NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS 32 CANBERRA RAIDERS 12
IAN HOWE, McDonald Jones Stadium, Sunday

NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS moved up into second place on the NRL ladder with four wins out of five thanks to their first win at home since June last year.

Meanwhile the Raiders, who finished in first position last year, now find themselves next to bottom with just one win out of five.

Canberra had scored first, when Ethan Strange created a try under the posts for Simi Sasagi.

But the Knights, playing expansive rugby, gradually took charge, with wingers Greg Marzhew and Dom Young both scoring try doubles.

They led 10-6 at half-time – Fletcher Sharpe following Marzhew over – but when Savelio Tamale was sin binned for a professional foul they scored two tries through Young and Phoenix Crossland while he was off the field.

Marzhew then made it 26-6 with ten minutes remaining, and that was without their marquee players, the injured Kalyn Ponga and Dylan Brown.

Following an Ethan Strange consolation, the Knights’ final try came when Fletcher Hunt burst through the line and put Young 55 metres down the wing to send the fans into raptures as Sandon Smith added the final conversion.

KNIGHTS: 1 Fletcher Hunt, 2 Dom Young, 3 Dane Gagai, 4 Bradman Best, 5 Greg Marzhew, 6 Fletcher Sharpe, 7 Sandon Smith, 8 Jacob Saifiti, 9 Phoenix Crossland, 10 Trey Mooney, 11 Dylan Lucas, 12 Jermaine McEwen, 13 Mat Croker. Subs: 14 Harrison Graham, 15 Tyson Frizell, 16 Pasami Saulo, 17 Thomas Cant (not used), 18 Tyson Gamble (not used), 19 Wilson De Courcey

Tries: Marzhew (29, 69), Sharpe (33), Young (44, 77), Crossland (48); Goals: Smith 4/6

RAIDERS: 1 Kaeo Weekes, 2 Savelio Tamale, 3 Simi Sasagi, 4 Sebastian Kris, 5 Xavier Savage, 6 Ethan Strange, 7 Ethan Sanders, 8 Josh Papalii, 9 Tom Starling, 10 Joseph Tapine, 11 Hudson Young, 12 Noah Martin, 13 Corey Horsburgh. Subs: 14 Jayden Brailey, 15 Zac Hosking, 16 Ata Mariota, 17 Morgan Smithies, 18 Chevy Stuart (not used), 19 Matthew Timoko (not used)

Tries: Sasagi (11), Strange (71); Goals: Sanders 2/2; Sin bin: Tamale (43) – professional foul

SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-6, 4-6, 10-6; 14-6, 20-6, 26-6, 26-12, 32-12

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Knights: Greg Marzhew; Raiders: Simi Sasagi

Penalty count: 6-5; Half-time: 10-6; Referee: Adam Gee; Attendance: 23,002