Game Summary
The Newcastle Knights have beaten South Sydney 52-10 in a dominant display at Cessnock Sports Ground on Sunday in the opening round of The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup.
After a tight first half that saw the Knights lead just 12-6 at the break, the home side exploded in the second stanza, running in seven more tries to record an emphatic victory.
Lock forward Elijah Leaumoana opened the scoring for Newcastle after a frantic passage of play that broke down multiple times before the Knights finally crossed. Connor Votano's conversion made it 6-0.
South Sydney showed tremendous resilience in the opening 40 minutes, defending wave after wave of Newcastle attacks. Despite being starved of possession and forced to complete a mountain of defensive work, the visitors struck back through centre William Afualo, with Bayleigh Bentley Hape's conversion levelling the scores at 6-6.
The momentum appeared to be shifting, but Francis Manuleleua's try right on half-time gave the Knights a 12-6 advantage at the interval.
Whatever was said in the Knights' dressing room at half-time had the desired effect. Kane Graham extended the lead within minutes, before Connor Votano showed his class with a try of his own. The floodgates had opened, and South Sydney's defensive line began to crack under the relentless pressure.
Francis Manuleleua grabbed his second try of the afternoon, showcasing the footwork and support play that marked Newcastle's attacking dominance. Leaumoana followed suit with his second four-pointer, capitalising on quick hands and solid forward momentum. The Rabbitohs managed a consolation try through Te Wehi Waitere late in the contest.
The Knights weren't finished. Jacob Davis crossed from dummy-half after spotting a defensive lapse, before Wilson De Courcey put the icing on the cake with a try in the dying seconds following a perfectly weighted kick from Leaumoana. Votano finished with a perfect seven-from-seven conversion rate, capping off a comprehensive team performance.
Talking Points
Newcastle's second-half transformation was remarkable - scoring 40 points after the break and turning a competitive contest into a dominant display.
Connor Votano's flawless kicking display (seven from seven) proved crucial in building scoreboard pressure and maintaining momentum throughout the match.
Francis Manuleleua and Elijah Leaumoana both secured doubles, demonstrating the depth of attacking weapons at the Knights in 2026.
Key Moment
The pivotal moment arrived just before half-time when Francis Manuleleua scored to give Newcastle a 12-6 lead. After South Sydney clawed their way back to parity and appeared to have the momentum, this try gave the Knights the upper hand once again and the Rabbitohs didn't recover from there.
What's Next?
The Knights travel to Brookvale Oval to face Manly Warringah Sea Eagles on Sunday in Round Two, while the Rabbitohs return home to Redfern Oval to host old rivals the Sydney Roosters.
