NRL 2024: Knights win 36-16 over Rabbitohs, Cameron Murray high shot exposes sin bin drama

The NRL has a high tackle problem on the eve of finals, after Cameron Murray almost avoided a sin bin for an ugly shot on Tyson Frizell just one day after the Stephen Crichton drama.

The NRL has a high tackle problem on the eve of the finals after Cameron Murray was sent to the sin bin 24 hours after Stephen Crichton was allowed to stay on the field as the Knights overcame a slow start to pick up a crucial 36-16 win.

The win keeps Newcastle in the hunt for the top eight with two rounds to go, but all focus will be on the charge sheet after Murray’s high shot on Tyson Frizell late in the first half.

“I haven’t had a good look at it. I’ve only seen it on the big screen so I’d rather stay out of the whole situation because I’ll probably get a fine or something,” interim coach Ben Horny said, while Murray conceded he was “a little bit” confused.

NRL Round 25 2024 – South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Newcastle Knights. Picture: NRL Imagery

Crichton was hit with a grade two careless high tackle charge and will miss one game if he takes the early guilty plea for a high shot on Roger Tuivasa-Sheck that left the Warriors star concussed and forced him out of Friday’s game.

Fans were bewildered the Bulldogs skipper wasn’t sent to the sin bin, and things have gotten even more confusing after the South Sydney skipper was initially placed on report but was then marched for 10 minutes after it became clear that Tyson Frizell was in a bid way.

“Direct contact with moderate force and there are no mitigating circumstances,” referee Chris Butler said.

The Knights edge forward was quickly deemed a category one which ruled him out of the second half just minutes after the visitors lost fellow back-rower Kai Pearce-Paul who was taken to hospital with a nasty leg laceration.

“It’s like a shark bite. It’s huge,” Knights coach Adam O’Brien said of the cut.

Frizell’s injury saw Sebastian Su’a come on as the 18th man, but his debut didn’t go to plan with the man mountain also sent to the sin bin for a high shot on Davvy Moale which was initially missed during the run of play.

Compare the pair. pic.twitter.com/VeS6FZ09UF

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FINALS FANTASY

The Knights are just one win outside the top eight and praying for a Dragons loss after skipper Kalyn Ponga produced two dazzling plays in the space of 60 seconds to keep their finals hopes alive.

They are now up to 26 points and are level with three other teams just a win behind the Red V who they hope will lose to the Sharks.

Newcastle’s points differential is poor but they finish the year with home games against the Titans and Dolphins as they look to steal eighth spot.

And they can thank Ponga for seeing off the Rabbitohs after he broke their hearts in the second half with a big break off a kick return before he sliced through again and set up Jack Cogger for the first of his two second-half tries.

The Knights will be without their back-rowers next week but Blues star Bradman Best is a chance of returning from a hamstring injury, with both of their centres scoring strong tries on Saturday night.

“I’ll talk to the medical staff. They’ll need to clear him over the next couple of days,” O’Brien said.

“I wouldn’t say ‘no’, but I can’t say ‘yes’ until he goes through all the medical protocols.”

The Knights have kept their finals hopes alive with a win over the Rabbitohs. Picture: NRL Imagery

KICKING CATASTROPHE

It looked like Souths might pull off an upset midway through the first half until back-to-back kick-offs by Fletcher Myers sailed out on the full to give the Knights all the momentum.

The second penalty was immediately punished by Dane Gagai who went through to score the first of his two tries.

The one positive for the hosts was Jack Wighton who scored a powerful solo try and set up another with a deft grubber in one of his best games for the club.

Originally published as NRL 2024: Knights win 36-16 over Rabbitohs, Cameron Murray high shot exposes sin bin drama