Knights: A late change with Mat Croker coming into the run-on side at lock with Tyson Frizell moving to the bench. Skipper Kalyn Ponga will play his first game since Round 17 last year having fully recovered from a foot injury. Centre Dane Gagai (hamstring) and five-eighth Fletcher Sharpe (hamstring) are also good to go for the season opener. Sharpe will partner star signing Dylan Brown in the halves while former Rooster Sandon Smith wears the No.14 jersey.
Cowboys: No late changes 90 minutes before kick-off for the Cowboys with Liam Sutton the final man to drop out of the squad. The two-game ban handed to Zac Laybutt for a lifting tackle during the Pre-Season Challenge sees Tom Chester come into the centres for his first NRL game since Round 17 in 2024. Chester missed the 2025 season due to an ACL injury. Jake Clifford and Tom Dearden are the halves with Jaxon Purdue in the centres.
2 min: Jermaine McEwen loses the ball coming out of his own end and referee Ashley Klein rules a knock on. The Knights throw in a captain’s challenge and come up trumps when a strip is ruled.
3 min: Kalyn Ponga grubbers into the in-goal and Braidon Burns is forced to scramble and knock it dead. The Knights get another set from 10 metres out.
5 min: Dom Young is tackled just short, Dane Gagai gets into dummy half and gets over the line but is ruled to have juggled the ball and lost it into a Cowboys defender before wriggling free and putting the ball down.
6 min: The Cowboys are ruled to have knocked on through Reed Mahoney. They throw in a captain’s challenge and come up empty so it’s Knights ball on halfway.
7 min: We have the first try of the NRL season as Kalyn Ponga puts up a pinpoint kick and Fletcher Sharpe soars above Scott Drinkwater to take the ball on the full and plunge over. Ponga converts. Knights 6-0.
10 min: The Cowboys get a chance to hit back after Trey Mooney made a mistake on the first tackle after the kick-off. Jaxon Purdue’s error lets the Knights off the hook.
14 min: Another kick, another try for the Knights. Dylan Brown kicks across field, Bradman Best taps the ball down to Fletcher Sharpe who sends it to winger Greg Marzhew who powers over. Kalyn Ponga adds the extras. Knights 12-0.
16 min: Phoenix Crossland gets out of dummy half and launches a 40-20 kick that gives the Knights another shot at points.
18 min: A high tackle by Jermaine McEwen on Jaxon Purdue allows the Cowboys to come out of danger.
20 min: A blow for the Cowboys with fullback Scott Drinkwater leaving the field clutching his ribs.
21 min: Jake Clifford comes up with an error to hand the Knights possession 20 metres out.
23 min: A poor pass by Fletcher Sharpe is scooped up by Braidon Burns and the Cowboys are off the hook.
26 min: The Cowboys hit back through Heilum Luki who runs a great line on the right edge and surges past Fletcher Sharpe who looks to be hampered by a leg injury. Jake Clifford converts. Knights 12-6.
27 min: Fletcher Sharpe leaves the field and Sandon Smith comes on for his run in Knights colours.
31 min: On the back of a great run by Jaxon Purdue coming out of his own end the Cowboys go on the attack and they cash in when Sam McIntyre produces a brilliant flick pass for Murray Taulagi to cross in the left-hand corner for the 62nd try of his career. Jake Clifford nails the kick from wide out. 12-12.
32 min: The Cowboys lose Tom Mikaele after he came down awkwardly in a tackle and his leg buckled. Tyson Frizell is placed on a report for a cannonball tackle.
34 min: Reed Mahoney grubbers into the in-goal and the Knights scramble to make it dead. The Cowboys reload from the dropout.
36 min: Gutsy goal line defence from the Knights as they force an error from Coen Hess on the last play with a solid front-on shot.
Half-time: The loss of Fletcher Sharpe is a hammer blow for the Knights after he started the game in explosive fashion. The Cowboys lost Tom Mikaele to a leg injury while star fullback left the field with a rib cartilage issue but was able to return.
Hard to handle: Knights duo Greg Marzhew and Fletcher Sharpe busted 11 tackles between them as Newcastle got off to a flyer while Dom Young ran for 78 metres and broke five tackles.
46 min: The Knights hit the front after a late offload from Tyson Frizell creates second-phase play for Sandon Smith to unleash Kalyn Ponga who glides into space and puts Bradman Best over for a try. Ponga converts. Knights 18-12.
47 min: Jake Clifford goes too big with the kick-off and the Knights have another shot a points.
48 min: Kalyn Ponga and Dylan Brown combine before Dane Gagai’s quick tap-on puts Dom Young over in the corner as the Knights kick clear. Ponga’s conversion attempt hits the upright and bounces away. Knights 22-12.
52 min: Jake Clifford slides to the left and puts in a pinpoint grubber for Murray Taulagi to follow through and score as he beats Fletcher Hunt to the ball. Clifford converts. Knights 22-18.
55 min: A poor pass out of dummy half by Phoenix Crossland leads to an error by the Knights and they are under the pump.
57 min: The Cowboys lose their shape in attack and go backwards 20 metres before a Jake Clifford pass floats forward and the Knights pounce.
60 min: Scott Drinkwater crabs across field and turns the ball under to Braidon Burns who puts it down and the Knights go on the attack.
61 min: Bradman Best returns the favour with a mistake as the error total between the two sides hit 18 for the night.
69 min: The Cowboys squander another opportunity as the last pass goes astray and into touch. The Knights continue to hang on grimly.
72 min: Braidon Burns jams in on Kalyn Ponga and catches the Knights captain high. He is sent to the sin bin and the Cowboys are down to 12 for the rest of the game.
73 min: A freakish try for the Knights after Dom Young climbs high to bring down a Sandon Smith kick before slipping a great offload to Trey Mooney who reaches out to score. Kalyn Ponga bangs over his fourth conversion. Knights 28-18.
77 min: Reed Mahoney puts in a grubber out of dummy half but it’s too long and the Knights hang on. So close now for Kalyn Ponga and his men.
High five: The Knights’ back five of Kalyn Ponga, Dom Young, Dane Gagai, Bradman Best and Greg Marzhew combined for 80 runs and 778 metres as well as 29 tackle breaks.
Full-time: The Knights have broken a drought that stretches back to June 21 last year as Kalyn Ponga and Dylan Brown show their class in a 28-18 win. Star recruit Sandon Smith also played a leading role after entering the game when Fletcher Sharpe went down with a knee injury.
