The Cronulla Sharks powered past Newcastle to win an NRL trial match 30-6 at Maitland’s No.1 Sportsground on Saturday.
After an intense start from both sides, Cronulla’s Josh Dugan exposed the Knights’ right side when he slipped through a gap to score in the fifth minute.
The Sharks began to dominate possession and cracked Newcastle’s defence two more times in the first period.
Josh Morris pounded on a loose ball in the 26th minute for a try and then, on the stroke of halftime, big man Andrew Fifita barged his way over near the posts.
New recruit Shaun Johnson booted all three conversions to hand the visitors an 18-0 lead at the break.
It was more of the same in the second half as Sharks winger Sosaia Feki produced a spectacular effort to score in the corner, before Chad Townsend raced through to make it 30-0.
Newcastle finally posted its first points in the 58th minute when 18-year-old Starford To’a picked up a Kalyn Ponga pass and sidestepped his way to the line.
Ponga converted the try, but that was the end of the scoring.
The Knights face a rematch against Cronulla in round one of the 2019 NRL season on Friday 15 March.
The clash kicks off at 6pm at McDonald Jones Stadium.
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