NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS 24 MANLY SEA EAGLES 44
CALLUM WALKER, McDonald Jones Stadium, Saturday

MANLY inflicted a surprise defeat on top-four chasing Newcastle to keep their own very slim finals hopes alive.

The Sea Eagles went into this one knowing that only victory would do as they chase down an unlikely play-off spot – and they delivered when it mattered most with an eight-try drubbing of the Knights.

Clayton Faulalo hit first inside three minutes before Fletcher Hunt, Greg Marzhew and Dom Young handed the home side an 18-6 lead.

But an incredible three-try foray in just six minutes – a Caleb Navale effort and a double from Josh Feledy – handed the visitors a 24-18 lead at half-time.

Young had been sent to the sin bin late in the first half for a hip-drop tackle, but even when back up to 13 men, the Sea Eagles struck again with Feledy grabbing his hat-trick before Reuben Garrick went over on the hour.

Fletcher Hunt did respond for Newcastle shortly after, but Jason Saab and Lehi Hopoate inflated the scoreline as Manly closed the gap to eighth to four points with two games remaining.

Meanwhile, the Knights are now looking over their shoulder at the chasing South Sydney Rabbitohs and North Queensland Cowboys as the finals loom.

KNIGHTS: 1 Kalyn Ponga, 2 Dom Young, 3 Fletcher Hunt, 4 Bradman Best, 5 Greg Marzhew, 6 Fletcher Sharpe, 7 Sandon Smith, 10 Trey Mooney, 9 Phoenix Crossland, 15 Cody Hopwood, 11 Jermaine McEwen, 12 Tyson Frizell, 13 Mat Croker. Subs: 8 Jacob Saifiti, 14 Harrison Graham, 16 Lachlan Crouch, 17 Thomas Cant, 19 Toby Winter (not used), 22 Elijah Salesa-Leaumoana (not used)

Tries: Hunt (10, 62), Marzhew (15), Young (23); Goals: Smith 4/5; Sin bin: Young (35) – dangerous tackle

SEA EAGLES: 1 Tom Trbojevic, 2 Jason Saab, 3 Tolutau Koula, 4 Reuben Garrick, 5 Lehi Hopoate, 6 Clayton Faulalo, 7 Jamal Fogarty, 8 Simione Laiafi, 9 Brandon Wakeham, 10 Nathan Brown, 11 Haumole Olakau’atu, 12 Ben Trbojevic, 13 Jake Trbojevic. Subs: 14 Jake Simpkin, 15 Nicholas Lenaz, 16 Corey Waddell, 17 Caleb Navale, 18 Josh Feledy, 19 Fletcher Baker (not used)

Tries Faulalo (3), Navale (33), Feledy (35, 39, 50), Garrick (59), Saab (69), Hopoate (72); Goals: Fogarty 6/8

SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-6, 6-6, 10-6, 16-6, 18-6, 18-12, 18-18, 18-24; 18-30, 18-34, 24-34, 24-38, 24-44

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Knights: Fletcher Hunt; Sea Eagles: Josh Feledy

Penalty count: 8-3; Half-time: 18-24; Referee: Wyatt Raymond; Attendance: 24,537