NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS 22 ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS 20
CALLUM WALKER, McDonald Jones Stadium, Friday

NEWCASTLE just about clung on to two priceless points against a desperate St George side that still only has one win to their name in 2026.

The Knights started in the best possible fashion with Fletcher Sharpe getting a quickfire double before the clock had even struck ten minutes.

His first saw Dane Gagai and Dom Young link up down the right wing before the latter drew Clint Gutherson and passed inside to Sharpe.

His second was a much easier effort, Bradman Best offloading from a pinpoint Dylan Brown kick as Sharpe ran under the posts.

The Dragons finally clicked into gear from 12-0 down when Valentine Holmes crossed on 25 minutes and Tyrell Sloan levelled proceedings just after the half hour.

Two Sandon Smith penalties with the hooter in sight, however, handed the Knights a 16-12 half-time lead.

Smith himself got on the scoresheet on 55 minutes with his own conversion sending the hosts 22-12 up.

But St George refused to give in and Setu Tu’s effort on the hour reduced the deficit to six heading into the final quarter.

And when Dylan Egan crossed with nine minutes to go, Valentine Holmes had the chance to level again.

His conversion went wide and Newcastle limped to victory.

KNIGHTS: 6 Fletcher Sharpe, 2 Dom Young, 3 Dane Gagai, 4 Bradman Best, 5 Greg Marzhew, 20 Sandon Smith, 7 Dylan Brown, 8 Jacob Saifiti, 9 Phoenix Crossland, 10 Trey Mooney, 12 Thomas Cant, 19 Francis Manuleleua, 13 Mat Croker. Subs: 14 Harrison Graham, 15 Tyson Frizell, 17 Cody Hopwood, 18 Fletcher Hunt, 21 Tyson Gamble (not used), 22 James Schiller (not used)

Tries: Sharpe (6, 9), Smith (55); Goals: Smith 5/5

DRAGONS: 1 Clint Gutherson, 2 Setu Tu, 4 Valentine Holmes, 19 Tyrell Sloan, 5 Mathew Feagai, 6 Daniel Atkinson, 7 Kyle Flanagan, 8 Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga, 9 Damien Cook, 10 Toby Couchman, 11 Dylan Egan, 12 Hamish Stewart, 13 Ryan Couchman. Subs: 14 Jacob Liddle, 15 Luciano Leilua, 16 Josh Kerr, 17 Blake Lawrie, 18 Emre Guler (not used), 21 Lyhkan King-Togia (not used)

Tries: Holmes (25), Sloan (33), Tu (61), Egan (71); Goals: Holmes 2/4

SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 12-0, 12-6, 12-12, 14-12, 16-12; 22-12, 22-16, 22-20

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Knights: Sandon Smith; Dragons: Ryan Couchman

Penalty count: 5-4; Half-time: 16-12; Referee: Gerard Sutton; Attendance: 19,092