Blake Green injury mars Newcastle Knights’ win over Cowboys

Newcastle’s season has suffered another big setback with fears star recruit Blake Green’s year is over.

Enari Tuala scores for Newcastle Knights against North Queensland Cowboys at McDonald Jones Stadium on Sunday. Picture: Getty Images

Newcastle’s season has suffered another big setback with fears star recruit Blake Green’s year is over.

Playing just his third game for the Knights after departing the Warriors, the halfback twisted awkwardly in a first-half tackle and the early fears were he had suffered an ACL knee injury.

“I can’t confirm it obviously, I’m not a doctor, but it’s not looking good,” Knights coach Adam O’Brien said.

“He’s shattered. I felt like crying with him. But I’m getting used to it now though, I’ve had to do it a few times this year – it’s carnage.

“It’s not good, it’s a bit like soldiers getting repeatedly shot, it’s unbelievable. I feel for him at the moment but we have a crew that he can work with for the rest of the year as part of the coaching staff. Too big a crew at the moment.

“What he’s done for us straight away, and he’s certainly had a great season what he did with the Warriors, he had an impact with us.

“I definitely think he can overcome this. Andrew McCullough is in the same boat. He was outstanding for us so both of those guys, if they choose to go that way, certainly offer a lot.”

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It overshadowed Newcastle’s gritty 12-0 win over North Queensland.

Kalyn Ponga added misery to what has been an awful season for his former club, laying on the only two tries in the match.

It all but secures the Knights a place in this year’s finals series.

The win pushes Newcastle to 19 competition points in sixth place, just behind the Roosters and Canberra who are locked on 20 points.

The win was anything but pretty in tough, windy conditions but it was still a vital two competition points.

It continues a horrid year for the Cowboys, who have now lost eight on the trot.

Josh McGuire might also have a problem with the match review committee after a late high shot on Ponga that didn’t look good at all.

The Cowboys had their own injury concerns with wrecking ball Jason Taumalolo leaving the field with a lower leg problem.

Coach Josh Hannay was uncertain how long he would be without the 2016 Dally M medallist.

“It’s a calf injury, not sure on the severity,” said Hannay.

“He had no niggle coming into the game so that didn’t help.”

Hannay was hopeful that the injury would not end the season of the Cowboys’ marquee player.

“He’s obviously key for us and I’m just not sure at this stage what the severity of the calf injury is.”

Hymel Hunt scored the only first-half try, with Ponga throwing the final pass in just the 15th minute.

Ponga then set up another for Enari Tuala minutes before fulltime with a brilliant cut-out ball.

Phoenix Crossland came on and played dummy half in Green’s absence, with Kurt Mann shifting to five-eighth.

It leaves O’Brien with a huge headache given the Knights are already without dummy-half options Jayden Brailey (ACL), McCullough (hamstring) and Connor Watson (achilles).

Chris Randall is the only other contender to fill what is now a massive void.

Both teams spent a period a man down, with Mitchell Pearce and Mitchell Dunn both sin binned for professional fouls.

Pearce’s occurred just before halftime with his team ahead 6-0 but Dunn’s indiscretion early in the second half took away the Cowboys’ momentum.

The Knights now take on the Warriors in Tamworth on Saturday while the Cowboys are up against Cronulla.

The Daily Telegraph