NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS 13 DOLPHINS 12
TOM SMITH, McDonald Jones Stadium, Sunday

DYLAN BROWN’S 76th-minute field-goal secured a gutsy victory for the Knights over the Dolphins in rainy Newcastle.

In a contest dominated by defence, the Phins erased their 12-0 half-time deficit before Brown stepped up to boot the match-winning one-pointer.

These clubs came into round 18 in equal second position sharing a 10-5 record, the Knights having won six of their last seven and the Phins winning eight on the bounce.

But Newcastle ground out another narrow win — their third by six points or less at home in the last 17 days — to clinch a top-four spot at the expense of the Redcliffe club’s streak.

It was a battle of Super League-winning St Helens coaches Justin Holbrook and Kristian Woolf, and Holbrook claimed the spoils.

The Dolphins have now lost their last six games against the Knights, including trips to this venue in each of the last three seasons.

State of Origin robbed both these teams of their stars – Kalyn Ponga and Bradman Best for the Knights, as well as Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Selwyn Cobbo, Thomas Flegler, Max Plath and Jack Bostock for the Dolphins.

However, the omission of Dylan Lucas and Kulikefu Finefeuiaki from their respective states gave each club a big-name back-rower for this clash.

Holbrook shuffled Fletcher Sharpe to fullback and Fletcher Hunt to centre, bringing Sandon Smith into the halves.

Woolf had even more interstate reps to cover, and Isaiya Katoa’s broken wrist presented an even bigger headache. Brad Schneider filled in at halfback for the injured skipper, while Sebastian Su’a and John Fineanganofo debuted off the bench.

Newcastle lost fill-in captain Jacob Saifiti before either side had troubled the scorers.

Lucas eventually broke the deadline with a damaging run that showed New South Wales what they’ll be missing this Wednesday night.

The gun back-rower timed a perfect run onto a Sharpe pass to exploit a gaping hole in the Phins’ defence and score virtually untouched.

Then four minutes before the break, Hunt raced around Jake Averillo and Smith’s second conversion gave the hosts a healthy twelve-point buffer.

Prolific winger Jamayne Isaako finally got the Dolphins going ten minutes after the restart.

The Queenslanders moved the ball quickly across the park, with Averillo delivering the final pass to Isaako in the right corner.

And shortly before the hour mark, Averillo set up another try, dancing through the Knights’ defence from inside his own half then supplying Kurt Donoghoe for a rare try.

Isaako’s conversion brought his personal tally to 200 points for the season and shaved the margin to two.

With the clock ticking down, Jermaine McEwen’s high tackle gave Isaako the chance to add another two points and square things up 12-all.

But the Knights got their opportunity when Tevita Naufahu dropped a Brown kick.

With his first attempt, the star ex-Eel coolly kicked the decisive field-goal from 15 metres out directly in front, before the victors had no trouble navigating the final four minutes to claim victory.

GAMESTAR: Dylan Brown showed why the Knights recruited him from the Eels on a big-money, ten-year deal, guiding Newcastle home with the decisive field-goal.

GAMEBREAKER: With four minutes on the clock deep in Dolphins territory, Brown made no mistake with his match-winning field-goal attempt.

MATCHFACTS

KNIGHTS
1 Fletcher Sharpe
2 Dom Young
3 Dane Gagai
4 Fletcher Hunt
5 Greg Marzhew
6 Sandon Smith
7 Dylan Brown
8 Jacob Saifiti
9 Phoenix Crossland
16 Cody Hopwood
11 Dylan Lucas
12 Jermaine McEwen
13 Mat Croker
Subs
14 Harrison Graham
15 Tyson Frizell
17 Thomas Cant
18 Lachlan Crouch
19 Francis Manuleleua (not used)
20 Kyle McCarthy (not used)

Tries: Lucas (16), Hunt (37)
Goals: Smith 2/2
Field-goals: Brown (76)

DOLPHINS
1 Trai Fuller
2 Jamayne Isaako
3 Jake Averillo
4 Herbie Farnworth
5 Tevita Naufahu
6 Kodi Nikorima
7 Brad Schneider
8 Felise Kaufusi
9 Jeremy Marshall-King
10 Francis Molo
11 Connelly Lemuelu
12 Kulikefu Finefeuiaki
13 Morgan Knowles
Subs
14 Kurt Donoghoe
15 Tom Gilbert
17 Brian Pouniu (not used)
18 Sebastian Su’a
19 John Fineanganofo
20 Sam Elliott (not used)

Tries: Isaako (51), Donoghoe (59)
Goals: Isaako 2/3

SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 12-0; 12-4, 12-10, 12-12, 13-12

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Knights: Dylan Brown; Dolphins: Kulikefu Finefeuiaki

Penalty count: 3-2
Half-time: 12-0
Referee: Wyatt Raymond
Attendance: 16,896