The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup Round 14 | Recap

Rampant Knights demolish beaten Bunnies in Try fest

Mitchell Farrugia

Away from home, the Newcastle Knights conjured up a scintillating performance to blow the South Sydney Rabbitohs off the park with a 44-30 win at Stadium Australia

The Knights were on song from the first whistle, toppling the Bunnies forwards early. Making a break, Knight’s prop Daniel Ticehurst collected an inside pass to stroll over under the posts for the first points of the match.  

A short side play worked wonders for the Knights moments later, as Dylan Lucas tiptoed the sideline to crash over, extending Newcastle’s led to 10 after 15 minutes.

Momentum heavily with the Knights led to more trouble for Souths. Again, busting through the middle Newcastle caused havoc, with try-scorer turned playmaker Daniel Ticehurst delivering a slick ball, allowing Simi Sasagi to race away for the knights third try.

Paper-thin goal-line defence allowed the Knights to continue to terrorise Souths. Multiple threatening attacks saw Newcastle over again, this time Zac Hosking scored courtesy of a crash play close to the line.

The Knights weren’t backing down. Another midfield break propelled Newcastle upfield, where a quick shift to the left granted Dylan Lucas a double.

Half time couldn’t come quick enough for Souths, with the Knights cruising out to a 26-0 lead after only 27 minutes.

A spectacular length of the field try allowed Dylan Lucas to pick up a hat-trick inside the space of half an hour, as Newcastle continued to keep pace with the clock extending their tally to 32 points after a successful conversion from McKenzie Baker.

The Bunnies did find their way onto the board just before the break, as prop Patrick Mago bundled his way over the try line. The Rabbits couldn’t manage another as the try-scoring first half drew to a close with Newcastle leading the home side 32-6. 

Not willing to put the cue in the rack just yet, it was slick passing that saw Newcastle’s Simi Sasagi pick up his second try of the match. The Knights with the perfect start to the second half as goal kicker Zane Camroux slotted his first conversion after relieving McKenzie Baker from the kicking duties.

Souths rallied to show some competitive spirit. A long floating pass down the right-hand side saw Bunnies winger Nick Mougios dive into the corner.

The Rabbitohs received prime field position again after Newcastle’s kick off landed out on the full. Eerily similar to his first try, Mago again forced his way over the line for a double. Dean Hawkins continued his perfect record with the boot slotting 3/3 to narrow the scoreline down to a 20-point difference.

With less than 20 minutes on the clock, the Bunnies scored a third consecutive try, beginning to worry the Knights. Jacob Gagai crossed the line from a well-worked left side play, reducing Newcastle’s lead to 14 points.

However, despite the late surge, Newcastle would put the icing on the cake in the dying stages of the match. Fittingly it was star performer Dylan Lucas who raced 60 meters to score untouched, his 4th try of the match. The Rabbits managed another consolation try, as Pele Vaigalu dove over from close range.

The final play of the game brought the match total to a mammoth 13 tries, a memorable afternoon for the Knights, as they were victorious over the Bunnies 44-30.

Newtown Jets v Penrith Panthers

Travelling Panthers Run Riot on Jets

Anthony Eltarraf

The first-placed Panthers continued their dominant season, defeating the Newtown Jets 32-16 in what was for the most part, a one-sided affair at Henson Park on Saturday afternoon.

Penrith opened the scoring early through hooker Brendan Hands, who was able to double his tally for the game and double his sides lead through his vision and grit just nine minutes later. Kurt Falls successfully converted both tries to give the away side a 12-0 lead.

The half saw momentum shift the way of the Jets, with Bronson Garlick taking advantage of the momentum swing, scoring his 11th try in his 11th game for the Jets this season. Halfback Chad Townsend missed the conversion to leave the margin at eight, only to see momentum swing back almost instantly the way of the Panthers.

It took less than 10 minutes for Penrith to regain control with a smooth spread of the ball finishing off in the hands of Ratu Luke Nadurutalo to score near the corner. Falls converted again to extend his sides lead and take them into the sheds at half time, leading 18-4.

The second half began in opposite fashion to the first, with the Jets this time starting fast, spreading the ball to winger Nene Macdonald to finish brilliantly in the corner. Townsend successfully converted his first for the game, putting his side back in contention, trailing by eight again.

The Panthers showcased their perseverance and ability that has taken them to first place this season, with a further two tries to Nadurutalo completing his hat-trick and two missed conversions from Kurt Falls taking Penrith to a 26-10 lead.

Spencer Leniu was the last try-scorer for the away side, showing his power to barge through the Jets’ defence and stretch out to score next to the posts. Falls managed to convert this time, extending Penrith’s lead to 32-10.

A last-minute consolation try to Luke Metcalf sent the loyal Jets crowd of almost 9,000 roaring, however it was not enough to send them home satisfied after the travelling Panthers defeated Newtown in a dominant 32-16 performance.

Canberra Raiders v Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles

Raiders outclass Sea Eagles at GIO

Finn Williamson

The Canberra Raiders have defeated the Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles 30-22 in a great team performance from the green machine.

The experience and effort of Raider’s Hudson Young and Brad Schneider guided the team to an outstanding victory in-front of their home fans at GIO Stadium.

The Sea Eagles earned themselves some quality field position early in the match, where they converted possession into points. Forward Phillip Makatoa caught a short ball and barged over close to the line to open the scoring. Sea Eagles halfback Zane Harris converted to give the visitors a 6-0 lead in the first ten minutes.

The Raiders hit straight back after forcing an error in the opposition half. Winger Xavier Savage went into dummy-half and found the defence off-guard when he ran under the posts to score a Canberra try. Brad Schneider made no mistake converting, levelling the scores to six-all.

Siliva Havili made an outstanding play, charging down a Sea Eagle’s kick to hand it off to teammate Matt Frawley to score under the sticks. Schneider converted to give the green machine their first lead of the night, 12-6 after the opening 20 minutes.

Raiders centre Adam Cook received a great ball from Hudson Young to cross-over in the corner for another Canberra try. The conversion was unsuccessful, giving the Raiders a 16-6 lead heading into the final ten minutes of the first half.

Sea Eagles winger Tolutau Koula scored off a cross-field kick which rebounded off a Raider to gift the visitors a try. Harris converted to edge closer to Canberra’s 16-12 lead.

Sea Eagles captain Brad Keighran fooled the defence when he dummied and ran through to score adjacent to the uprights. The halfback converted his own try to give the visitors a 18-16 lead heading into halftime.

Parramatta Eels v Western Suburbs Magpies

Eels hold on for thrilling victory

Hannah McGrory

Parramatta Eels have held off a fast-finishing Western Suburb Magpies to set up a thrilling 28-26 win in The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup at Bankwest Stadium.

The home side received the first penalty of the match and Eels halfback Jakob Arthur applied further pressure after landing a kick in goal to force a goal line drop out. Parramatta went over in the next set on through centre Will Penisini with Jordan Rankin converting for a 6-0 lead.

Arthur reached out to score the second try of the game, following a break from Keegan Hipgrave, to help ectend the lead to 12-0. Wiremu Greig continued to drive up front to give his team good field position before the Eels went in again for their third try through Rankin. He successfully converted his own try to extend the lead to 18-0.

The Magpies finally got on the scoreboard after Joseph Leilua charged over the line with Jock Madden successfully adding the extras to make it 18-6.

Parramatta capitalised on a six again call when Michael Oldfield found a gap to score and Rankin kept his flawless display with the boot to punch the lead out to 24-6.

The Magpies were the next to benefit off a six-again call through Zach Dockar-Clay with Madden successfully converting to reduce the margin to 24-12 at half-time.

Eels winger Blake Ferguson was the recipient of a great pass from Oldfield before finishing the job and scoring the next try to give the Eels some breathing space at 28-12.

The Magpies cut back the margin to 28-20 after Kiah Cooper scored on the back of an 80-metre run while Allan Fitzgibbon finished off some brilliance from five-eighth Zach Dockar-Clay.

Madden scored in the final 10 minutes of the match and then converted his own try to make the difference two points and set up a grandstand finish. 

The Magpies received a penalty in the final minute but unfortunately Madden’s kick from 45-metres out fell just short and the Eels clung on for a 28-26 win.

Mounties v St George Illawarra Dragons

Mounties too classy for Dragons

Gerard Cronin

Mounties have won their second consecutive game after defeating St George Illawarra Dragons 26-16 in the Queen’s Birthday clash at Stadium Australia.

Mounties came into the game sitting sixth on the table and were on the scoreboard inside four minutes, following a nicely worked move involving half Lachlan Lewis and centre Falakiko Manu, who barged over on the left edge.

The 10th-placed Dragons were under the pump to start the match as Mounties repeatedly pressured their line and Lewis eventually broke through again after throwing a nice cutout pass for right winger Watson Heleta to score. Kyle Flanagan missed the conversion again to leave the score at 8-0.

St George-Illawarra couldn’t crack the Mounties defence despite several promising raids and things went from bad to worse when Heleta grabbed his second try right on halftime. Flanagan landed the extras to send Mounties into the break leading 14-0.

Mounties got within inches of scoring on three separate occasions to start the second half but the  Dragons defence held. They were rewarded for the effort shortly afterwards after centre Mathew Feagai slid into a nice gap to score with Sitiveni Moceidreke converting to make it 14-6.

Mounties replied seven minutes later though after Heleta made a break upfield before finding Flanagan in support. He converted his own try for a 20-6 lead with 20 minutes remaining.

The Red V refused to give up and they capitalized after Bulldogs prop Ofahiki Ogden was sent to the sin bin. Dragons winger Jordan Pereira latched on to a brilliant rainbow pass from Adam Clunes to close the gap to 10 points with just 10 minutes remaining.

Mounties responded with a decisive blow after a Rhys Davies grubber kick from dummy half retrieved by winger Larson Doyle to seal the result before Pereira grabbed a consolation try for the Dragons at the end.

St George Illawarra will look to bounce back when they host Canberra Raiders next week while Mounties will be aiming for their third win on the trot when they face Parramatta Eels.