Knights edge Dragons 22-20 in close NRL clash

Live: Knights vs Dragons

By Michael Doyle

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Who else is playing in the NRL this weekend?

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By Michael Doyle

Knights coach 'happy' to get the narrow win

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By Michael Doyle

With both State of Origin players rested, the Newcastle Knights scraped through a 22-20 win.

"Obviously happy to win," Knights coach Justin Holbrook said.

"Started really well, up 12-0.

"But credit to the Dragons. We probably dropped a gear and they lifted.

Dean Young proud after 'disappointing' result

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By Michael Doyle

Interim Dragons coach Dean Young is speaking to the media.

Here is his initial summary of the 22-20 loss.

We didn't get the result, which is really disappointing. But really proud of the players' effort and them sticking to the plan and sticking to what we practised during the week.

I think everyone played their role well tonight … There were some opportunities to win the game, but we didn't nail them.

Unfortunately, we put all that effort in, we don't get the result.

'That's footy': Crucial miss costs Dragons

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By Michael Doyle

Valentine Holmes missed two conversions in the second half, and one of them was crucial.

Setu Tu scored the Dragons' third try, the grounded the ball just next to the posts.

Holmes has a simple kick, but shanked his shot and pulled it wide.

It proved costly, with the Dragons losing by two points.

Asked by ABC Sport about the crucial miss, Dragons fullback Clint Gutherson said the unfortunate miss is just part of rugby league.

I didn't even see it, mate. I thought it went over.

When we scored that last try I thought we were kicking for the lead.

That's footy. Things like that happem. We love Val, we love what he does."

'We just need a win': Dragons fullback Clint Gutherson

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By Michael Doyle

St George Illawarra were so close to achieving a second win this season.

They scored more tries than the Knights tonight, but still went down 22-20.

Speaking with ABC Sport, fullback Clint Guterson said the team is desperate for a win to reward their hard work.

You can see what we're building; we just need a win.

We scored more tries than them tonight, which is disappointing.

We're working hard. I know the fans are staying with us and sticking solid.

But being close isn't good enough these days, and we want to win, and it's just disappointing.

Knights happy to find a way to win, says Sharpe

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By Michael Doyle

Fletcher Sharpe scored two tries in the opening nine minutes for the Newcastle Knights.

It looked like the Knights were going to have a comfortable evening, but the Dragons made them work.

Despite winning, the Knights actually scored one less try than the Dragons.

But without Origin stars Kalyn Ponga and Dylan Lucas, the Knights found a way to win and sit third on the live ladder.

Sharpe has spoken with ABC Sport.

We knew with a few people out, we were going to have to scrap for a win at home.

To keep getting wins this time of year is important.

Happy to get away with that one.

FT: Newcastle Knights 22 def. St George Illawarra Dragons 20

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By Michael Doyle

— reporting by AAP

A second win of the season has quite literally slipped through St George Illawarra's fingers in a heartbreaking 22-20 loss to Newcastle at Hunter Stadium.

The last-placed Dragons scored four tries to the Knights' three on Friday night, with two Newcastle penalty goals and Valentine Holmes' wayward boot separating the sides.

Saints had one last chance to snatch a famous victory when five-eighth Daniel Atkinson lofted a bomb into the red zone in the final minute of play.

Excellent to that point, halves partner Kyle Flanagan chased through, but the ball slipped from his grasp as he tried to regather it and score the match-winner.

The Knights held on and moved temporarily into the top four.

Holmes will rue having missed a very straightforward conversion attempt with 20 minutes to play that could have eventually sent the game to golden point.

The former State of Origin representative grimaced after pushing the regulation attempt just to the left of the woodwork.

But the result nevertheless reiterates the Dragons' improvements under interim coach Dean Young.

Only six weeks ago, Newcastle raced out to a 32-0 half-time lead and inflicted a 44-10 defeat on the Dragons in Young's second game at the helm.

Early signs were that history would repeat itself after the Dragons were forced to reshuffle their backline with Moses Suli (back) injured in the warm-up.

Replacing the rested Kalyn Ponga, fullback Fletcher Sharpe feasted on the makeshift edges, crossing twice in the opening 10 minutes.

But unlike in the sides' last meeting, the Dragons would not roll over, and are clearly attacking with far greater confidence than earlier in the year.

So often criticised for their lack of firepower in the halves, all four of the Dragons' tries came directly after kicks from either Atkinson or Flanagan.

The first three of those were from kicks early in the tackle count, with the Dragons also unafraid to throw the ball around in second-phase play.

Second-rower Luciano Leilua gave Saints a lift coming on and helped put Clint Gutherson into a space ahead of Setu Tu's try.

The Dragons' defensive resolve has also found new levels.

Notably, hooker Damien Cook pulled his opposite man Phoenix Crossland down centimetres short of the goal-line in the final minute before half-time.

Ultimately, the Knights' fast start was enough, with Sandon Smith's 54th minute try their only four-pointer after the 10-minute mark.

80' Kyle Flanagan drops the match-winner

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By Michael Doyle

The St George Illawarra Dragons have come so close to snatching this win.

With 40 seconds to play, Daniel Atkinson put up a bomb.

It bounces and the ball goes towards the Knight's goal-line.

Dom Young (Knights) and Kyle Flanagan (Dragons) chase the ball.

Flanagan gets to the ball, but he cannot gather it cleanly and fails to ground the footy.

The Knights survive.

75' Knights comes close to scoring

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By Michael Doyle

Right winger Dom Young makes a big break down the right flank.

He passes inside to Dylan Brown, and the Newcastle number 7 is brought down two metres from the line.

The Knights needed to go to the left wing, but a short grubber, back to the right, from Sandon Smith is covered by the Dragons.

71' TRY: Dylan Egan scores for the Dragons

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By Michael Doyle

The Dragons are threatening a big upset.

Daniel Atkinson put up a kick to the right corner.

Dragons winger Setu Tu leapt high, juggled the ball, then tapped it to Dylan Egan in support.

Egan runs for the corner and scores the try.

Valentine Holmes has a kick from the right touchline, but it hits the post.

Knights still lead.

Knights 22

Dragons 20

68' Knights survive a promising Dragons' attack

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By Michael Doyle

An error from Newcastle's Harrison Graham was compounded when he was called offside, giving the Dragons a penalty.

The Knights had a chance to end the attacking raid, but Sandon Smith was unable to collect the bouncing ball, restarting the tackle count for the Dragons.

The visitors throw everything they can at the Newcastle goal-line, but the home side hold firm and keep the Dragons out.

61' TRY: Setu Tu scores for the Dragons, Holmes misses simple conversion attempt

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By Michael Doyle

Great try from the Dragons.

Luciano Leilua gave an offload to Clint Gutherson which led to a line break.

On the next play, Daniel Atkinson puts in a kick to the in-goal.

The bounce of the ball goes away from Knights fullback Fletcher Sharpe.

Sharpe tried to hit the ball out, but it goes straight to Setu Tu, who scored the easiest of tries.

Valentine Holmes has a kick from next to the posts — MISSED.

Oh no. That is a kick he would kick 100 times out of 100.

Knights 22

Dragons 16

54' TRY: Sandon Smith scores for the Knights

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By Michael Doyle

Brilliant from Sandon Smith.

He put up a bomb that was knocked back by Bradman Best, into the arms of Dylan Brown.

Brown then put in a grubber to the in-goal, and Dragons winger Setu Tu looked to have this covered.

But Smith never gave up, he reached around Tu, and he got one hand on the point of the footy and grounded it.

Smith then converts his own try from the left touchline.

Knights 22

Dragons 12

46' Greg Marzhew on report for high tackle

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By Michael Doyle

Knights winger Greg Marzhew is on report for a high tackle on counterpart Setu Tu.

The penalty gives the Dragons a chance to attack the Knights goal-line.

The Dragons force a goal-line dropout, but the Knights go for a short restart and winger Dom Young leaps high to catch the ball and end the St George Illawarra attack.

Second half of Knights vs Dragons begins

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By Michael Doyle

The Newcastle Knights will have the first use of the ball in the second half.

Leading 16-12, they will run to the left of your screen.

The Knights have a nice set, but Dylan Browns end of set kick is long and goes dead.

The Dragons will have a seven-tackle set starting from the 20-metre line.

HT: Knights 16 lead Dragons 12

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By Michael Doyle

The Newcastle Knights lead by four points thanks to a pair of late penalty goals from Sandon Smith.

The Knights led 12-0 after 10 minutes following a double to Fletcher Sharpe.

But the Dragons did not throw in the towel, they fought hard, and scored two tries to keep themselves well in this contest.

40' PENALTY GOAL: Knights kick goal after almost scoring try

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By Michael Doyle

Dane Gagai makes a line break with 20 seconds left in the half.

He passes to Dylan Brown, who then passes to Phoenix Crossland, who runs for the line.

Dragons' hooker Damien Cook makes the desperate tackle.

It is a messy play-the-ball as Cook doesn't clear the ruck.

Fletcher Sharpe picks up the ball from dummy-half and goes for the line, but he is deemed to have committed a double movement.

With Cook in the ruck, the Knights get a penalty, and Sandon Smith kicks the goal.

Cook is not sent to the sin bin, because the ref says he could not become invisible, but still did not make an attempt to clear the ruck.

If he did not make an attempt to clear the ruck, does it matter if he could not be invisible?

Knights 16

Dragons 12

39' PENALTY GOAL: Sandon Smith gives Knights the lead

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By Michael Doyle

Sandon Smith has an attempt at goal from 25 metres out following the penalty scrum against the Dragons.

Smith makes no mistake.

Knights 14

Dragons 12