NRL SuperCoach winners and losers: Kalyn Ponga ton caps monster Sunday
Purchased by over 10,000 SuperCoaches and captained by a quarter of players, Kalyn Ponga produced the goods on a high-scoring Sunday.
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A massive 118 points were scored on a Sunday of free-wheeling attacking footy.
That was reflected in the SuperCoach scores with four tons.
Tom Sangster wraps Sunday’s action.
WINNERS
* Kalyn Ponga (130) - Purchased by over 10,000 SuperCoaches and captained by a quarter of the top 10 per cent of SuperCoaches. Ponga outscored his main rivals in the captaincy stakes Tom Trbojevic (121) and Nathan Cleary (86).
* Fletcher Sharpe (117) - Playing out of position on the wing but the Knights simply had to get him in the 17 somewhere. Ryan Papenhuyzen-like a stages, Sharpe notched four tries and is still floating around in over 5,000 SuperCoach sides.
* Lachlan Galvin (87) - By far the best player in a well-beaten team. Two try assists, a linebreak and a constant threat.
* Herbie Farnworth (128) - There were 66 points all up in the Dolphins v Warriors clash and Farnworth was the best of the lot with two tries and a massive 13 tackle busts.
* Te Maire Martin (111) - Who is Shaun Johnson? TMM had a hand in five tries, setting four up and scoring one himself.
* Max Plath (98) - Incredible work rate with 63 tackles. And always Johnny on the Spot for attacking opportunities including a try assist.
* Jake Averillo (97) - Like Farnworth above, both centres ran riot for the Dolphins. Averillo jagged a try assist and try, both of them long-range stunners.
* Mitch Barnett (80) - Billed as POD of the week and he got the job done, helped by a late penalty try.
* Jamayne Issako (64) - Hardly his most dominant performance but SuperCoaches will take it given he was in doubt all week with an ankle injury.
LOSERS
* Greg Marzhew (35) - Produced his usual great work rate with 17 runs but only busted two tackles (well down on his season average) and all the attack went right to Sharpe.
* Addin Fonua-Blake (61) - Barely a pass mark for the most popular prop in SuperCoach.
* Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (46) - It rained tries around him but the Hammer just couldn’t get among the big attacking stats.
* Jack Bostock (33) - Plenty were low on numbers and forced to play the early-season cheapie this week. Unfortunately the big attacking stats went to the centres not wingers.
MATCH REPORT: KNIGHTS KEEP FINALS HOPES ALIVE
- Jack Blyth
Newcastle have kept their top eight hopes alive following a 34-18 thrashing of the Wests Tigers, largely on the back of some Ponga freakishness, and a young rookie’s ‘awesome foursome’.
What began as an end-to-end arm wrestle quickly descended into some razzle dazzle reminiscent of Newcastle’s 2023 run to the finals, throwing caution to the wind on the back of some Fletcher Sharpe brilliance.
The rookie utility notched a 20 minute hat-trick in the opening stanza, thanks to some Kalyn Ponga brilliance and a few fortunate bounces of the ball to tighten his grip on the Knights’ vacant right wing position.
Tensions boiled over late in the game as the Knights repeatedly defended their line in an effort ensured to impress Adam O’Brien, holding the Tigers to a singular second-half try in front of 22,183 screaming fans.
While Sharpe and Ponga were electric, O’Brien was incredibly impressed by his halves pairing in just their second week together.
“I thought both boys (the halves) played really well tonight.
“We looked framed up with the ball, which is good indication that your halves are organising the rest of it, alongside Kalyn.
“Both of them defend bloody well, some of those tackles that Tyson Gamble made on the try line in the second-half, and then it was probably role reversal, Phoenix came up with a lot of scramble in the first-half.”
It sets up a tantalising final month for Newcastle, set to face a red-hot Cronulla outfit next week whilst the Tigers’ grip on the wooden spoon continually tightens.
Captain Kalyn certainly hasn’t given up hope on a finals berth.
“I think there was plenty (of belief) after the Penrith performance.
Spoke about some things we need to clean up, and I thought we prepared well, trained well, and that mentality is leading into our games.
We’ve just got to stick to the process, get our training right, our preparation right, and that’ll put us in games.”
The loss of Dominic Young to the Sydney Roosters left a gaping hole in the Newcastle’s backline in 2024, and after five months of chopping and changing, it appears the Knights have finally found their man.
Fletcher Sharpe was outstanding on the right wing, scoring a first-half hat-trick and a fourth in the second, including a stunning effort in the 40th minute that could well be the NRL’s try of the year.
While Enari Tuala has had some strong games outside Dane Gagai, Sharpe has the x-factor Newcastle have desperately been lacking out wide, and Fletch could well hold that spot for years to come.
Head coach Adam O’Brien heaped praise on the rookie post-match.
“I said a heap of times that he’s a footy player, isn’t he.
“Don’t think he’s aware of what number he’s got on his back, nothing phases him, he scores four tries and you can tell by his celebration, there’s just nothing.
“He’s just so casual, and we’re proud of him. He’s got pace out wide, and can finish off things these guys are doing.”
It’s a harsh reality for Wests Tigers’ fans, but it now seems certain the club will snare their third consecutive wooden spoon after another tough defeat.
While there’s no doubting they’ve got the fight in them, especially with the amount of young talent bursting at the seams, however with just three games left for the season, dodging the dreaded ‘award’ seems futile.
Facing South Sydney, Manly and Parramatta, the Tigers would need the Eels to lose every remaining game as well as some big for-and-against tide changes to change their fortunes.
Benji Marshall could see the effort, but knew the discipline just wasn’t there.
“We do some good things, and we do some things where we shoot ourselves in the foot and put pressure on ourselves, and defensively today we weren’t good enough.”
FULL-TIME: KNIGHTS 34 DEFEAT TIGERS 18
The Knights got the win but didn’t rack up the amount of points they were hoping for in their chase for a top eight spot.
Fletcher Sharpe with four tries was the star and the Knights are now two points out of the eight, but a poor for-and-against is set to cruel them.
65 MINS: PONGA CAPTAINERS REJOICE
Kalyn Ponga has already hit 131 points - 262 as captain - and there are still 15 minutes remaining.
The SuperCoach all-time record of 229 by Tom Trbojevic is probably out of reach, but it’s a very tasty score nonetheless.
60 MINS: MAKE THAT FOUR!
Knights young gun Fletcher Sharpe has crossed for this fourth try.
The Knights are now well in control of this contest 34-18.
Jahream Bula is the definition of athletic! 💨
— Fox League (@FOXNRL) August 11, 2024
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54 MINS: YOUNG GUNS TRADES TRIES
Plenty of talent is on show with two of the NRL’s brightest stars notching tries to start the second half.
First, Knights centre Krystian Mapapalangi, a late inclusion following a hamstring injury to Dylan Lucas, crossed for the first try of his NRL career.
Then Tigers fullback Jahream Bula got one back on his superstar opposite number by out-jumping Kalyn Ponga for a bomb.
HALF-TIME: SHARPE’S STUNNING HATTRICK, TRY OF YEAR CONTENDER
He’s playing just his seventh game of NRL but Fletcher Sharpe already has a hattrick - and sensational one at that.
His final try on the bell is a try of the year contender, featuring a dropped-ball-kick by Kalyn Ponga, Sharpe tip-toeing down the sideline and a soccer-and-chase.
We can’t do it justice in words so we’ll let the video do the writing below.
The Knights lead 22-12.
That is just BRILLIANT from the Knights! 🙌
— Fox League (@FOXNRL) August 11, 2024
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38 MINS: PONGA SURGES TO 73 POINTS
Kalyn Ponga was purchased by over 10,000 SuperCoaches this week and the Newcastle superstar is repaying the faith.
Ponga has two try assists, linebreak assist, linebreak and high work rate of 10 runs.
30 MINS: TIGERS ROAR EARLY
Everyone was predicting a huge Knights win but the Tigers are well-and-truly up for this.
Tries to Adam Doueihi and Solomona Faataape have the Tigers level with the Knights at 12-all.
That is just BRILLIANT from the Knights! 🙌
— Fox League (@FOXNRL) August 11, 2024
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13 MINS: GALVIN STEAMROLLED TWICE AS KNIGHTS OPEN SCORING
Tyson Frizell has opened the scoring to get the Knights to a 6-nil lead.
Tigers young gun Lachlan Galvin was brushed away twice in the tryscoring play - firstly by prop Leo Thompson and then Frizell.
The Tigers actually had the better of the opening exchanges, with Newcastle’s try somewhat against the flow of play.
FINAL TEAMS: KNIGHTS LOSE LUCAS
Newcastle’s backline stocks have been further dented with centre Dylan Lucas ruled out of their must-win game against the Tigers with a hamstring complaint.
Krystian Mapapalangi is his replacement.
No changes for the Tigers with Fonua Pole (ribs) and Aidan Sezer (suspension) returning.
Knights
1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Fletcher Sharpe 3. Dane Gagai 22. Krystian Mapapalangi 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
Players cut: 4. Dylan Lucas 19. Sebastian Su’a 20. Jackson Hastings 21. Will Pryce
Tigers
1. Jahream Bula 2. Solomon Alaimalo 3. Solomona Faataape 4. Adam Doueihi 5. Charlie Staines 6. Lachlan Galvin 7. Aidan Sezer 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. David Klemmer 11. Reuben Porter 12. Samuela Fainu 13. Isaiah Papali’i
Interchange: 14. Tallyn Da Silva 15. Alex Seyfarth 16. Fonua Pole 17. Alex Twal
Reserves: 18. Heath Mason
Players cut: 19. Tim Johannssen 20. Josh Feledy 21. Declan Casey 22. Tony Sukkar
MATCH REPORT: 40m field goal gets Dolphins into eight
—Jack Brady
A golden point Sean O’Sullivan two-point field goal has catapulted the Dolphins back into the NRL’s top eight.
The Dolphins survived an almighty Warriors comeback to secure the 34-32 extra time win to inch closer to a maiden finals appearance.
The much-maligned Dolphins’ foundational halfback O’Sullivan has been restricted to just six games in 2024 but proved the hero despite starting the game from the interchange.
It almost wasn’t to be for the Dolphins, who were up 26-12 with 20 minutes to play, before the Warriors surged home with four tries to send the game into extra time.
In a week where legendary halfback Shaun Johnson announced his retirement, his heir apparent Te Maire Martin made his intentions for the famed Warriors’ No. 7 jumper known.
Martin had a hand in five tries, including a four-pointer of his own, in yet another Warriors effort that was felled at the final hurdle.
SEAN O'SULLIVAN WINS THE GAME FOR THE DOLPHINS!!!!
— Fox League (@FOXNRL) August 11, 2024
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Rugby league roulette
Conjecture over what constitutes a high tackle in the modern game continues to bubble away following two detrimental Warriors incidents late in the first half.
Veteran winger Roger Tuivasa-Sheck was penalised in the 35th minute for a high shot which resulted in a Dolphins penalty goal, despite never coming in contact with the head of Ray Stone.
Minutes later Warriors lock Dylan Walker was sin-binned for a shot on Mark Nicholls, a glancing blow from his shoulder ending Nicholls’s game prematurely.
Both calls earned the ire of Panthers legend and Fox League pundit Greg Alexander, who questioned whether the punishments fit the crime.
“I’m all for protecting players and everything they’re doing with concussions, but there’s been some tackles over the last few weeks where I’ve seen no head contact [be penalised] and the player being tackled not even realising,” Alexander said.
“The Tuivasa-Sheck tackle is at an important point of the game which allows the Dolphins to go ahead by another two points.
“The contact there from Dylan Walker is questionable, but does he deserve to go to the bin for that?”
The Tuivasa-Sheck penalty in particular proved vital in the grand scheme, with the ensuing penalty goal proving the difference by game’s end.
FULL-TIME: STUNNING 40M FIELD GOAL CATAPULTS DOLPHINS INTO EIGHT
The Dolphins are back in the top eight and Sean O’Sullivan is the hero after nailing a stunning 40m field goal in golden point.
“Cut off his foot and put it in a museum,” said Andrew Voss in commentary.
80 MINS: GOLDEN POINT TIME!
We’re off to extra time.
Jamayne Isaako and Chanel Harris-Tavita both missed field goal attempts in the final moments.
77 MINS: SCORES LOCKED AFTER PENALTY TRY!
Incredible drama with the Warriors awarded a penalty try to bring the scores level 32-32.
Kodi Nikorima was deemed to have held back Mitch Barnett as the duo chased a grubber.
The Dolphins had seemingly wrapped up the match only moments before when Jake Averillo scored another long-range stunner for the Dolphins.
68 MINS: WARRIORS LEVEL IT UP!
It’s all happening here with the Warriors bombing a certain try and then scoring another moments later.
Demitric Sifakula was the eventual try scorer, barging over from close range off a Chanel Harris-Tavita offload.
The scores are now level at 26-all and we are set for a thrilling final 12 minutes.
A top eight spot hinges on it for the Dolphins.
WHAT. A. TRY.
— Fox League (@FOXNRL) August 11, 2024
The Warriors are having a phenomenal second half! ðŸ‘
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65 MINS: WARRIORS SET UP THRILLER
The Warriors have continued their dominant second half and are back in it at 26-20.
Te Maire Martin chased through his own kick close to the line to notch the Warriors fourth try, the third of the second half.
Two missed goals by Chanel Harris-Tavita could prove crucial.
The Dolphins have only completed six sets in the second half.
60 MINS: IT’S A SHOOTOUT
The Warriors and Dolphins are trading tries in the second half in an entertaining game at sunny Suncorp.
The Warriors have got themselves in a position to strike for an unlikely win with tries to Kurt Capewell and Ali Leiataua.
Andrew Voss summed it up in commentary: “The Warriors are just running harder”.
Herbie Farnworth crossed for the Dolphins as the sides traded tries, with the score now 26-16 to the Dolphins.
HALF-TIME: WALKER BINNED FOR TAKING OUT NICHOLLS
It’s half-time here and the score remains 20-6.
There was drama on the break with Mark Nicholls hit high by Dylan Walker.
The legs of a stunned Nicholls buckled from the knock to the head and he appeared to injure his knee while falling.
Nicholls will not return.
Dylan Walker has been sent to the sin bin after this incident.
— Fox League (@FOXNRL) August 11, 2024
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36 MINS: AVERILLO SETS UP LONG-RANGE SPECIAL
Jake Averillo produced a stunning move and serious pace to set up Kodi Nikorima.
It’s the second thrilling long-range try of the day for the Dolphins.
Averillo now has six tackle busts and has proved a serious threat.
The Dolphins lead 20-6.
22 MINS: SPECTACULAR KOSI GETS WARRIORS BACK IN IT
Edward Kosi showed yet again why he is a noted leaper by rising high over Jamayne Isaako to dot down for the Warriors.
Chanel Harris-Tavita converted to make it 12-6.
17 MINS: FARNWORTH RUNS LENGTH OF FIELD
Another Warriors’ error, another Dolphins try.
This time the Warriors batted back an attacking kick to no-one.
Max Plath picked up the scraps and offloaded to Herbei Farnworth, who ran 85m to score under the posts.
It’s 12-nill to the Dolphins.
The Dolphins go from end-to-end! 💥
— Fox League (@FOXNRL) August 11, 2024
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10 MINS: DOLPHINS OPEN SCORING OFF WARRIORS’ BLUNDER
Veteran Dolphins forward Felise Kaufusi has opened the scoring - very much against the run of play - by diving on a Kodi Nikorima grubber.
Warriors fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad will want his time again after failing to field the ball in-goal.
Felise Kaufusi strikes first for the Dolphins!
— Fox League (@FOXNRL) August 11, 2024
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6 MINS: WARRIORS START RED-HOT
The Warriors have certainly come with a nothing-to-lose attitude.
Andrew Webster’s team have thrown five offloads in the opening six minutes - they have averaged only eight offloads per game for the entire season.
It’s made for some exciting footy but the score is still nil-all.
LATE MAIL: STAR DOLPHINS’ TRIO CLEARED
Jamayne Isaako (ankle), Kodi Nikorima (illness) and Tevita Pangai Jr (hamstring) have been cleared to play with the Dolphins 1-17.
For the Warriors, Shaun Johnson (quad) was ruled out earlier in the weekend.
His withdrawal comes just days after announcing his retirement from rugby league at the end of the season.
Te Maire Martin comes into the side at halfback.
Dylan Walker has passed concussion protocols and will start at lock.
See final teams below.
DOLPHINS v WARRIORS
Sunday, 2pm, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Dolphins
1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Jake Averillo 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Jack Bostock 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Max Plath 10. Tevita Pangai Junior 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Connelly Lemuelu 13. Kenny Bromwich
Interchange: 14. Oryn Keeley 15. Mark Nicholls 16. Ray Stone 17. Sean O’Sullivan
Reserves: 18. Lachlan Hubner
Players cut: 19. Tesi Niu 20. Anthony Milford 21. Mason Teague 22. Trai Fuller
Warriors
1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Ali Leiataua 4. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 5. Edward Kosi 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 18. Te Maire Martin 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Wayde Egan 10. Mitchell Barnett 11. Marata Niukore 12. Kurt Capewell 13. Dylan Walker
Interchange: 14. Freddy Lussick 15. Tom Ale 16. Jazz Tevaga 20. Demitric Sifakula
Reserves: 21. Taine Tuaupiki
Players cut: 7. Shaun Johnson 22. Moala Graham-Taufa 17. Leka Halasima 23. Bunty Afoa
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