Monday Knights get it right again
Brett Keeble
ANOTHER Monday night, another 32-12 win for the Knights, but still some room for improvement.
That was the potted version of Newcastle's performance against an outgunned Gold Coast at Skilled Park last night.
Even down to the final score, and running in six tries to two, it was a carbon copy of their victory over Parramatta at EnergyAustralia Stadium seven days earlier and kept the Knights in eighth spot with four games left in the NRL regular season.
The Knights joined the Raiders, Dragons, Tigers and Warriors in a five-way logjam on 24 points but are eighth on for-and-against points difference.
Newcastle (plus 57) were effectively sitting in seventh spot leading 32-6 in the final minute but Titans prop Brad Meyers scored a converted try moments before the siren so the Knights trail the Dragons (plus 63) and Raiders (plus 72).
In handing the Titans (22 points) their fourth straight loss, and effectively knocking them out of the finals race, Newcastle notched their third straight win for the first time in two years and set up a blockbuster against the red-hot Raiders at Canberra Stadium on Sunday.
Captain Danny Buderus, who had a running battle with referee Steve Lyons as the Knights were on the wrong end of an 11-5 penalty count, said his side had to improve in several areas to compete in the national capital.
"Going back six weeks ago, we'd have taken a win any way we could get it, even if it was a wonky field goal in the last 10 seconds, but we're at a point now where we can do better," said Buderus, who had ice packs on his elbow, knees and ankles and needed stitches to close a head gash.
"Defensively, that wasn't up to scratch for us. The ruck was too quick, and when we're not winning the ruck, that's when the penalties come, so we've got to clean that up and clean it up quick.
"We get a few more blokes back next week and, if you think back to the start of the year, you'd say we'd be pretty happy to be where we are now, especially when you think of where we came from last year.
"We're all pretty happy quietly happy and we're not really making a big deal of it because we've got a big weekend this weekend down there in Canberra."
Knights coach Brian Smith said he watched a replay yesterday of the Raiders' 74-12 rout of Penrith in Canberra last Sunday and knows his side must be stronger for longer periods to match strides with the Green Machine.
"They've got some physical about them too, so we'll need to get some tough pills ready for next week, I think," Smith said.
Veteran centre Adam MacDougall was in everything in the first half, scoring a try, setting up another and being reported for two incidents in the space of 20 seconds.
The former NSW and Australian game-breaker was reported for head-slamming Titans centre Gavin Cooper, then he and Steve Simpson were reported for a dangerous throw on Michael Hodgson.
"We'll have a look at what happened there and make some comments or do whatever we need to do at the appropriate time," Smith said.
The Knights scored three tries in eight minutes midway through the first half to lead 16-6 at half-time, then effectively secured the two points when centre Junior Sau crossed for his second try a minute into the second half.
That spoiled the NRL debut of 16-year-old Gold Coast prodigy Jordan Rankin, who came off the bench in the 52nd minute and gave plenty of cheek.
Rankin almost scored a try in the 60th minute but could not handle Josh Graham's pass, then his deflected kick led to Meyers's try in the final seconds.
At 16 years and 238 days, he became the third youngest debutant in the game's 100-year history, the youngest since Jack Arnold (Wests) in 1936, and the youngest halfback ever.
Only three other players the Roosters' Ray Stehr (1929), South Sydney's Paul Mellor (1991) and Cronulla's Adam Ritson (1993) were 16 when they played their first first-grade game.
"The game went so quick but it was a dream come true," the year 11 Palm Beach Currumbin High School student told Fox Sports.
"I can't believe I'm here with all these teammates. I just want to make my friends and family proud of me.
"It's something I've worked on for years. It's surreal being here . . . I got roughed up but that's something you expect.
"I'm back to school tomorrow. I've got to start studying for my end-of-term tests."
Rankin began the year as captain of the Gold Coast's SG Ball (under-18) team and led them to the finals in their first year in the NSWRL junior representative competition.
He was then promoted to their National Youth Competition (under-20) team and they were unbeaten in the six matches he played.
The Burleigh Bears junior was in camp with the Australian Schoolboys in Brisbane last Wednesday when he was summoned to Titans training.
But, in the grand scheme of things, the Knights reduced Rankin's story to subplot status last night.
Titans coach John Cartwright said his side still clung to a mathematical hope of making the finals but need to win three of their final four games.
The Titans trounced the Knights 40-6 in the NYC match.
The titans supporters didnt make a sound after we got those 3 quick trys