Posted:
2024-05-31 08:49:57
Original link:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-05-31/nrl-live-updates-newcastle-knights-vs-canterbury-bulldogs/103896762
Canterbury have produced their best win of 2024, overcoming two sin-bins and an injury to Josh Addo-Carr to snap Newcastle's four-match winning streak.
In wet and miserable conditions the Bulldogs' goal line defence stifled the Knights all evening, while also taking advantage of attacking opportunities.
Canterbury's 32-2 win moves them into the top eight, leapfrogging the Knights on for and against.
The win was soured by a hamstring injury to winger Josh Addo-Carr, who limped off in the 49th minute after scoring a double in the first half.
Addo-Carr said he was hopeful the right hamstring is not injured too badly and he may only miss a fortnight.
"Super proud of the boys' efforts tonight. We're just glad we came away with the two points,' told ABC Sport following the win.
"I'm in good spirits. I've done this hammy before, hopefully one-to-two weeks. Everything happens for a reason brother."
On a four-game winning streak, the Knights came into Friday night's clash with a chance to climb to sixth on the ladder.
But Newcastle's attack was lacklustre and hardly threatened the Bulldogs, despite Canterbury having fullback Connor Tracey sin-binned in the first half, and Toby Sexton sin-binned in the second half.
It was the Bulldogs who were the team to score both times they were down to 12 men.
Jacob Saifiti's headbutt on Canterbury hooker Reed Mahoney in the 79th minute encapsulated the Knight's horror evening.
A dejected Newcastle coach Adam O'Brien said in his press conference he did not believe the bye his team had last weekend was an excuse for the loss.
"There's some guys there that clearly looked like distracted in their performance,"
"We lacked a bit of creativity on the ball. That looked like a team who had had a week off."
Newcastle were the first to score in the seventh minute through the boot of Jackson Hastings.
That penalty came from a professional foul from Tracey, who took out his fullback counterpart David Armstrong who was chasing a loose ball in the in-goal.
Newcastle winger Greg Marzhew grounded the ball in the left corner a few minutes later, but a desperate cover tackle from Jacob Preston pushed Marzhew's foot into touch just before grounding the ball.
Newcastle never truly threatened to score for the rest of the match, as the Bulldogs repelled every attacking raid the Knights launched on their line.
With Tracey in the sin-bin, Josh Addo-Carr retrieved his own chip — following a knock-on from Armstrong — to score the game's first try in the 15th minute.
Addo-Carr was over in the 28th minute after the Bulldogs were gifted field position from another Armstrong dropped ball.
Canterbury's 10-2 half-time lead grew to 12 points when Jacob Preston scored the first of his double in the 48th minute, after Newcastle unsuccessfully challenged a clear drop ball from Marzhew.
Sexton was then sin-binned after the Bulldogs gave up repeated set restarts for infringements while defending their goal line.
But it didn't seem to matter as Josh Curran scored in the 62nd minute, followed by Preston in the 68th.
Bronson Xerri put the cheery on the cake for the Bulldogs with their sixth try in the 74th minute, with a penalty goal following Saifiti's on full-time ending the contest 32-2.
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That's all for the blog this evening
I thought a comment from a reader that the Knights would win by 20 was a little far-fetched, but I certainly did not see the Bulldogs winning by 30.
Canterbury was great tonight and arguably produced their best win in a couple of seasons.
Newcastle will want to forget about this night as quickly as possible and return to the performances that produced four wins leading into this game.
We will be back tomorrow for more NRL live blogging on ABC Sport.
Goodnight.
Disappointed Newcastle coach laments a 'bad, bad night'
Newcastle coach Adam O'Brien has spoken to media after the 30-point loss.
A clearly dejected coach says his side had a "bad, bad night".
"It's a hard one to swallow," he said.
"There was plenty of effort no doubt, but effort on its own is not going to win you the game."
'Pretty rubbish feeling mate'
It was a bad night for the Bulldogs.
Jayden Brailey summed it up pretty well.
"Pretty rubbish feeling mate."
Addo-Carr hoping his hamstring is not too serious
Josh Addo-Carr has joined John Gibbs on ABC Sport following the win.
The Fox had two first-half tries, before going off with a hamstring injury.
He says he hopes he is not out for too long with the injury, but marvelled at his side's effort in the 30-point win.
"Super proud of the boys' efforts tonight. We're just glad we came away with the two points,' he says.
"I'm in good spirits, I've done this hammy before."
Bulldogs fight through adversity to win
Bulldogs centre Jacob Kiraz has joined John Gibbs on ABC Sport.
Kiraz hailed the resilience of his team, who suffered two sin-bins in the win.
"We kept scrambling. Kept fighting for each other … I'm so proud of the boys," Kiraz says.
FULL TIME: Canterbury Bulldogs 32 def. Newcastle Knights 2
What a terrific performance from the Canterbury Bulldogs.
They were brilliant, while Newcastle were poor.
The Knights' attack looked lacklustre, despite twice having a one-man advantage.
79' SIN-BIN: Jacob Saifiti off for a headbutt
Jacob Saifiti has led with his head and hit Bulldogs' hooker Reed Mahoney.
Mahoney had been the centre of Newcastle's frustration over the past few minutes, being hit late twice.
A scuffle led to Jacob Saifiti leading with his head and hitting the Bulldogs number nine.
Saifiti is off. Canterbury kick a penalty goal.
74' TRY: Bulldogs score their sixth try
The Bulldogs are in again.
Bronson Xerri crashes over, after a knock-on from Newcastle winger Greg Marzhew gave the Dogs great field position.
A nice short pass from Reed Mahoney set up that try.
68' TRY: Preston has a double. Bulldogs will win
It's another try for the Bulldogs.
It is Jacob Preston with his second try of this half.
Reed Mahoney put in a grubber kick and Preston beat two Knights to just get his fingertips on the ball.
This game is over.
64' Toby Sexton is back from the sin-bin
For the second time tonight — the Bulldogs scored more points than the Knights when down a player.
62' TRY: Bulldogs score with man in the sin-bin
Josh Curran, take a bow.
A fifth tackle play led Reed Mahoney to put in a left-foot kick which hit a Knight.
The is then kick on by Curran, who chased the ball and grounded it just inside the in-goal.
Outstanding.
58' Bulldogs survive again
Canterbury's goal line defence has been exceptional tonight.
Again the Knights threatened and Jackson Hastings looked like he could score.
But he drops the ball just metres from the line.
This would be a terrific win if they see out the final 22 minutes.
54' SIN-BIN: Toby Sexton has been sent off for a professional foul
Bulldogs halfback Toby Sexton has been sent to the sin-bin.
The Bulldogs were defending their line, and gave away four set restarts.
Toby Sexton was never square, or onside, but makes a tackle on the goal line.
Grant Atkins has seen enough (after consulting the Bunker) and sends Sexton to the sin-bin.
49' Addo-Carr has hamstring tear
ABC Sport sideline reporter John Gibbs has just told the broadcast that Josh Addo-Carr has a hamstring tear.
48' TRY: Bulldogs score after Knights' horror challenge
The Bulldogs have a third try.
Jacob Preston has scored.
They had perfect field position after Newcastle winger Greg Marzhew dropped the ball in the play the ball.
It was a clear drop, but the Knights challenged the ref's call.
Marzhew dropped the ball all by himself and has led to the ABC Sport commentary team calling it the worst challenge they have seen.
"That is the worst challenge ever seen in the history of human beings," Andrew Moore tells the call.
45' Josh Addo-Carr off the field with a leg injury
Oh no, bad news.
Josh Addo-Carr is off. It looks like a right hamstring injury.
After chasing his own kick, Addo-Carr put his hand in the air straight away.
He knew he was done.
We hope it's not too serious.
Conditions 'deteriorating' in Newcastle
The rain continues to fall in the Hunter.
Sideline reporter John Gibbs has called says the conditions are "deteriorating".
Second half is underway in Newcastle
Can the Knights comeback and win?
Will the Bulldogs finish the job?
Canterbury kicks-off and will be running to the right of your screen.
Calling a spade a spade
Evening Michael. Let's call a spade a spade. That was 40 minutes of rubbish from the Knights.
- Old timer (ex-pat Novocastrian)
Hello Old Timer.
Thanks for joining me on the ABC Sport live blog.
I think rubbish might be a little harsh. It is fair to say Newcastle's first half was not as good as we have seen from them over the past month.
I expect the Knights to comeback strong in this second half.
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