Holden Cup Finals: Week 1- Newcastle Knights v St George Illawarra Dragons

Crook converts and the Dragons lead 30-22 with 2 minutes left

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We knock it on from the short kickoff, Really disappointing

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Dragons force a dropout to end the game
 
We didn't get a single bounce of the ball or 50/50 call.
We'd beat those guys 9 times out of 10 and i'd be happy if we get them in the grandfinal, but with all the injuries it might be tough to get to the grandfinal now. We need to be at our best to beat those Broncos.
 
FULLTIME - NYC HOLDEN CUP

St George Illawarra Dragons - 30 (TRIES: Bird 2, Thompson, Clune, Dufty GOLAS: Crook 5/6)

Newcastle Knights - 22 (TRIES: Feeney, Donovan, Tapine, Lamb GOALS: Donovan 3/4)
 
We didn't get a single bounce of the ball or 50/50 call.
We'd beat those guys 9 times out of 10 and i'd be happy if we get them in the grandfinal, but with all the injuries it might be tough to get to the grandfinal now. We need to be at our best to beat those Broncos.

Actually had a few at the end, a lot of chances to score and couldnt do it, lots of penalties given away, own worse enemies. dragons were the better team
 
We had two tackles where the left hand edge attack was perfectly set up, plenty of time to throw the ball about and perhaps even get the points. Instead, Feeney decides he can do it all himself and tries to take all the glory. It's such a shame Cogger is injured because we look 10x better with him leading the side around. We gave away a lot of stupid penalties but that Taylor one before halftime was deadset pathetic and I think, despite it only being two points, made it harder because we found ourselves in a position where we can't level with one try. That said, half their tries could have been stopped with better defense. I understand it's Holden Cup but ****, that was deadset pathetic out there.

Also, why the **** did we not spread it to Sione more? I understand he was banged up but he looked much better later in the second half when we had plenty of ball. I think it may be best to move him to fullback next week to get him more involved. He's ultimately the key to our success.

I seriously wouldn't be surprised if this team goes out in week two and after today's inept performance, we probably deserve to.
 
This may work our way too, a good kick in the pants to ground them again & focus on what they do best again
 
We were pretty horrible, looked nothing like the team that lost only 5 games all year. But I did have a feeling that this would happen, Dragons had alot more to prove after we smashed them last week and they got on top of us early. Our injuries didn't help either. They better pull their fingers out and work harder next week. We'll be versing the winner of Roosters v Warriors I'm pretty sure.
 
We were presented the Minor Premiership after the game, Hopefully that's our bad performance out of the way and we get back to our best !!!

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A loss around this time can really be beneficial. It'll make them train harder and look deeper in areas to improve. It's pretty rare a team stays on a winning streak from the last few rounds of the season all the way to the grand final. Get the loss out of the way now and come back with a bang.

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Wonder where Sione was for that photo. Hopefully that elbow injury isn't very serious.
 
He was struggling with it for most of the game, Mamo struggled as well

Tapine injured that ankle again as well, We could have a few missing next week :anxious:
 
Tapine has been playing with an ankle injury for a long time I think, He twisted it a bit and it obviously hurt like hell.
Mamo is not as strong as he was before his back injury, He probably can't do any weight training, and it shows.
I really hope Sione didn't do any serious damage to his elbow.
Saints did their homework on Lamb and kept the kid pretty quiet.

I hope we don't get the Warriors next week. We'll beat them, but we'll get bashed about by them as well. They are a very physical side.
 
It's looking like we'll be versing the Warriors. They're beating Roosters 22-10 at half time
 
Just didn't take the step up for finals football - no intensity in that performance at all.
 
Dragons defeat NYC Knights

Sat 13th September, 02:35PM

The NYC Newcastle Knights suffered a 30-22 loss to the St George Illawarra Dragons at Allianz Stadium on Saturday afternoon in their qualifying final.

While the young Knights played with plenty of heart, they were unable to keep errors out of their play and will head home disappointed by the opportunity lost.


Having finished in the top four in the home and away season, the side will have a second bite at the cherry next week in the semi-finals.


The young Knights found themselves under plenty of pressure in the opening minutes, the Dragons obviously keen to get one back over their opposition following their loss at Hunter Stadium six days earlier.


In the fourth minute the Knights could do nothing when a brilliant piece of improvised play saw captain Shannon Crook collect a blind pass from winger Sitiveni Moceidreke to grubber on for his halves partner Adam Clune to score.


Crook added the extras to give the Dragons an early 6-0 lead.


Things went from bad to worse for the Knights two minutes later when Joe Tapine was forced from the field after a heavy tackle, Pride Petterson-Robati coming from the bench to slot into the second row.


The Knights looked sure to score in the 15th minute through Brock Lamb, however the five-eighth was pulled back when the referee saw a foul in the build up play from Chance Peni.


The Dragons struck again two minutes later, forward Jack Bird chasing his own grubber to break through the line and score.


Crook again converted to give the Dragons a 12-0 lead with nineteen minutes gone.


The Knights grabbed their first try four minutes later, Tuila Togitasi feeding Jaelen Feeney for the halfback to slip through the Dragons' defence and score.


Bryce Donovan stepped up to the tee and nailed the conversion, the score 12-6 with fourteen minutes to play in the first half.


Tapine returned to the field cleared of concussion but the Knights were struggling to keep the Dragons at bay as they racked up a considerable penalty count against them.


Dragons lock Vincent Stowers nearly scored in the 33rd minute, only to knock-on five metres from the tryline as he attempted to collect a loose ball.


Four minutes later Petterson-Robati took it on himself to lift his team, producing a neat chip-and-chase on the last tackle to break through the line and pass on to Peni.


Peni was unable to capitalise with his grubber and the Dragons raced up the field to almost score again through second-rower Jack Bird.


Returning fullback Jake Mamo was able to usher the ball dead but the Dragons nabbed themselves a penalty goal in the following set, the score 14-6 as the halftime siren sounded.


Early in the second half the Knights bagged their second try of the afternoon, Mamo's grubber putting the ball on a platter for winger Braden Robson to collect and score.


Donovan was unable to convert from a tight angle, the score now 14-10 with six minutes played in the second half.


The Dragons struck back straight away with fullback Matt Dufty slipping past several defenders to score in the right corner.


Crook's attempted conversion was waved away, but with the score now at 18-10 the Dragons had regained their halftime lead with thirty minutes to play.


The Knights needed to lift again and Joe Tapine came up with the goods three minutes later, showing raw strength to force his way over the line with four defenders clinging on.


Donovan was successful in his conversion this time, the ball bouncing in off the upright to leave the score at 18-16.


Despite some scintillating attack the Knights were still struggling in defence, the Dragons' Jack Bird bagging his second with a strong run on the left flank.


Crook converted, the scoreline at 24-16 with nineteen minutes to play.


The Dragons didn't let up, a series of strong runs from his forward pack giving Crook the platform to place a tricky grubber between the uprights.


Lachlan Fitzgibbon fumbled the ball and Jack Kanavagh dived on the opportunity, rolling across the line with defenders scurrying.


Grounding for the potential try was unclear, and the decision went to the video referee, who ruled in favour of the Knights.


The Knights bounced back with a series of solid plays, Brock Lamb showing quick reflexes to collect his own deflected kick and dive over the line.


It was a fortuitous play from the five-eighth but Donovan made no mistakes with the conversion, the score now 24-22 with eleven minutes to play.


The Knights continued to push and with six minutes remaining the Dragons' Moceidreke unwittingly made contact with a Knights' kick that was going out.


The Knights assembled their scrum ten metres from the tryline but were unable to break through in the subsequent set, Tapine losing the ball under pressure.


With time running out the Knights went for a Captain's Challenge, the video referee ruling a strip from the Dragons.


Joe Boyce crossed over soon after and the Knights looked as though they had pulled off a remarkable comeback, but the referee ruled obstruction in the build up play from Fitzgibbon.


The Dragons took full advantage of the decision two minutes later, Izaac Thompson collecting a pass from Crook to score in the left corner.


Crook's conversion was successful, the score 30-22 when the full-time siren sounded.


SUMMARY


Dragons: 30 (T: Clune, Bird 2, Dufty, Thompson G: Crook 4/5 P: 1/1)


Knights: 22 (T: Feeney, Tapine, Lamb, Donovan G: Donovan 3/4)


http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news/2014/09/13/dragons_defeat_nyc_knights_.html





 
It's official, We play the Warriors next week
The Roosters getting knocked out first round is a good thing. They were a danger side for us.
We have too much class for the Warriors, but the problem is that they play hard and dirty and we will get knocked around. Hopefully we get a ref who won't let them get away with it, because we need to get all our players fit and ready to beat the Broncos if they are the team we play to make the grandfinal.
 
Eels are ahead of the Broncos.
That would be a good result for us. Warriors and Eels would be about the kindest draw we could hope for. Both teams we are too good for.
 
well today was a major let down... the forwards were out muscled and out played today. pakau is still heavy and terribly unfit, boyce is a lightweight who doesnt offer very much, and taylor is just out and out useless... need to bring pride into the 13, tapine into the front row and where ever pondekas has ended up he needs to come back asap... his work rate along with pride are the best in the team... tui togatasi also should be close to a starting spot. changes need to be made asap....feeney also needs to realise its a team game too, not an individual sport...
 
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