Knights lock up home final as nine-game winning streak seals 17-year first

Dominic Young has left the NRL with their jaws on the floor after an incredible try as the Knights romped home for a 17-year first.

Dom Young can do it all. Photo: Fox League

Newcastle Knights winger Dominic Young has stunned the NRL world with a remarkable flying try to seal the Knights’ best regular season finish since 2006, as the club ends the year on a nine-game winning streak.

The Knights comfortably ran over the St George-Illawarra Dragons in a 32-12 win at Kogarah Oval despite missing a number of regular starters including fullback Kalyn Ponga.

Watch every game of The 2023 NRL Telstra Finals Series before the Grand Final Live & Ad-Break Free During Play on Kayo Sports. Join now and start streaming instantly >

Newcastle ran rampant to keep the longest winning streak in the league alive, and it was capped by two spectacular efforts from English international Dominic Young.

Young looked to be bundled over the sideline by Mosese Suli, only to reach out backwards over his head to slam the ball down for his first try.

As if to make a show of his abilities, Young then doubled up with an extraordinary leaping effort that took St George’s Tyrell Sloane with him over the try line and put the finishing touches on what was a firm message to the rest of the competition.

Yvonne Sampson on Fox League was stunned.

“He is the eye-catcher, he is the showstopper, that has to be in the conversation for try of the year,” Sampson said.

DOM YOUNG, TAKE A BOW! 👏

How did he put this one down!?

📺 Watch #NRLDragonsKnights on ch.502 or stream on Kayo: https://t.co/B1ijnGXtqA
✍️ BLOG https://t.co/YT5HHIwDj8
🔢 MATCH CENTRE https://t.co/bUE7xTGTkmpic.twitter.com/yucHy4XUct

— Fox League (@FOXNRL) September 2, 2023

He's just done it again... 🤯

Dominic Young, you are INSANE.

📺 Watch #NRLDragonsKnights on ch.502 or stream on Kayo: https://t.co/B1ijnGXtqA
✍️ BLOG https://t.co/YT5HHIwDj8
🔢 MATCH CENTRE https://t.co/bUE7xTGTkmpic.twitter.com/cDtVAJotSk

— Fox League (@FOXNRL) September 2, 2023

Sportswriter Bernie Coen was incredulous.

“This is really ridiculous. Is he even human?”, Coen tweeted.

The best reaction of them all, however, came from Andrew Voss on commentary.

Calling the first try as Young was tackled by Suli, Voss struggled to control himself behind the microphone.

“OH! Young is cartwheeled, and may have still scored!”, Voss exclaimed.

“This is absolutely incredible! This is what you show to Vegas!”

The win didn’t come without its tense moments however, with the Dragons launching a late charge in the final 15 minutes to make the Knights earn it.

A try to Mikaele Ravalawa and Lachlan Miller spending time in the sin bin for tackling Talatau Amone without the ball gave the home side a chance to chase down a 10-point deficit in as many minutes.

Any hope of a fightback was soon extinguished as the Knights showed resilience to defend their goal line, before Blake Lawrie joined Miller for committing the exact same offence.

If they weren’t already confident on the back of their impeccable form over the past two and a half months, they will be now as they prepare for a finals run.

It was a bit of an unknown in the pre-season how Tyson Gamble would be used by the Knights, but he’s proven his worth as one of the underrated buys of the season.

He showed again why he can play a key role in their finals charge with another solid outing, including laying on a superb try assist for Enari Tuala from his own side of halfway early in the contest.

Dom Young can do it all. Photo: Fox League

That 70-metre effort was almost backed up with the try of the night on the back of a brilliant chip and chase, only for debutant Riley Jones to have been ruled off-side by the Bunker.

St George Illawarra’s defence just didn’t aim up when needed.

Three poor one-on-one attempts led directly to Knights tries, with 19 missed tackles in 40 minutes capping an ordinary first half.

That attitude continued out of the sheds with seven passes and a whole lot of misses allowing Fa’amanu Brown to crash over way too easily.

The Dragons have played much better this season than their 5-19 record suggests, but their performance against a depleted Knights was a disappointing way to cap off the year.

The win ensures Newcastle take out fifth spot and will host a home semi final as they look to bring up a perfect 10.

It also confirms another bumper crowd for the Knights with a seat at McDonald Jones Stadium next weekend set to be the hottest ticket in town.

This will mark their third-straight sold out home fixture and give the league’s form team a huge boost in an elimination setting.

Their opponent is dependent on the final match of the regular season, with either the Raiders or Roosters coming to town.

– with NCA NewsWire