagai. In earlier news, hooker Damien Cook was named to start after being an unused reserve last week while Jacob Liddle played the full 80 and peeled off 56 tackles. Toby Couchman has been named on the bench on his return from concussion but could be a late promotion to the starting side. Jacob Webster retains his spot on the bench after playing 33 minutes on debut last Sunday. 

Knights v Titans at McDonald Jones Stadium

Press conferences

Titans

Knights

Full-time: The Knights have claimed the win against the Gold Coast Titans, pouncing on their opportunities to secure the 36-26 result. It was a seesawing game with the Knights threatening to run away with it early, before the Titans fought back to make a game of it late in the first half. However, when they had the chance to really challenge for the win, they fell back into bad habits with errors and giving away penalties - with the Knights needing no extra invitation to score. Coach Justin Holbrook however may have some issues with how the Knights finished the match, with the Titans scoring twice in the final three minutes. 

80th min: Successful captain's challenge from the Titans just for fun right at the end of the game.

79th min: And another try to the Titans to close out the match! This time, it is Lachlan Ilias running in for a try in his NRL return - his first run on game since Round 9. Campbell converts this one as well for a 36-26 scoreline. 

78th min: A frustrating consolation try to the Titans with Beau Fermor getting his double, showing what the side can do when they commit and hold the ball. Ollie Pascoe did all the work in the lead up, throwing dummies and changing direction before finding his second rower who runs in. Campbell converts and the score is 36-20. 

76th min: The Knights have been saying thank you very much to the Titans for every opportunity they have been giving them with mis-directed passes and for penalties. Fletcher Sharpe is the latest Knight to get his double, after a pass meant of Kini instead hits the deck, with the Newcastle speedster picking up the scraps and running away, avoiding multiple ankle tap attempts along the way. Smith converts and it's out to a big 36-14 lead to the home side. 

70th min: An lucky try to the Knights who throw the ball around with great effect, with the effort finished by Grey Marzhew for his double. A Titans error - this time from Keano Kini trying to get out of his own end, but losing the ball in a tackle - is attacked by the Knights who 'hot potato' the ball out on the left and get the reward. Smith misses this one and it's 30-14. 

66th min: A try denied to Kini, with the Titans pinged for an obstruction in the lead up.

61st min: A great individual try from Fletcher Sharpe who proves too smart and too fast. From dummy half of a strong Greg Marzhew run, he speeds out around the Titans markers and proves too strong for Ollie Pascoe his was trying to steal the ball from him, running away from Titans defends and through under the sticks. Smith converts again and Newcastle stretch their lead to 26-14. 

57th min: A hit-back from the Titans with a short ball from Lachlan Ilias to a hard-running Kurtis Morrin producing the goods. The Knights welcome the Titans into their attacking zone with back-to-back errors and they capitalise. Jayden Campbell can't convert again so the score remains 20-14. 

55th min: A captain's challenge from the Knights against a knock on from Tyson Frizell is unsuccessful. 

52nd min: Titans forward Bodhi Sharpley on for his NRL debut.

49th min: The Knights get the momentum back after Kalyn Ponga runs through a tackle attempt from Lachlan Ilias, runs down field, offloads to Fletcher Hunt who is able to break away from Jaylan De Groot and carry Keano Kini over the line. Smith can't convert and score is 20-10. 

47th min: Ollie Pascoe is off the field for a HIA. Update - he has passed. 

47th min: Jojo Fifita in the action again, producing a successful captain's challenge for the Titans with the Bunker finding a strip when he was originally ruled to have knocked on. 

43rd min: Jojo Fifita claims a try for the Titans, getting his hand down on the ball first after Kurtis Morrin did a deft drop onto his foot for a kick, with the Origin centre there to pounce after the Knights could not put it dead. The Bunker takes a look and the try is disallowed, with his elbow just hitting the ball in the lead up. Knights sigh in relief and the score remains 16-10. 

41st min: The Titans have the ball and will be looking to build on their momentum gained at the back-end of the first half. In news for Newcastle - Toby Winter is on for his NRL debut, with Dane Gagai coming off with a hamstring issue.

Half-time: We have a contest in the Hunter after the Knights had threatened to run away with a big score in the opening half - however, the Titans have fought back to only trail 16-10 at the break. The visitors gave up five penalties to two to gift the Knight possession and position, with Dane Gagai able to score a first-half double. However, the Titans were able to fight back and pounced on some Knights errors to bring the game back to life. 

37th min: Back-to-back now for the Gold Coast, with Jayden Campbell recovering from a slip at the line to still get up in time after wrong-footing Kalyn Ponga to score. Their opportunity came from a Ponga error up the field, with the fullback running away but putting in a poor pass that was picked up by the Titans to recover the momentum. Campbell can't convert his own try so it's 16-10 to the Knights. 

33rd min: Some joy of the Titans with their first points, Beau Fermor running a good line onto an AJ Brimson pass to score. The Titans finally managed to get their game in order and got the rewards. Jayden Campbell slots the conversion and it's 16-6. 

27th min: Fletcher Hunt denied a try again from the Bunker after he grounds the ball on the leg of a Titans defender. Score remains 16-0. 

22nd min: Titans forward Josh Patston comes off the field for a HIA. A club update says it's a Cat 1 and he is out for the afternoon. 

18th min: Three in a row for the Knights and an early double for Dane Gagai, who this time chases through on a Sandon Smith kick through the line. No one at home at the back for the Titans who have been rightly punished for poor discipline, giving up a penalty in the lead up to this try. Smith's conversion is successful for a 16-0 lead. 

8th min: Back-to-back for the Knights in quick succession with Greg Marzhew over in the left corner. A huge run from Jermaine McEwan down the right edge and back through the middle sets it up before a kick out to the left is batted back, collected and thrown out to the left edge. Smith's conversion attempt hits the post and out for a 10-0 lead. 

5th min: They won't be denied this time, with Dane Gagai chasing through on his own kick that nutmegged Beau Fermor and went through the line. Sandon Smith converts for a 6-0 lead.

2nd min: The Knights are denied a try after Fletcher Hunt pushes Lachlan Ilias off the ball and instead concedes a penalty. Score 0-0.

Kick off: The Titans kick off and the Knights have first use of the ball. 

Match preview 

Late Mail

Knights: No late game day changes. Centre Bradman Best has been withdrawn again this week after failing to recover from a calf strain. Fletcher Hunt will start in the centres, with Toby Winter coming on to the bench. Hooker Phoenix Crossland is back on deck after missing the win over Canberra due to a calf injury. Harrison Graham heads back to the interchange. Pasami Saulo returns from a foot injury as part of the six-man interchange. Winger Dominic Young has scored 11 tries in six games against the Titans.

Titans: Dean Ieremia has been withdrawn on game day with a hamstring injury. Onto the wing come Jaylan De Groot, with Siale Faeamani elevated to the six-man bench to cover De Groot's promotion. Halfback Lachlan Ilias gets his first crack at the NRL since Round 9 as he looks to finish a frustrating season on a high. AJ Brimson returns to the centres after playing halfback last week for the first time since 2019. Rising back-rower Bodhi Sharpley has been named to make his NRL debut off the bench after 11 Queensland Cup games with Tweed Seagulls this season.