Knights' NRL season on tilt after fifth-straight loss
Newcastle's NRL season is threatening to implode as the Warriors consigned the Knights to a five-game losing streak with their 26-12 win in Christchurch.
The Knights' attack was once again their biggest issue on Friday night and now averages just 7.2 points across the side's last five outings.
Their right edge also struggled to defuse Chanel Harris-Tavita's kicking game close to the line as Newcastle fell to a match-defining 16-0 half-time deficit.
Newcastle have not led any game on their longest losing streak for nearly three years and could slip to last on the ladder if they fall to South Sydney at Magic Round next week.
The drums will no doubt beat louder for sixth-year coach Adam O'Brien should they drop that must-win game.
Adam Pompey gets us started! 😝#NRLWarriorsKnights pic.twitter.com/rbvm5vDOiN— NRL (@NRL) April 25, 2025
The Knights will take some confidence from recent history; they memorably sat 14th on the ladder after 19 rounds in 2023 before riding a Kalyn Ponga-inspired surge into the top eight.
But even superstar fullback Ponga is struggling to spark the 2025 Knights, who never had this long a losing streak two seasons ago.
Halves pairing Harris-Tavita and Luke Metcalf were superb for a Warriors side that remains entrenched in the top four through eight rounds with a 5-2 record.
The Warriors' first two tries came on the back of Harris-Tavita's kicks inside the red zone, first as Kurt Capewell regathered the ball to find Adam Pompey, then as Ali Leiataua sent an inside pass to Jackson Ford.
Metcalf dragged Greg Marzhew's arm into touch as the winger looked certain to score the Knights' first try before grabbing an intercept from opposite man Jack Cogger and sprinting 65 metres ahead of Wayde Egan's second-half try.
By contrast, the Knights' halves Cogger and Fletcher Sharpe each sprayed a kick dead on the side's first two advances towards the line.
In another wasted chance, James Schiller dropped the ball when he looked certain to score from a Dane Gagai tap-on, the toughest moment on a tough night for the right winger.
The Warriors scored minutes after each of Newcastle's two first-half tries scrubbed out by the bunker, with Ford backing up in support to seal his first double.
Gagai set Schiller up by burning Leiataua down the right edge 10 minutes after the break.
But Metcalf's intercept dampened the Knights' spirits only minutes later and Pompey sealed his own double to confirm the result in the last 10 minutes.
Marata Niukore and Leo Thompson could be charged by the match review committee after landing in the sin bin for high shots in the opening five minutes.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
2 hours ago
- News.com.au
Cowboys vs. Dolphins Supercoach preview
Tom Sangster, Tim Moodie, and Brandon Savage preview the round 15 Queensland derby clash between North Queensland and the Dolphins.
News.com.au
3 hours ago
- News.com.au
Gosford preview: Kris Lees confident in Golden Smile's potential over staying trip
Imported mare Golden Smile faced a stiff challenge when she stepped up to city company last start but trainer Kris Lees looks to have found an ideal race back in provincial company Golden Smile placed in her first three starts this campaign before breaking through with a big all-the-way win in a Newcastle Maiden on a Heavy 10 over 1890m before stepping up to a Benchmark 64 on the Kensington 11 days later when fifth to Rotagilla over 1800m. 'She was very good in winning but the wet track may have aided her,' said Lees. 'It was a big jump going to town last start and coming back a little in distance could have been detrimental to her. 'Going up to 2100 metres this week looks a nice option for her. 'She is still going to get a winter track this week and she seems to be in good order.' A good day for Newcastle trainers, claiming four winners on the home track today. A winning double for @Leesracing and @gibbo7822 with Golden Smile (Race 1) and First Person (Race 7) while David Atkins (Scholl Deep - R6) and @perry_racing1 (General Soho- R4) also had success.… â€' Newcastle Racecourse (@newcastleraces_) May 3, 2025 The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here! The daughter of Sea The Stars drops back to a Class 1 and Maiden Plate and steps up to 2100m. 'This looks a nice race for her. A bit of a gap between runs may suit her as well being a European-bred mare,' he said. Lightly-raced three-year-old Hawker Hall kicked off his campaign with a three-and-a-half length win over 900m on his home track on April 23 and wasn't seen on raceday again until May 26 when fifth to Prima Bella on a Heavy 10 over the same track and distance. He steps up to 1100m this week in the Class 1 Handicap with Jason Collett back on board. 'We wanted to find the right track and run him at home again,' Lees said. 'The other day, it might have just been a bit too heavy for him. 'He's a big, heavy horse and he does like a bit of cut in the ground but not really testing like it was. 'It was just a bit waterlogged that track and made a bit of hard work for him. 'He might be better suited now getting out over just a little bit further to get a more controlled run (in front).' Lees has been pleased with the form of Surreal I Am in Queensland this preparation where he has won two of his three starts and feels he deserves a chance back in New South Wales. The gelding lines up in the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1600m) where he will make his presence felt. An easy watch for favourite backers! ðŸ'Œ Hawker Hall wins first up with Jason Collett on board for the @Leesracing stable! â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 23, 2025 'His two wins on the Sunshine Coast were on the polytrack but that said, I can't fault him at home,' he said. 'He will be a place chance.' Joining him in that race is Oakfield Mamselle who is resuming from a spell. While she has a win and a second from three first-up runs, Lees feels she will be improved by this run. 'She seems to be coming up well. Her trials were only fair but her work since has been pleasing,' he said. Lees' other runner for the meeting is Enchanted World in the opening race, the 2&3YO Maiden Handicap (1100m). The daughter of Ardrossan debuted on her home track on May 26 where she settled last and came between runners in the straight to finish a three-and-a-quarter length second behind Pratt. 'She was okay on debut and will appreciate stepping up a little in trip,' said Lees. Lees also has Denuto and Irish Thunder running at Ballina and feels they will be competitive in their respective assignments. 'Denuto hasn't been far away and is close to getting a result. Hopefully he can break through,' he said. 'Irish Thunder ran well first-up. He just got hampered a little. 'He has improved from that and should run well.' â– â– â– â– â– The week started well for trainer Scott Henley when stable star Volcanic Love trialled stylishly at Grafton and he hopes it can end on a high note with a winning double. Henley was pleased when the meeting originally set for Lismore was moved to Ballina when his promising filly Confederate Lady races so well. The three-year-old had her first three starts at the track where she recorded an impressive maiden win over 1012m at just her second career start and placed in her other two runs at the venue. 'I'm definitely not disappointed they moved the meeting to Ballina. She loves the joint,' said Henley. Since resuming with a close third in a Class 1 on a Heavy 10 at Ballina on April 8, Confederate Lady has finished third behind the promising Seymour Stars at Port Macquarie and an unlucky fourth to Takemine at Inverell. Confederate Lady takes out the Maiden Handicap at Ballina for Scott Henley! ðŸ'¥ â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 28, 2024 'She was just a gallop short going into that run because we'd had plenty of rain up here and couldn't get her tied right down. 'Then she ran into a good horse at Port Macquarie. 'Last start she got back further than we expected and was a bit stiff. The daughter of Supido is out to add to her record when she steps out in the Benchmark 58 Handicap (1000m) where she has drawn barrier 15 although she will come in after scratchings. 'I had her in a couple of Class 1 races that were washed out and the only available race at the next meeting has been a Benchmark 58,' he said. 'Each time in those Class 1s, to my way of thinking, she was a good thing. 'In the (benchmark) 58s, we go from a good thing to just a chance. 'From a wide gate this week, she is just a good chance with luck in running.' Henley has been pleased with the two runs of former Victorian three-year-old Zouandme and gives him a good chance in the Country Boosted Maiden Plate (1000m). The gelding raced on a hot speed when seventh at Grafton first-up before being beaten just over a length when sixth at Inverell. 'He has those two runs,' he said. 'He was big in condition first-up and had a good blow after the race. 'He improved a fair bit off that going into the race at Inverell and has come on nicely since then. 'The only reservation I have is the very heavy track.'
ABC News
4 hours ago
- ABC News
Kurt Mann's Maroons State of Origin debut reward for toughness shown in junior days
Queensland debutant Kurt Mann is one of the NRL's toughest players and it all goes back to the day he played a rugby league match and ran a cross-country with turmeric powder stuffed up his nose. Mann is set to get his first taste of State of Origin from the Maroons' interchange bench in the second match of the series in Perth next Wednesday. ABC Sport will have live blog coverage of the State of Origin series. The Canterbury utility grew up in the Central West Queensland town of Winton and attended St Brendan's College in Yeppoon. Mann was coached by Terry Hansen at St Brendan's, a well-known rugby league nursery. Hansen never went to a match without a can of turmeric powder in his back pocket, forever confident in the spice's healing powers. Mann was in grade 11 and playing for St Brendan's A side when he suffered a nose injury. Hansen grabbed the bloodied Mann and put the turmeric powder up his nose before he returned to the match and played exceptionally for his team. "'Hanso' put the turmeric up my nose because I broke it," Mann said with a grin. "We had the school cross-country the next day and he made me run in it with a broken nose too. I couldn't breathe out of it because I had a turmeric pack up my nose. "He has done a couple of strange things to me, Hanso. "I got a cork another time and he got a cup and lit a bit of paper. He put the paper in the cup while it was on fire and stuck it on my leg and sucked my leg into the cup like a vacuum. "Hanso was a great coach and a great mentor to me at St Brendan's. He taught me a lot about footy and toughness as well." At 32, Mann will become Queensland's second-oldest State of Origin debutant, behind the late Arthur Beetson in 1980. His journey to the Origin arena follows stints in the NRL with the Storm, Dragons, Knights and Bulldogs, who he joined in 2024. Mann has played a crucial role for the Bulldogs, who lead the ladder after 14 rounds. "At the start of the year, I probably would have thought all this [State of Origin] was kind of past, me being the age I am, but it's a credit to the team we have at the Bulldogs," Mann said. "I probably wouldn't have been a look-in if it wasn't for the way we've started the year there, so [I'm] really excited, especially being a boy from Winton. "It's a lifelong dream to represent my state." Mann is the ultimate utility, having plugged positional holes throughout his NRL career. "I've actually started a game in every position, bar front-row," he said. "I've played a little bit of front-row as well, a couple of weeks back against the Roosters. "I've played enough footy now that I think I can get the job done wherever." Mann said Winton would celebrate his Origin debut. "It'll be huge," Mann said. "When they found out I was 18th man last game … there's a big water tower in town and it's usually white, but they turned it all maroon. "I don't know how they managed that, so I think it'll be a pretty good atmosphere in Winton." AAP
