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We kicked off Round 14 of the NRL Telstra Premiership with the out of sorts Newcastle Knights hosting the dangerous but inconsistent Sea Eagles at McDonald Jones Stadium.

Once a fortress for the Knights, they had treated their loyal fans to a victory only once in five home games this season - a 26-12 defeat of the Dolphins way back in Round 2.

That was before tonight!

After trailing 16-0 at the break the Knights showed plenty of ticker to come up with four second-half tries to send the game to golden point, where skipper Kalyn Ponga came up with the match-winner thanks to an assist from the flying mullet Fletcher Hunt.

The Sea Eagles still haven't won back-to-back games in 2025 and will be left to rue the one that got away as they gave up a 16-point lead.

The gutsy victory saw the Knights reclaim the Malcolm Reilly Challenge Trophy, which was first played for in 2007.

Kalyn Ponga receives the Malcolm Reilly Challenge Trophy from Malcolm's son Glen.
Kalyn Ponga receives the Malcolm Reilly Challenge Trophy from Malcolm's son Glen.

Regarded as one of the greatest Englishman to have played in Australia, Reilly played 89 games for Manly from 1971-75 and played in their premiership-winning teams in 1972 and 1973.

He later coached Newcastle to their maiden premiership, defeating Manly in the 1997 grand final.

Follow all the Round 14 action on NRL.com's live blog.

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From the field: Kalyn Ponga

Knights v Sea Eagles at McDonald Jones Stadium

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Knights v Sea Eagles – Round 14, 2025

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Sea Eagles: Round 14

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Knights: Round 14

Full-time: Veteran centre Dane Gagai had 19 runs for 192 metres and busted 10 tackles to play a starring role in the second-half comeback while Greg Marzhew ran for 268 metres in his return from injury. For Manly it was edge forward Haumole Olakau'atu showing the way with 201 metres and nine tackle breaks while Tolu Koula had 24 runs for 292 metres.

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Kalyn Ponga Try

83 min: The Knights go left on the last tackle and Kalyn Ponga launches a bomb, Fletcher Hunt flies above the pack and taps the ball back to Ponga who races away for the match-winner. The Knights have completed a stunning comeback from 16-0 down to win 26-22 - their biggest comeback since 2007.

80 min: Luke Brooks launches a shot at field goal from 40 metres out to try and break the deadlock but the ball goes wide and we're off to golden point.

79 min: James Schiller finds space down the sideline and tries to kick back inside but the ball goes out on the full.

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Fletcher Sharpe 2nd Try

75 min: Another long-range special from the Knights as Dane Gagai puts James Schiller away down the right wing and he finds Fletcher Sharpe looming in support. Sharpe's 10th try of the season makes it 22-20 and Gagai converts to lock us up at 22-22.

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Tommy Talau Try

68 min: A Clayton Faulalo line break puts Manly on the attack and Tommy Talau leaves Fletcher Sharpe and Brodie Jones grasping at thin air as he slices through for a try to put Manly back in front. Reuben Garrick converts. Sea Eagles 22-16.

66 min: Jack Cogger comes up with a trysaver on Reuben Garrick to keep the Knights line intact and the scores level.

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James Schiller Try

62 min: The Knights swing the ball left and then come back to the right and James Schiller finishes off a superb team try with an athletic putdown in the corner. Fletcher Sharpe and Dane Gagai handled in the lead-up as the Knights levelled up. Gagai pushes the conversion wide. 16-16.

58 min: The Knights threaten again down the right edge but the last pass is knocked on by Fletcher Sharpe and the chance is lost.

57 min: Daly Cherry-Evans kicks out on the full and the Knights go on the attack from the halfway line.

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Fletcher Hunt Try

54 min: Jack Cogger launches a bomb from 40 metres out and Fletcher Hunt flies through the air to take the catch and race away for the Knights' second try. Hunt left Clayton Faulalo clutching at thin air and brought the home fans to their feet as the home team continued its revival. Dane Gagai converts. Sea Eagles 16-12.

51 min: Another James Schiller error puts the Knights under pressure but a poor kick by Luke Brooks on the end of the set gives the home side a seven-tackle set.

47 min: Tommy Talau leaves the field for a HIA after copping an accidental boot to the face as he tried to drag Fletcher Sharpe down. Talau passed his HIA.

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Fletcher Sharpe Try

46 min: The Knights hit the board when Kai Pearce-Paul strides into a hole and finds Fletcher Sharpe who pulls clear of Tommy Talau's desperate lunge and races away to score. Dane Gagai converts. Sea Eagles 16-6.

44 min: An early chance for Manly when Reuben Garrick climbs high to bring down an attacking kick but loses control of the ball as he looks to offload.

Half-time: The Knights are held scoreless in the first half of a match for the eighth time this season and the home fans respond by booing them off the field. The Knights completed 14 of 21 sets at 66 per cent and came up with 17 missed tackles. In contrast the Sea Eagles completed at 75 per cent and were led by a rampaging Haumole Olakau'atu (12 runs for 144 metres and six tackle breaks).

38 min: The Knights come up with a sixth error of the night through Fletcher Sharpe to invite the Sea Eagles into the Red Zone again.

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Haumole Olakau'atu Try

34 min: Haumole Olakau'atu powers through flimsy defence from James Schiller, Mat Croker and Phoenix Crossland to post Manly's third try and his fifth of the season to make it 16-0.

34 min: Jack Cogger and Elijah Salesa-Leaumoana are both placed on report for a lifting tackle on Haumole Olakau'atu.

33 min: James Schiller's horror night continues when he drops another ball and then is penalised for a high shot and placed on report.

31 min: A strong tackle by Clayton Faulalo forces an error from James Schiller but Tolu Koula returns the favour in the next set.

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Toafofoa Sipley Try

28 min: The Sea Eagles double their lead when Toafofoa Sipley powers over from close range with Kalyn Ponga powerless to stop him. Reuben Garrick converts for a 12-0 lead.

27 min: Knights debutant Elijah Salesa-Leaumoana gets his first taste of the action but concedes a six-again with his firs involvement.

23 min: The Sea Eagles launch a successful captain's challenge against a Luke Brooks knock-on call and bring the ball out of their own end.

22 min: A close shave for Manly when Tolu Koula fumbles a Kalyn Ponga grubber on the tryline but Lachlan Croker is there to clean it up.

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Tolutau Koula Try

13 min: Manly make amends for their earlier missed opportunity when Reuben Garrick explodes into space and finds Tolu Koula in support for the opening try. Garrick adds the extras for a 6-0 lead.

9 min: Lehi Hopoate and Tyson Frizell are both deemed Category 1 head knocks and ruled out for the rest the game.

8 min: The Knights get their first shot at points and Manly are forced to put the ball dead from a bomb. Manly's short dropout draws an offside penalty against the Knights after the ball travels forward from Fletcher Hunt and is picked up by Phoenix Crossland.

6 min: Lehi Hopoate leaves the field for a HIA after landing on his head as he tried to ground the ball while Knights forward Tyson Frizell also goes off for a HIA.

6 min: The Sea Eagles look sure to open the scoring with a long-range try finished off by Lehi Hopoate chasing a Tolu Koula grubber but replays show the fullback lost control of the ball as he attempted to ground it.

4 min: A touch of class from Kalyn Ponga with an acrobatic leap to bring down a Daly Cherry-Evans bomb.

 

Late Mail

Knights: Greg Marzhew has come into the starting side an hour before kick-off as he returns from a knee injury. James Schiller shifts to centre and Kyle McCarthy drops out. A swap in the pack as well with Thomas Cant to start and Mat Croker going to the bench.

Sea Eagles: Jazz Tevaga will start at prop and Toafofoa Sipley goes to the bench in a late change an hour before kick-off. Jake Trbojevic returns from a concussion, however brother Tom will wait another week before he makes his comeback from a nasty cork.

Numbers Game

  • The Knights have won only one of their past five games against the Sea Eagles.
  • The Knights have lost their last four games at McDonald Jones Stadium.
  • Sea Eagles centre Tolu Koula has scored eight tries in his past nine games.
  • Knights winger Greg Marzhew has scored six tries in six games against the Sea Eagles.