NEWCASTLE, the party poopers. Well, almost.
On a day billed as a celebration of Chris Heighington’s 300-game milestone and Cronulla’s 50th birthday, the Sharks were saved from an embarrassing loss to the Knights by the boot of five-eighth James Maloney.
Seemingly in control at 18-6 with 25 minutes remaining, the Sharks faithful were left speechless as the ever-improving Knights rallied to level at 18-18 by the 71st minute through tries to Brendan Elliot and Jacob Gagan.
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However, with just two minutes remaining, a typically powerful surge from Andrew Fifita gave the Sharks the vital field position for Maloney to slot the matchwinning field-goal for their first home victory this season.
The scratchy performance was well short of their premiership-winning form which they will need for the grand final rematch with Melbourne next Sunday.
Chris Heighington played his 300th NRL game.Source:News Limited
Cronulla winger Gerard Beale ensured the hosts would play from in front after six minutes, teaching former Sharks flanker Gagan — making his Newcastle debut — a lesson in the process.
Beale showed too much pace to pounce on a clever Chad Townsend kick.
The Knights regained their composure with five-eighth Brock Lamb once again displaying class beyond his years.
Dropping a perfectly weighted kick in behind a Sharks defensive line too slow to react, Lamb’s boot gifted Englishman Joe Wardle his first NRL try and a 6-6 all scoreline.
A disallowed try to Ricky Leutele in the 16th minute frustrated the Sharks, however they managed to extend their lead to 8-6 through a penalty goal in the 29th minute.
The Knights nearly pulled off an incredible upset.Source:News Limited
On the back of a favourable 6-2 penalty count, the Sharks kept the scoreboard ticking over in the 32nd minute with the combination of Maloney and a lofted pass from Valentine Holmes, hitting winger Sosaia Feki perfectly on the chest for a 14-6 halftime lead.
Holmes again stepped up to leave the home fans standing in their seats.
Using his blistering speed in the 55th minute, the Cronulla fullback retrieved a kick from his own 10m line, sliced past the Newcastle defensive line, linked with centre Jack Bird in support before backing up to touch down spectacularly in the corner.
Maloney’s missed conversion kept the Knights interested at 18-6.
The momentum was entirely with the Sharks when from nowhere, the underdogs stunned almost all of the 12,000-strong crowd.
Valentine Holmes produced a mixed bag at fullback.Source:News Limited
Newcastle’s comeback began through an 80m runaway try to Elliot, who cut through from the scrum base, leaving the Sharks chasers in his wake.
Then it was Gagan who came up with the match-levelling try, through a red-faced play from Holmes.
Fumbling a punching Knights kick towards his in-goal, Holmes’ howler allowed Gagan to climb over the top of him to plant the football down.
As cool as you like, Trent Hodkinson nailed the touch line conversion to make it 18-18 all with eight minutes remaining.
Originally published as Sharks escape valiant Knights
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