NRL 2021: Newcastle Knights beat Cronulla Sharks 26-22 | Match Report

Cronulla was a Kalyn Ponga masterclass away from victory on Friday night, leading coach Josh Hannay to hit out at critics who believe the club’s season is over. Watch the highlights.

NEWCASTLE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 16: Kalyn Ponga of the Knights in action during the round six NRL match between the Newcastle Knights and the Cronulla Sharks at McDonald Jones Stadium, on April 16, 2021, in Newcastle, Australia. (Photo by Ashley Feder/Getty Images)

Kalyn Ponga was keeling over from illness on Friday night – but he still left Cronulla feeling a lot worse.

Ponga produced one of the gutsiest efforts of his burgeoning career to inspire Newcastle to a dramatic 26-22 victory over an embattled Cronulla on Friday night.

The Knights superstar emptied his stomach at least a dozen times at McDonald Jones Stadium, but still managed to score two tries and set up two others in a memorable evening.

And that included the clutch game-winner that snapped a three-game losing streak.

The Sharks looked set to end a horror week centred around the brutal sacking of John Morris with a win when winger Mawene Hiroti had his no-try overturned with 13 minutes remaining.

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Knights star Kalyn Ponga was battling with illness, but that didn’t stop him from ending up with two tries to his name. Picture: Getty Images.

But Ponga twice came up with crucial plays, beginning with a soaring leap to field a bomb under pressure, before finishing off a Tyson Frizell hail mary in the 78th minute to steal the two points.

The Queensland State of Origin star finished the night with an individual 14 points, 155 metres, eight tackle breaks, three offloads and two try assists in a stunning outing.

Knights coach Adam O’Brien hailed the “tough” effort of Ponga and housemate Connor Watson.

“Both pretty crook, couldn’t eat and spent most of their time on the toilet the last 24 hours. I was proud of both of them,” O’Brien said.

“To put himself in the frame, the one he set up (for Brodie Jones) I thought was an exceptional piece of skill. But he played tough all night, you could clearly see he was carrying something as well.

“They were trying to give him some medication to try to stop it. He was quite crook but adamant he wanted to go back out. He looks a bit spent at the moment.”

Ponga, who also had to overcome an early knock from Toby Rudolph on an attempt to field a bomb, had to win the game twice for O’Brien’s side.

The Knights initially looked headed for victory when Ponga’s remarkable offload for Jones restored an eight-point lead midway through the first half.

But two tries in the space of four minutes stunned the 17,039 crowd into silence.

First it was a Will Kennedy cutout for makeshift winger Connor Tracey that cut the deficit to four, before the video referee dramatically overturned a no-try call for Hiroti.

Whistleblower Matt Cecchin originally ruled Hiroti had stepped on the right touchline prior to planting, only for the bunker to award the four-pointer.

But the Sharks, who got 185 metres, four line breaks and a try from Tracey, were left heartbroken by Ponga’s late-game heroics.

“They’re gutted. It’s been a challenging week and we put in enough effort to come away tonight with some reward for that effort,” caretaker coach Josh Hannay said.

The win lifts Newcastle to a 3-3 record, while Cronulla drop to 2-4 on the season.

Kurt Mann.

Blake Green.

KNIGHTS NOT HALF BAD

Not that the Knights need any reminding, but they entered the clash having won a measly two of 11 with string-puller Mitchell Pearce on the sidelines.

But Kurt Mann and Blake Green may have found just enough chemistry between them, with both playing key roles in all three of their first-half tries.

Green’s 40-20 led to opening points for Ponga, while Mann’s towering bomb resulted in Mitch Barnett crashing over minutes after that.

Mann made it an eight-point lead at halftime when he finished off an electric 50-metre try that he started with a piercing out ball for rookie Brodie Jones.

Brodie Jones was impressive for the Knights. Picture: Ashley Feder/Getty Images

BRODIE IMPRESSES

Ponga may hog all the headlines, but young forward Jones also had a night to remember.

Playing out of position in the centres for the injured Hymel Hunt, Jones twice saved certain tries, scored one off a miracle Ponga offload, and played a crucial hand in the game-winner at the death.

“He’s the type of kid that goes, ‘Righto, don’t have to overthink this. I just need to go out there and give it my best effort’,” O’Brien said of Jones.

“But he gave us that and so much more tonight. He gave us so many clutch plays defensively, and then to put himself in the frame to receive that ball from Kalyn, and he was there again at the end.

“He was in eight pieces of play that I actually stood up and applauded.”

DOUBLE SHARK CITING

Sixteen minutes into his return from a two-game ban for a shoulder charge, Cronulla back-rower Briton Nikora is again in hot water, cited for a late shot on Barnett in the first half.

Ditto that for front-rower Aiden Tolman, who was also put on report for a crusher tackle on Knights counterpart Jacob Saifiti ten minutes later.

The good news is that key duo Wade Graham and Josh Dugan should be back from their concussion rest, with star playmaker Shaun Johnson likely the following week.

HANNAY THE RIGHT MAN

After a heartbreaking defeat ended a week from hell, the Sharks can leave Newcastle knowing that even if Josh Hannay was the only man for the job this season, he’s also the right man.

The departure of John Morris threw Cronulla into crisis but were it not for the star turn from Ponga, Hannay would have steered the Sharks to a famous victory.

After the week they’ve had it’s a credit to Hannay, and his players, they were able to stay in the fight, let alone nearly snatch victory - not that he sees it that way.

“One thing I know about this group they’re not happy with competing, they want to win,” Hannay said.

Josh Hannay speaks to Fox Sports before the game last night. Picture: Ashley Feder/Getty Images

“That performance didn’t surprise me one bit. The people who think the season is going to be a waste don’t have any clue or idea what this group is made of.

“That performance, that effort, came as no surprise to anyone who understands this group.”

Hannay’s attitude since he was appointed on Tuesday has been straightforward, just like the man himself – the Sharks had to forget the dramas and get on with the job.

If the Sharks can play with the same energy they displayed on Friday night there’s no reason, once they begin to get some troops back, they can’t contend for the top eight once again.

That’s where they landed each of the last two years under Morris and if Hannay can match that feat he’ll have put in the greatest innings by a nightwatchman since Jason Gillespe hit a double ton against Bangladesh.

The cavalry will arrive as soon as next week’s clash with the Bulldogs, with Shaun Johnson, Wade Graham and Josh Dugan all in contention to return.

“I think Shaun Johnson is going to be really close,” Hannay said.

“It’s just the nature of this group that we don’t look at what we don’t have, we just concentrate on who’s in the jersey.

“It seems whoever we put in the jersey goes out and gives their best effort and I’m really proud of that. But it will be good to get some of that top talent back.”

Morris’ fingerprints are still all over this side but there’s touches of Hannay coming through already.

As defensive coach earlier this he helped instill the resilience that’s helped Cronulla stay competitive in recent weeks amid a horrendous injury toll and they showed that same toughness on Friday, despite the result.

And beside the obvious pride in their performance, Hannay is off-contract at season’s end – just like 14 of his charges – and every one of them would be eager to show the Sharks (or somebody else) they’re worth having around.

Originally published as NRL 2021: Newcastle Knights beat Cronulla Sharks 26-22 | Match Report