The Newcastle Knights secured a narrow 22-20 victory over the St. George Illawarra Dragons in a tightly contested match at McDonald Jones Stadium on Friday night. The result came down to the final play, with the Dragons unable to capitalize on a last-minute opportunity.

The Knights entered the game with several key players absent or limited. Pasami Saulo was sidelined due to a fractured ankle sustained earlier in the week, while Kalyn Ponga and Dylan Lucas did not play as they recovered from State of Origin duties just 48 hours prior. Newcastle’s lineup adjustments included shifting Fletcher Sharpe, typically a five-eighth, to fullback to cover for Ponga, with Sandon Smith added late at five-eighth.

The Dragons faced their own challenges, as Moses Suli was ruled out due to a late pre-match injury, leading to Tyrell Sloan’s unexpected start on the left wing. Sloan’s unfamiliar position proved costly early on, as Newcastle took advantage within six minutes. Dom Young outpaced Sloan down the sideline before assisting Sharpe for his first try. Sharpe capitalized again shortly after, collecting a precise cross-field kick from Dylan Brown to extend the Knights’ lead to 12-0.

The Dragons responded after Newcastle committed errors near midfield, allowing halfback Kyle Flanagan to use his tactical kicking to set up tries. Valentine Holmes scored following a well-executed grubber kick, and Sloan finished a clever chip over the line to level the score at 12-all. Penalty goals from the Knights gave them a slender lead at halftime.

Early in the second half, Newcastle extended their advantage when a high bomb from Smith, deflected by Bradman Best, reached Dylan Brown who then set up Smith for his debut try with the Knights. Despite a ten-point cushion, the Dragons remained competitive. Daniel Atkinson played a key role, kicking a chip into the corner that allowed Setu Tu to score, narrowing the gap.

Newcastle held a 22-16 lead but faced pressure as the Dragons fought back late in the game. Tu later assisted Dylan Egan for a try in the corner, leaving Holmes with a difficult conversion attempt that struck the post and kept the margin at two points. The climax arrived with the Dragons launching an attacking bomb 40 metres from the Newcastle line. Flanagan appeared poised to ground the ball for a winning try but was unable to secure it.

The defeat leaves the Dragons at the bottom of the league standings, still struggling for wins despite some recent improved performances. The Knights, meanwhile, maintain their position inside the top four but did so without a full-strength lineup, highlighting the resilience of the side amid player absences. Both teams face challenges moving forward as they aim to build momentum in the weeks ahead.