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NRL Live round 24: Dragons vs. Titans at Win Stadium, Sharks vs. Knights at Shark Park

SuperCoaches who took the punt on Kalyn Ponga are regretting it after an average score against the Sharks, who pulled off a thrilling win.

Tom SangsterTom Sangster
@TomSangsterSC
7 min read
August 18, 2024 - 7:39PM
News Sport Network
Kieran Foran discusses his recovery routine

SUPERCOACH WINNERS AND LOSERS

Extremely low scoring SuperCoach match here for the final game of the round.

SuperCoach winners:

* Dane Gagai (98) - Continued his great recent form (5RA 71) with a try and nine tackle busts.

* Cameron McInnes (77) - 54 tackles from the tough-as-nails veteran.

* Greg Marzhew (67) - Broke a tryscoring drought but couldn’t fully bust out.

* Kai Pearce-Paul (70) - Scored a try and worked hard for the SuperCoaches who had to play him.

* Ronaldo Mulitalo (59) - It was looking dicey after he reaggravated a knee issue. But a late try saved his score.

* Keano Kini (91) - Now averaging over 80 in the last three rounds and right up there with the best fullbacks in SuperCoach. Pity it’s such a red-hot position.

* Zac Lomax (89) - Very solid showing from the most purchased player this week. A try, five offloads and 22 runs.

* Jacob Liddle (84) - Damien Cook is coming to the club next season but will he unseat Liddle as starting hooker? Liddle is mounting a serious case.

Yeah, we’ll take it:

* Briton Nikora (66) - Scored a try but couldn’t replicate his heroics of last week.

* David Fifita (68) - Defensively poor yet again but managed to notch enough attacking stats for a decent score. Five tackle busts and a linebreak.

* Jayden Campbell (62) - The Titans were dominated for much of the game so owners will take this.

SuperCoach losers:

* Kalyn Ponga (73) - It’s not often a score of 73 is in the “losers” list but those SuperCoaches who took the punt on Kalyn Ponga are regretting it with the rivals in his position going much better this week (James Tedesco 125 and Tom Trbojevic 105).

* AJ Brimson (5) - Only played 12 minutes and is fast dipping to a very affordable price for next season.

GAME OVER! ATKINSON THE HERO FOR SHARKS

Daniel Atkinson has sealed the win for the Sharks with a golden point field goal.

It’s hard to think this is his debut season in the NRL.

The Knights had the chance to win the game in the dying moments but Will Kennedy plucked the ball from Kalyn Ponga’s hands with the line open.

Phoenix Crossland also missed a late field goal.

But the buzz word out of this game will be BLOCKERS.

Will the referees have the bravery to make these calls in a grand final?

Let’s hope so.

FULL-TIME: GOLDEN POINT TIME!

It’s full-time here and the scores are locked at 18-all.

Both sides had field goals disallowed in the final moments due to blockers around the play-the-ball.

Commendable bravery from the referees to make what were correct calls at matchwinning moments.

Scenes.

74 MINS: MULITALO SETS UP THRILLER

Ronaldo Mulitalo was returning from a knee injury, aggravated it and on track for a shocking score.

Until now.

He’s crossed in the corner to get the Sharks back to 18-all, with Daniel Atkinson producing a stunning sideline conversion to bring the scores equal.

52 MINS: GAGAI OVER, UPSET IS ON

The Knights’ unlikely push for a top eight spot is gaining momentum with Dane Gagai crossing for the Knights to take their lead to 18-10.

If they win, the Knights will jump to equal points with the ninth-placed Dolphins, but for-and-against will likely see them finish the round in 11th.

50 MINS: KNIGHTS PLAY CONSERVATIVE

With Phoenix Crossland in the bin, the Knights have taken the two points from a penalty goal.

They now lead 14-10.

HALF-TIME: PONGA LEADS WAY AS KNIGHTS EYE UPSET

The first 20 minutes belonged to the Sharks and the second 20 minutes belonged to the Knights.

And in great news for SuperCoaches, Kai Pearce-Paul and Greg Marzhew were among the tryscorers.

Kalyn Ponga also contributed a try assist and is sitting close to the half ton after 40 minutes.

20 MINS: ATKINSON FIRES SHARKS TO 10-NIL LEAD

Sharks five-eighth Daniel Atkinson has continued his stunning debut season.

The young gun, who replaced the injured Nicho Hynes this season, has a try and try assist in the opening minutes against the Knights.

He’s also kicking goals.

LATE MAIL: BIG CHANGES AT SHARKS, KNIGHTS

Mass changes at the Sharks, with Kayal Iro and Samuel Stonetreet out, replaced in the backline by Siosifa Talakai and Ronaldo Mulitalo, with Royce Hunt moving to backrow.

Braden Hamlin-Uele and Tuku Hau Tapuha are the new faces on the bench.

For the Knights, Dylan Lucas has been ruled out, with Kyle McCarthy named at centre.

Sharks

1. William Kennedy 2. Stone Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 12. Siosifa Talakai 21. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Daniel Atkinson 7. Blayke Brailey 8. Toby Rudolf 9. Cameron McInnes 10. Oregon Kaufusi 11. Briton Nikora 16. Royce Hunt 13. Jack Williams

Interchange: 14. Jayden Berrell 15. Billy Burns 19. Braden Hamlin-Uele 22. Tuku Hau Tapuha

Reserves: 18. Niwhai Puru 24. Mawene Hiroti

Cut: 4. Kayal Iro 5. Samuel Stonestreet 17. Thomas Hazelton 20. Braydon Trindall

Knights

1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Fletcher Sharpe 3. Dane Gagai 22. Kyle McCarthy 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Tyson Gamble 7. Phoenix Crossland 8. Daniel Saifiti 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Leo Thompson 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Adam Elliott

Interchange: 14. Jack Cogger 15. Mathew Croker 16. Jack Hetherington 17. Brodie Jones

Reserves: 18. Thomas Cant

Cut: 4. Dylan Lucas 19. Thomas Jenkins 20. Jackson Hastings 21. Will Pryce

Kalyn Ponga during warm-up. Picture: NRL Photos
Kalyn Ponga during warm-up. Picture: NRL Photos

SUPERCOACH ANALYSIS FROM DRAGONS V SHARKS

Zac Lomax produced as the most popular buy of the week, while a host of Titans got SuperCoach pass marks despite being dominated by the Dragons for much of the game.

SuperCoach winners:

* Keano Kini (91) - Now averaging over 80 in the last three rounds and right up there with the best fullbacks in SuperCoach. Pity it’s such a red-hot position.

* Zac Lomax (89) - Very solid showing from the most purchased player this week. A try, five offloads and 22 runs.

* Jacob Liddle (84) - Damien Cook is coming to the club next season but will he unseat Liddle as starting hooker? Liddle is mounting a serious case.

* David Fifita (68) - Defensively poor yet again but managed to notch enough attacking stats for a decent score. Five tackle busts and a linebreak.

* Jayden Campbell (62) - The Titans were dominated for much of the game so owners will take this.

SuperCoach losers:

* AJ Brimson (5) - Only played 12 minutes and is fast dipping to a very affordable price for next season.

Most-owned NRL SuperCoach players on Sunday.
Most-owned NRL SuperCoach players on Sunday.

FULL-TIME: DRAGONS 32 DEFEAT TITANS 16

The Dragons are into the eight and now two points clear of the next-placed Dolphins.

The performance was highlighted by scintillating attack in the first half and rugged defence in the second.

The Dragons certainly had to fight in the second against a Titans side that completed 22 from 22 sets.

67 MINS: TITANS SET UP TIGHT FINISH

The Titans are making a serious account of themselves in the second half and have surged to within two tries of a win with 13 minutes left.

The score is 26-16 after Kieran Foran, in his 300th NRL game, set up Jojo Fifita for his second try with a cut-out pass.

Buckle up.

53 MINS: ‘FREAKISH’ CAMPBELL GETS TITANS BACK IN IT

The Titans suddenly have a sniff after an instinctive try to Jayden Campbell. They now trail 26-12.

Campbell somehow turned a fumble into a kick in one of the most bizarre/remarkable tries of the year (video below).

Jack De Belin is in the sin bin for the Dragons, which means the Titans have 10 minutes against 12 men.

Ben Hunt has been on fire in the first half.
Ben Hunt has been on fire in the first half.

HALF-TIME: DRAGONS 26 LEAD TITANS 6

Other than Keano Kini’s freakish moment in the first minute, it’s all Dragons.

The Couchman twins are the latest heroes of the Wollongong crowd, with Toby notching a try and Ryan assisting Luciano Leilua for another.

28 MINS: LOMAX SCORES FOR DRAGONS AS TOP 8 QUEST ON TRACK

The Dragons’ push for a top eight spot is on track, putting on three unanswered tries to take a 14-6 lead.

Zac Lomax is the latest try scorer, crossing from a Ben Hunt cut-out pass.

Hunt now has 30 try assists for the year, a career best.

The Lomax-Hunt combination is also the best in the competition, coming together for 10 tries this season.

20 MINS: DRAGONS HIT BACK – TWICE – IN RED HOT START

Have we seen a crazier start to a game in 2024? Probably not.

The Dragons have done their best to upstage Keano Kini’s opening stunner with Ben Hunt and Christian Tuipolotu scoring.

While not quite length of the field jobs like Kini’s, the Dragons have threatened to do just that with four linebreaks already in and end to end clash.

1 MIN: KINI’S STUNNING TRY ASSIST WITH FIRST TOUCH

The Titans have produced a brilliant start with Keano Kini creating a try of the round contender with Gold Coast’s first touch.

Showing his customary electric pace, Kini collected the ball at the fullback and raced 70-odd metres before passing to Jojo Fifita for the try.

It’s as brilliant a start as we’ve seen to any game this year.

LATE MAIL: BIRD TO PLAY FIVE-EIGHTH

Jack Bird has been thrust into the Dragons’ five-eighth hot seat as Shane Flanagan’s team look to secure a top eight spot.

Bird comes into the halves for Kyle Flanagan, who received a four-game ban for biting.

Utility Lyhkan King-Togia comes onto the bench for his NRL debut.

The Dragons have also pulled a forward switch with Blake Lawrie to start and Jack De Belin dropping to the bench.

St George Illawarra will leapfrog the Dolphins into eighth spot if they beat the Titans at WIN Stadium today.

The Titans are 1-17 with Beau Fermor failing to get up for the game after a bruised kidney.

See final teams below.

Jack Bird will play five-eighth. Picture: Mark Evans/Getty Images
Jack Bird will play five-eighth. Picture: Mark Evans/Getty Images

Dragons vs. Titans

Sunday 2pm, WIN Stadium, Wollongong

Dragons

1. Tyrell Sloan 2. Zac Lomax 3. Mathew Feagai 4. Max Feagai 5. Christian Tuipulotu 17. Jack Bird 7. Ben Hunt 8. Francis Molo 9. Jacob Liddle 16. Blake Lawrie 11. Luciano Leilua 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Tom Eisenhuth

Interchange: 10. Jack de Belin 14. Toby Couchman 15. Ryan Couchman 19. Lyhkan King-Togia

Reserves: 18. Raymond Faitala-Mariner

Cut: 6. Kyle Flanagan 20. Mikaele Ravalawa 21. Michael Molo 22. Connor Muhleisen

Titans

1. Keano Kini 2. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 3. Brian Kelly 4. Phillip Sami 5. Jojo Fifita 6. Jayden Campbell 7. Kieran Foran 8. Jaimin Jolliffe 9. Sam Verrills 10. Erin Clark 11. David Fifita 12. Klese Haas 13. Chris Randall

Interchange: 14. AJ Brimson 15. Isaac Liu 16. Josiah Pahulu 17. Keenan Palasia

Reserves: 19. Tanah Boyd

Cut: 18. Beau Fermor 20. Joe Stimson 21. Jacob Alick-Wiencke 22. Tony Francis

Most-owned NRL SuperCoach players on Sunday.
Most-owned NRL SuperCoach players on Sunday.

Originally published as NRL Live round 24: Dragons vs. Titans at Win Stadium, Sharks vs. Knights at Shark Park

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