NRL: Knights keep finals hopes alive

Chris Houston of the Knights offloads the ball after being tackled hard by the Sharks defence. Photo / Getty Images

Knights 18
Sharks 0

Newcastle arm-wrestled with Cronulla for the best part of an hour in their NRL match, before eventually pulling away to win 18-0 and re-ignite their finals hopes.

The Knights moved into eighth spot and will stay there unless Penrith upset Manly on Sunday.

Fielding an under-strength line-up with Wes Naiqama and Neville Costigan out of the side, the Knights were also forced to overcome an 8-3 penalty count against them in the first half.

Apart from a Kurt Gidley penalty goal in the 12th minute, there was nothing between the two sides in the first half, but with both sides blowing key chances, it was only a matter of time before something was to finally give.

The turning point eventually came in the 52nd minute when Sharks youngsters Nathan Stapleton and Nathan Gardner tried their hand at a bit of magic from a kick-return, before spilling the ball and gifting the Knights golden field position.

Winger Stapleton took the kick and made an incisive run, but will rue his decision to pop a risky pass to Gardner, with the ball not quite finding its mark and the fullback knocking on.

From the ensuing set the Knights spread to the right and despite a dusty pass from halfback Jarrod Mullen, Keith Lulia was able to throw the right ball for Akuila Uate to score in the corner.

Newcastle took a stranglehold on the match minutes later, when Gidley got his nose through the line and found Matt Hilder, who was strong enough to force his way over from close range for a 14-0 lead - before the captain posted two further penalty goals to put the result beyond doubt.

The Knights clung to their 2-0 advantage over Cronulla at halftime, with the Sharks best chance to post points being knocked back by video referee Chris Ward with 10 minutes to go before the break.

Stapleton claimed a try and although he was losing the ball, it looked possible the video ref might decide there was no separation between hand and ball. But after several looks Ward put up the red light.

The Sharks, who were without skipper Paul Gallen, had centre Colin Best put on report for sticking his leg out in an attempt to stop Uate's try.

- AAP