It was a performance reminiscent of a bygone era as the Newcastle Knights hammered Sydney Roosters 38-12 at McDonald Jones Stadium on Friday to make it five wins on the trot.
The Knights, roared on by a red and blue army of 25,929, were electric from the opening whistle and went ahead early when Daniel Saifiti stripped the ball.
A panicked Roosters outfit held up play for too long and Newcastle fullback Kalyn Ponga booted the subsequent penalty goal.
The Knights’ defensive pressure then forced Sydney half Luke Keary into an ill-advised pass, which Hymel Hunt gleefully snatched out of the air.
He sprinted away to score under the sticks to put Newcastle up 8-0.
The Knights added another two points soon afterwards when a Mitchell Pearce kick was spilled by the Roosters.
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves gave away a penalty in the next play for holding down Ponga.
The rattled defending premiers finally got on the scoreboard through some smart work from fullback James Tedesco, who took the quick tap from a penalty and weaved his way across the line.
However, Newcastle hit back as Ponga produced his trademark step to beat three defenders to the line.
In another moment of magic, the Knights’ superstar then went into dummy-half and fired a bullet pass for Pearce to score with just a minute and a half left until the break.
The wave of momentum fuelled Newcastle in the second period, with Connor Watson next to score after he raced through a gap and slid over.
Ponga made it 28-6 and added two more when the Roosters were penalised again.
A controversial hit by Waerea-Hargreaves on Ponga forced the crowd-pleaser from the field.
Sydney couldn’t contain the Knights’ drive though and, with Ponga off, Mitch Barnett banged over another penalty kick for 32-6.
Pearce then sealed the match in the 70th minute when he guided a pinpoint pass to Edrick Lee, who scored in the corner.
Barnett nailed the conversion from the sideline.
The Roosters managed a late consolation through Siosiua Taukeiaho.
Newcastle will face the ladder-leading South Sydney Rabbitohs on Friday 7 June at 6pm.
Meanwhile, three Knights have been selected for this Wednesday night’s State of Origin, game one.
David Klemmer lines up in the forwards for NSW, while Ponga and Tim Glasby are in Queensland’s 18-man squad.
More stories:
