Ponga all class as Knights torch Wests Tigers
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Newcastle have secured back-to-back wins for the first time in 2023 with a 34-18 victory over the Wests Tigers at McDonald Jones Stadium on Friday night.
Knights star Kalyn Ponga brushed aside a rough night on the goal-kicking front to set up three of the side's seven tries and continue his purple patch of form since switching back to fullback.
Wests Tigers didn't go away throughout the evening until a try to Tyson Gamble with seven minutes remaining put the Knights ahead by 14 to seal victory.
The Knights survived a horror opening set when the Wests Tigers appeared to have scored from a Will Smith kick before the NRL Bunker ruled Jahream Bula had knocked the ball forward for Tommy Talau to go over.
Newcastle ran in three tries in 12 minutes following the call to set up a 12-0 lead with Ponga setting up Greg Marzhew and Bradman Best on the left before Dom Young crossed on the right with the visitors' edge defence non-existent.
Best backs up in style
Ponga's off night with conversions early was keeping the Wests Tigers in it until Daniel Saifiti - who spilled two balls earlier - crossed from close range in front of the posts.
The visitors needed a spark to avoid being in for a long night with the youngest player on the park - Bula - the provider when he crossed on the right edge with a show-and-go play.
Newcastle's 12-point lead narrowed further two minutes before the break when Api Koroisau pounced on a grubber kick that couldn't be cleaned up by Ponga and Gamble close to the line.
This game is wide open
Knights firebrand Jack Hetherington was sent to the sin-bin shortly after half-time for striking out at Will Smith with a slap after a high shot from the Wests Tigers five-eighth.
Despite being a man down in the defensive line it meant nothing when Ponga crossed on the left edge with his side-stepping ways getting past three defenders to the line.
Goal-kicking continued to prove difficult, however, and the joint venture made the home side pay some more when Isaiah Papali'i ran over Gamble to send Bula over for his second of the evening.
For all the points Ponga wasn't making with the boot, he was returning serve with the try assists, coming up with his third of the evening to gift Young a second try out wide.
The English winger was denied a third try in the 67th minute with Bula pulling off a try-saver to jolt the ball free as the Knights looked to stretch their lead further.
Bula, who along with skipper Koroisau were among the visitors' best for the evening, couldn't deny Gamble the match-winner after Young broke away on the right edge before finding his five-eighth in support to finish the game.
Match: Knights v Wests Tigers
Round 20 -
home Team
Knights
11th Position
away Team
Wests Tigers
17th Position
Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
Match snapshot
- The Knights had 56 percent of the ball and completed at 85 percent in the victory.
- Wests Tigers five-eighth Will Smith was placed on report for a high tackle on Jack Hetherington, who was sin-binned for retaliating in the incident.
- Knights star Kalyn Ponga, in his 100th club game, had an off night with the boot, kicking three of seven conversions but otherwise starred for the side.
- Wests Tigers fullback Jahream Bula scored the first double of his NRL career and was enormous defensively at the back.
- Newcastle recorded back-to-back wins for the first time in 2023.
- The Knights have now won their past four games against Wests Tigers.
- Wests Tigers have now conceded 200 points in their past five games.
- Knights winger Dominic Young has now scored 18 tries from his past 15 games and moves to top of the NRL try-scorer's list for 2023.
- Greg Marzhew was enormous for the Knights, running for over 220 metres and busting nine tackles.
- Wests Tigers have now lost six games in a row.
Play of the game
The Knights could've suffered when Jack Hetherington left the field for 10 minutes after half-time but Kalyn Ponga's individual effort to put the home side ahead by 10 during a period they were down a man was crucial.
Ponga scores in game 100
What they said
"I'm pleased with the win but it's a hard one to gauge. I thought we got dragged into some scrappy-type footy in the second half. It's a hard one to put a finger on. I'm disappointed we didn't defend our ill-discipline. All in all we looked like a team that come off a bye week. I don't think we were in any danger of losing the game." - Knights coach Adam O'Brien.
"The try disallowed [in the second minute] looked like a try to me. Then we were 18-0 in the next 10-15 minutes. We fought back but were chasing our tail the whole game. It looked like a try to me. If I get another apology from the referees I won't be happy. We didn't play well enough or smart enough. They were down to 12 men and we were doing hit-ups. It's easy to say from the box but we're lacking direction and not sticking to the game plan. Without Jahream Bula we get beat by 40 tonight." - Wests Tigers coach Tim Sheens.
NRL Press Conference: Knights v Wests Tigers - Round 20, 2023
What's next
The Knights will remain in the Hunter for back-to-back home games when they take on the Storm on Saturday. Dane Gagai is a chance to make a return after coming up short with a quad injury this week. Wests Tigers will hit the road again, this time to Wollongong, where they will clash with the Dragons. Luke Brooks is at least another fortnight away according to Tim Sheens but Charlie Staines could make a return following a long recovery from illness.
