Newcastle have moved a step closer to cementing their spot in the Telstra Premiership finals by putting the Bulldogs to the sword with a crushing 42-6 victory at McDonald Jones Stadium.
The Knights ran in five tries for a 30-0 lead before props Leo Thompson and Jack Hetherington kept things rolling in the second for the Hunter side, who have racked up a record-breaking 108 points in two games against the Bulldogs.
It was an overall disaster afternoon for the visitors, who were at one point down to 11 men when Jacob Preston (hip-drop tackle) and Harrison Edwards (professional foul) were sin-binned within eight minutes of each other.
Preston's tackle on Jackson Hastings forced the Knights halfback from the field with an ankle injury in the only concern downer for Adam O'Brien's side after securing their sixth straight victory - their best streak since 2019.
Tyson Gamble try 29th minute
The Knights, who recorded a 66-0 victory over the Bulldogs in Round 18, wasted no time on the scoreboard when Dane Gagai and Tyson Gamble split through the visitors' defensive line with ease for a 12-0 lead.
A penalty goal via Kalyn Ponga followed for Wilson's sin-bin after some nice lead-up work from Adam Elliott put Leo Thompson into a gap, only for the Knights prop to be held back in the passage of play.
The Knights were over again when Kurt Mann darting over with ease from dummy half with a hit-and-spin effort to go over the line.
Enari Tuala try 38th minute
Gamble went in for a second with Elliott and Daniel Saifiti combining close to the line and then finding the Knights five-eighth who went in under the posts.
A possible try to Preston after the Bulldogs back-rower returned to the field summed up the afternoon for Cameron Ciraldo's men when he bounced the ball and enabled Enari Tuala to race 105 metres to put the ball down at the other end.
Canterbury came out with a lot more intent in the second half but the home side clicked back into gear to finish the game strongly ahead of a clash with South Sydney next week.
The Bulldogs finally got over the line through Reed Mahoney with an effort from close range but the tries to Thompson and Hetherington added further salt to the wounds.
Ponga earned a breather with 10 minutes remaining with the Knights fullback having a quieter game than usual - highlighting just how dominant the home side was across the board in the big win.
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Match snapshot
- The Knights led 30-0 at half-time after enjoying 60 percent of possession in the first half and completing at 85 percent.
- Knights halfback Jackson Hastings will require scans on an ankle injury after leaving the field in the first half.
- Bulldogs forward Jacob Preston (hip-drop tackle) was sin-binned for the tackle on Hastings.
- The Knights have now scored 102 points against the Bulldogs in two matches. No team has ever led a team 102-6 in back-to-back games in rugby league history. Previously the Roosters and Wests Tigers played out a 78-0 scoreline over two games in 2004.
- Knights prop Leo Thompson crossed for his first NRL try in 37 games while Jack Hetherington scored the first try of his season and in Knights colours.
- The Knights have now won five of their past six games against the Bulldogs.
- The Bulldogs missed 53 tackles in the loss and conceded 14 offloads to 6 as the Knights threw the ball around with ease.
Play of the game
Leo Thompson has been denied twice in 2023 but it was a case of third-time lucky when he was cleared of a put-down to score the first of his NRL career. The former rugby union convert has been a revelation for the Knights since arricving to the club - going about his business quietly - and earned a well-deserved try in the second half.
Leo Thompson try 60th minute
What they said
"I thought we showed some fight when we went down to 11 men. We probably fought more than we had previously but just weren't good enough defensively. I liked how we stuck at it in the second half. It ended up 12-6 and we were a lot more disciplined. I thought we had our best week of preparation all season. To be a good team and win games you have to do it week on week, on week." - Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo.
"Obviously pleased to get the win. I was really happy with our defence on the goal line. I don't think it was a great game of footy, especially in the second half. We've had a couple of big weeks of travel and got some guys a bit of a rest. The players understand we need to be better but I also want to give the guys a rap. It was a danger game and we got the job done." - Knights coach Adam O'Brien.
NRL Press Conference: Knights v Bulldogs - Round 24, 2023
What's next
The Knights return to McDonald Jones Stadium for their second of three-straight home games as they look to book a spot in the finals. Their opponents next week, South Sydney, are in a very similiar situation. All eyes will be on Jackson Hastings and his ankle concern. Canterbury face a gruelling trip to the nation's capital to take on the Raiders in Canberra on Sunday.