A gallant Wests Tigers have fallen to the Newcastle Knights 12-6 at McDonald Jones Stadium.
It was a tight tussle to opening proceedings in Newcastle, with a capacity crowd donning beanies in support of the Mark Hughes Foundation.
Tony Sukkar found the stripe to get the visitors on the board – his first try in the top-grade – as part of an assured first 20 minutes for Benji Marshall’s men.
Taylan May was taken from the field midway through the first half after the reoccurrence of a shoulder injury that has punctuated his 2026.
The Tigers were strong on both sides of the ball in the first half, taking advantage of several errors from the Knights to have the better share of possession and keep the hosts scoreless.
The heavens opened on the stroke of half time as the Tigers went to the break with a 6-0 advantage.
The Knights got on the board through Dylan Lucas mid-way through the second half as conditions became increasingly testing for both sides.
A long range effort from the Knights in the dying minutes would ultimately be enough to secure a scrappy win.
Key stats:
195m – Heamasi Makasini topped the Tigers total run metres after being subbed on for the injured Taylan May.
Terrell May – the tireless middle topped the Tigers tackle count once more with 45 alongside Api Koroisau.
Adam Doueihi – recorded four tackle breaks in his return from injury, along with one try assist.
The moments:
2nd minute – Dane Gagai puts Dom Young away down the wing for the Knights. Young picks up Brown in support for a 'try' but the bunker rules it out as Jermaine McEwen is penalised for obstruction in the lead-up.
11th minute – Adam Doueihi comes up with two huge plays, first stripping the ball one-on-one from a runaway Dane Gagai before delivering a short ball for Tony Sukkar to carry a couple of defenders over the line for a Tigers try. Doueihi converts. 6-0
17th minute – Taylan May tries to tackle a hard-charging Jermaine McEwen but comes reeling out clutching his shoulder. May’s afternoon is over as Heamasi Makasini comes on.
54th minute – Kalyn Ponga turns Dylan Lucas underneath him on the left edge and the NSW Blues back-rower powers 20 metres to score the Knights first try. Ponga converts. 6-6
60th minute – The Knights turn the ball over 10 metres out from the Tigers line and Heamasi Makasini swoops on the loose ball and races 75 metres before Kalyn Ponga tracks him down just before the line.
74th minute – Jahream Bula contests a bomb on the Knights line but loses it forward. The ball spills into the in-goal where Bradman Best sends a pass to Dom Young who gets into Tigers territory, before linking back up with Best to score. Kalyn Ponga converts. 12-6
What they said:
NRL Head Coach, Benji Marshall
"I thought for most of that game we were the better team to be honest, and I thought we lost it [the game]. There are a couple of key moments in the game that are hurting us at the moment.
"There was a lot that I liked today, but the fact we couldn't ice that game, given the possession and the good ball sets we had [is disappointing]."
