NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS 26 MANLY SEA EAGLES 22
CALLUM WALKER, McDonald Jones Stadium, Thursday
THEY were booed off at half-time, but Newcastle launched a quite remarkable comeback with Kalyn Ponga striking in golden-point to stun a Manly side that had been 16-0 up.
In fact, the Knights were woeful in the first half as tries from Tolutau Koula, Toafofoa Sipley and the ever-impressive Haumole Olakau’atu threatened a thrashing.
But whatever Newcastle head coach Adam O’Brien said at half-time certainly worked as the hosts were like a side possessed in the second half with Fletcher Sharpe, Fletcher Hunt and James Schiller helping to level proceedings on the hour.
Tommy Talau once more took Manly into the lead, streaking through poor defence, but Sharpe’s second after Schiller broke down the right restored parity yet again on 75 minutes.
The Sea Eagles could have won it in normal time had Luke Brooks’ field-goal gone over, but two minutes into golden-point the Knights struck the killer blow.
Ponga, who had endured a difficult game up until then, lobbed a high kick for Hunt to chase. The winger did a marvellous job of patting the ball back into Ponga’s hands as the latter ran home to cap off a memorable evening.
KNIGHTS: 1 Kalyn Ponga, 5 Fletcher Hunt, 2 James Schiller, 3 Dane Gagai, 22 Greg Marzhew, 6 Fletcher Sharpe, 7 Jack Cogger, 8 Tyson Frizell, 9 Phoenix Crossland, 10 Brodie Jones, 11 Dylan Lucas, 12 Kai Pearce-Paul, 15 Thomas Cant. Subs (all used): 13 Mat Croker, 14 Jayden Brailey, 16 Jermaine McEwan, 17 Elijah Salesa-Leaumoana
Tries: Sharpe (46, 75), Hunt (54), Schiller (62), Ponga (82); Goals: Gagai 3/4
SEA EAGLES: 1 Lehi Hopoate, 2 Clayton Faulalo, 3 Tolutau Koula, 4 Reuben Garrick, 5 Tommy Talau, 6 Luke Brooks, 7 Daly Cherry-Evans, 8 Ethan Bullemor, 9 Lachlan Croker, 15 Jazz Tevaga, 11 Haumole Olakau’atu, 12 Ben Trbojevic, 13 Jake Trbojevic. Subs (all used): 10 Toafofoa Sipley, 14 Jake Simpkin, 16 Corey Waddell, 17 Nathan Brown
Tries: Koula (13), Sipley (27), Olakau’atu (34), Talau (68); Goals: Garrick 3/4
SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-6, 0-12, 0-16; 6-16, 12-16, 16-16, 16-22, 22-22; 26-22
Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match: Knights: Fletcher Sharpe; Sea Eagles: Haumole Olakau’atu
Penalty count: 2-5; Half-time: 0-16; Referee: Wyatt Raymond; Attendance: 16,027