Live Coverage | The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup - Round 24

Eels earn finals boost with victory over Knights

Anthony Eltarraf

Game Summary

In their final game of the regular season, Parramatta Eels defeated Newcastle Knights 24-4 in a rainy clash at Kellyville Park on Friday night.

It was the Eels who opened the scoring through winger Sean Russell, who dived over in the corner to give his side a four-point lead only four minutes into the opening half.

The hosts dominated possession and field position following their first try, maintaining constant pressure on the Knights’ defence. The Eels finally cracked the Knights defence for the second time when Sean Russell went over again in the corner following a right edge shift to score his second of the night.

Jordan Rankin was unsuccessful in both conversion attempts, meaning Paramatta went into the break, leading 8-0.

The Eels continued their form into the second half, extending their lead through Ky Rodwell who crashed over between the posts, before Jordan Rankin successfully converted the try into six points to give his side a fourteen-point lead.

The Knights desperately needed to find points to get themselves back in the game, and in a much more even second half, they were able to do just that through Nicholas O’Meley. The winger finished off a set play in the corner to score his side’s only try of the night but McKenzie Baker’s unsuccessful conversion attempt meant the margin would remain at 10 points.

Two late tries to Zac Cini in the left corner sealed the victory for Parramatta, with the hosts giving themselves a much-needed boost heading into the finals, defeating the Newcastle Knights 24-4 at Kellyville Park.

Talking Points

Parramatta earned themselves an important victory heading into the finals, securing fifth spot on the ladder to end their regular season.

The Eels’ backline are firing, with both wingers scoring a double tonight and looking lethal in both attack and defense.

Newcastle’s season has unfortunately come to an end as they finished in 10th place.

Key Moment

As both teams looked to score the first points of the second half in order to gain momentum on their side, Ky Rodwell’s four-pointer just six minutes into the half proved crucial in maintaining the Eels’ lead throughout the game, until they were able to secure the victory with two late tries.

The Road Ahead

The Parramatta Eels now look towards the finals as they face the possibility of going up against the Bears or Bulldogs pending further results in Round 24. The Newcastle Knights unfortunately don’t progress to the top five, meaning they have played their last game of the year.

Canberra Raiders v Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles

Raiders win final game of the season

Raiders.com.au 

Game Summary

Canberra Raiders cap their season with a win, defeating Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles 24-12 at GIO Stadium Canberra on Saturday. 

Sea Eagles were first on the scoreboard after a barnstorming run by centre Alfred Smalley, who beat three defenders to muscle his way over the try-line. Halfback Ben Stevanovic successfully converted to give the away side a 6-0 lead after nine minutes of play. 

Raiders hit back a short time later after a cut-out pass by fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad found winger Elijah Anderson, who cut back on the inside to score. Halfback Brad Schneider added the two points to level the scores at 6-6 after 15 minutes. 

Raiders made it back-to-back tries five minutes later. Ata Mariota went within inches of scoring, and the next play saw Nicoll-Klokstad beat three defenders to score a four-pointer. Schneider converted to extend the lead to 12-6. 

Sea Eagles were able to bounce back in their next set, with fullback Jake Toby putting in a grubber, before going over the line to score. Stevanovic kicked the conversion to level the scores at 12-12 after 25 minutes. 

The home side had some golden opportunities to hit the lead late in the first half but Blacktown’s defence held strong. The scores remained locked at 12-12 at the half-time break. 

Defence dominated the early exchanges of the second half, with neither team able to break the deadlock. 

A penalty to the Raiders in the 62nd minute gave the home side good field position and an overlap saw Brad Morkos attempt to score in the corner, but he was denied.  

The Raiders forced a repeat set with nine minutes to go to give themselves the best opportunity of the second half.

A charging run from Peter Hola with eight minutes remaining saw him crash over to score and give the Raiders the lead. 

Schneider was able to add the two points, giving the Raiders a six-point lead with six minutes remaining. 

A perfectly-weighted kick from Schneider saw Nicoll-Klokstad score his second try of the game with two minutes remaining.

Nicoll-Klokstad then kicked the conversion to give the Raiders a 24-12 win. 

Newtown Jets v Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs

Jets claim the Minor Premiership 

Patrick Staveley

Newtown Jets and Canterbury Bulldogs have played out a thrilling 22-22 stalemate at Henson Park to round out the regular season with a Minor Premiership for the home side. 

The match was a topsy-turvy affair where neither side ever had full control. The Jets opened the scoring when a slick backline move sent Addison Demetriou over.

Despite some solid goal line defence, the Jets eventually conceded to the Bulldogs as Jayden Tanner and Paul Alamoti found the line for a 10-6 bulldogs lead at half-time.

The Jets started the second half strong with Kayne Kalache and Reubenn Rennie scoring within the first eight minutes putting the Jets back in front.

Jackson Topine showed some nice footwork to beat a defender to score and bring the Bulldogs back on level terms. Five minutes later and the Jets restored their lead again when Billy Magoulias snapped up an intercept and linked up with Tyla Tamou to score.

The drama only continued when the Bulldogs produced a scintillating effort when Paul Alamoti offloaded to Declan Casey who juggled before putting on a sprint down the sideline and scoring under the posts for his side to lead. With Franklin Pele having the ball stripped illegally. The Jets levelled the score at full-time through a Mawene Hiroti penalty goal.

Talking points

It’s clear both these sides have earnt their spot in the finals. Exciting attack and incredible acts of defence, desperation and hunger. This was an excellent finals preview.

Key moment

The Bulldogs just needed to defend a set to hold out for victory but a penalty in the last minute gave away the win and put their third place spot in danger. 

What’s next

Jets and Bulldogs begin their finals campaign. The Jets will take the first week off.

North Sydney Bears v Mounties

North Sydney Bears dominate Mounties to steal third spot

Hugo Lumb

Game Summary

With Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs drawing with Newtown Jets yesterday, the Bears had to win this match by 47 points or more to steal third spot off the Bulldogs and give them a place in next week’s qualifying final.

After an early error from Mounties, the Bears gained great field position and capitalised immediately, with Kevin Naiqama flicking the ball out to centre Tom Carr, who scored the first four-pointer of the match in the second minute.

Carr would score his second try only 11 minutes later, with the Bears stamping their authority on the match and racing to a 10-point lead. This lead was built with interchange forward Naufahu Whyte diving on a loose ball to cross for another Bears four-pointer in the 22nd minute.

The points kept coming for the Bears, with Kevin Naiqama and Ethan King crossing in the latter stages of the half to bring the score-line to 28-0 at halftime.

Ethan King made it back-to-back tries on the other side of half-time, closing in on that golden 47 point margin that they needed to clinch third spot. Jordin Leiu and Joshua Bergamin scored next to move the Bears within three points of the required margin with just under 30 minutes remaining.

As the resolve of Mounties began to crumble, the four-pointers kept coming with Ethan King crossing for his third to give the Bears a 48-point lead. Following this attacking spree from the Bears, Mounties were able to gain an even share of the ball, with Josh Carr eventually crossing for Mounties first four-pointer.

In response to the brief Mounties resurgence, back-rower Jacob Preston stormed through a gaping hole and ran 20 metres to cross for the Bears 10th try. Five-eighth Kieran Hayman converted Preston’s try from the sideline to regain the Bears lead of 48 points.

A late sin-bin to Mounties halfback Jarrett Subloo for repeated ruck infringements, provided the platform for the Bears to cross once more before full-time. Front-rower Ben Thomas crashed over in the final six minutes to hand the Bears an extraordinary 60-6 victory, giving them third spot on The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup ladder and a double chance in the finals series.

Talking points

It’s clear that the North Sydney Bears have earnt their place in The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup finals series. They executed perfectly in both defence and attack, putting on a performance that coach Jason Taylor would have loved heading into the finals.

Key moment

With the Bears quickly hunting down the required winning margin of 48 points and the resolve of the Mounties side quickly diminishing, Ethan King’s try in the 53rd minute provided a great display of skill and athleticism. King was able to leap into the air and pluck the ball from his opposing wingers grasp to dive over for his third try of the match.

This four-pointer gave the Bears the desired 48-point margin that they desperately needed to steal third spot off the Bulldogs.

What’s next?

Mounties have unfortunately failed to progress to the final series and played their last game of the season. Now that the Bears have remarkably stolen third spot, they will face the Panthers in a qualifying final and be granted a second chance if they lose that game.

Western Suburbs Magpies v St George Illawarra Dragons

Magpies blow away Dragons to finish season

Pranav Harish

Game Summary

Western Suburbs Magpies have finished off their season in style with a 38-22 victory over St George Illawarra Dragons in The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup.

The Red V succumbed to their third straight loss to mark the end of their season in what has been a difficult last thee weeks, conceding more than 30 points in their past three games of footy.

The Dragons capitalised on some penalties through a try to Duke Grant who pounced on a grubber kick to put the ball down, and after a successful conversion the Dragons led 6-0.

Winger Jonathon Reuben was next to score following a Magpies knock-on as the Dragons laid on another four points once again down the western touchline. Reuben did well to put the ball down as the Magpies’ defence attempted to bundle him into touch.

Trailing 10-0, the Magpies were given a much-needed penalty after fullback Zane Camroux was tackled in the air. It helped his side get into attacking field position and score of the next attacking set courtesy of winger Jay Kirk who crossed over down the eastern touchline. Kirk’s try wrestled back the momentum for the Magpies who were on the back foot in the opening 20 minutes of play.  

The Magpies produced some energetic sets off the back of points whilst trailing 10-6. After being handed another attacking set following a Dragons knock-on, the Magpies outside backs combined well to set Kirk up for his second try.

Lackadaisical efforts in defence left referee Nathan Loveday no choice but to keep awarding penalties against St George. It eventually led to forward Ray Jankovic scoring easily under the posts to take the Magpies out to an 18-10 lead into half-time. 

The Dragons opened the scoring in the second half when Aaron Johnson was able to capitalise on a Magpies error to go over next to the posts. Johnson fought his way through the Magpies defence to get the Dragons within two points of the Magpies lead at 18-16.

The Magpies managed to hit back with another try to Kirk who notched up his third for the night. He did well to stay in the field of the play to score and take his side to a 22-16 lead.

Dragons hooker Connor Mulheisen was able to bring scores level at 22-all when he burrowed his way over although that would be the Dragons final points of the 2022 season as the Magpies finished strongly, running in tries to Jimmy Ngutlik, Tyrone Peachey and Brandon Tumeth to finish their season on a high with a 38-22 victory.

Talking Points

Several Magpies players remain unsigned as part of Wests Tigers top 30 squad including James Roberts and Brandon Tumeth while loan players David Nofoaluma and Oliver Gildart are set to come back to into the fold for both sides at the end of the season.

The Tigers are also yet to settle on a long-term halves pairing with Luke Brooks, Adam Doeuihi, Jackson Hastings, and Jock Madden all vying for a spot in the halves. With utility Tyrone Peachy drifting in and out of the Magpies and Tigers squads throughout the season, it will be a busy off-season for both sides to pick their playmakers in a bid to improve their fortunes in 2022.

Key Moment

Behind 12-10 with just over 10 minutes left in the first half, Dragons prop George Burgess was denied a try by the Magpies defence after the forward attempted to barge his way over to try-line to give St George the lead. The Magpies showed plenty of resolve in defence, repelling consecutive attacking sets which proved critical for Western Suburbs to halt the Dragons momentum.

What’s next?

Both sides have played their final game of the 2022 and the Tigers and Dragons are also out of finals contention in the NRL.