The Knights put their horror week behind them to escape with a 14-10 win over the Tigers despite a second-half fightback from the home side at Campbelltown Stadium.
A galvanized Knights team fell apart in the first half and built a three-try lead thanks to a brace from Enari Tuala and another from Tex Hoy.
But the Tigers came out of the half-time break fired up and tried Brent Naden and Asu Kepaoa for a podium finish.
But the Knights were able to hang on and end their four-game losing streak … and finally move on from a dramatic week after the David Klemmer saga.
MATCH CENTER: Tigers vs Knights live score, video, stats
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BIG SUCCESS
“GALVANIZED” KNIGHTS BOUNCE FROM TOR WEEK
It seems the Knights’ week of terror surrounding David Klemmer’s disciplinary issue didn’t tear the group of players apart at all, but rather brought them together and inspired a much-needed win.
While mistakes crept in during the second half and the Tigers finally got going to set up a podium finish, it was the Knights’ clinical first half that set them up for victory.
Jake Clifford set up Enari Tuala for the first two tries and the smarts of skipper Jayden Brailey sent Tex Hoy over as the Tigers looked at a loss for answers.
“Who are these gentlemen and where have they been,” said Fox League commentator Warren Smith.
“It seems to have galvanized them, they’ve come with a lot of energy,” added Michael Ennis.
The Knights’ second half left a lot to be desired – a 56% completion rate is worrying. But manager Adam O’Brien and his playing group will feel a sense of relief after ending their four-game losing streak and answering all the club’s noise this week.
The win came after Cooper Cronk warned before the game that the Knights’ response would tell us a lot about the playing group.
“If they’re an engaged group, I think we’ll have a reaction,” he said.
THE TIGERS GO FROM “HERO TO ZERO”
A lot can happen in rugby league in a week – just look at the Tigers.
Last week they produced a stunning upset over the Broncos, who were chasing a top-four finish, and then on Sunday they were beaten by a team just one place ahead of them on the ladder.
As Braith Anasta said at half-time, the Tigers went “from hero to zero” in the space of eight days and not even a second-half fightback could save them.
“They are not the side they were last week,” Anasta added.
The Knights were split in the first half with Fox League analyst Michael Ennis blasting the Tigers’ “turnstile” defence, calling their ruck defense in particular “atrocious”.
And things weren’t much brighter on the other side of the ball.
“They’ve got no answers at the moment… The Tigers’ attack is just offering very little, not troubling Newcastle’s defensive line at all,” Ennis said.
But something clicked at half-time and the Tigers burst into life with halves Adam Doueihi and Jock Madden leading the way.
Doueihi’s bombs caused big headaches for the Knights’ back three, while Madden went 40/20 in just his 13th NRL game.
But not even Madden’s 40/20 could give the Tigers the spark they desperately needed with the game on the line as their next set of six was declared “terrible” by Ennis.
“That was one of the worst sets of the whole season, it was terrible,” he said.
“He came off the back of a high kick field, was an absolute ripper and got the rebound perfectly.
“A full six pack attacking the Knights line and they tried a good old fashioned run and from there they went coast to coast and did absolutely nothing with their footy. Horrible of the tigers of the west.”
‘DANGEROUS’ MILFORD THROWS THE STREET GAME
Anthony Milford wound back the clock and unleashed his running game in the Knights’ morale-boosting win.
The 28-year-old, who has built a career with an electric running game, made his intentions clear early in the game.
“He looks dangerous, he’s in the mood to run, that’s when he’s at his best,” Michael Ennis said.
Milford made 11 runs and finished with 103 metres, his highest since making his debut for the Knights in round 11.
The former Bronco and Raider also had four tackles, three offloads and a line-breaking assist, while Cooper Cronk said at half-time his kicking game was “key” in the Knights’ lead with the star scoring a 40/20 early on.
TEAMS
tigers: 1. Daine Laurie 2. Brent Naden 3. Starford Toa 4. Asu Kepaoa 5. Ken Maumalo 6. Adam Doueihi 7. Jock Madden 8. James Tamou 9. Fa’manu Brown 10. Joe Ofahengaue 11. Alex Seyfarth 12 Kelma Tuilagi 13. Fonua Pole 14. Zane Musgrove 15. Austin Dias 16. Thomas Freebairn 17. Tyrone Peachey. Substitute player: 18. Junior Tupou
knights: 1. Tex Hoy 2. Enari Tuala 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Dominic Young 6. Anthony Milford 7. Jake Clifford 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Daniel Saifiti 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Brodie Jones 13 Mitchell Barnett 14. Phoenix Crossland 15. Simi Sasagi 16. Pasami Saulo 17. Mathew Croker. Substitute: 18. Jack Johns
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