The Newcastle Knights have gotten off to the perfect start in their 2018 campaign, recording a thrilling golden point win over the Manly Sea Eagles to take the game out 19-18.
With the game in the balance and the minutes dwindling down, Mitchell Pearce, as cool as a cucumber, slotted a field goal from close range and sealed an opening round win for the club.
With all their key off-season signings playing and all performing well, the win would have pleased the 23,500 fans at McDonald Jones Stadium.
The game went to golden point after Manly captain Daly Cherry-Evans calmly kicked a pressure penalty goal to lock things up at 18-all.
The game started with a frenetic pace as Kalyn Ponga got his Knights career off to a perfect start with a lovely run and break for a try.
That lead lasted mere minutes, however, as Jorge Taufua hit back for Manly to make the score 6-all.
The two sides traded further tries as fellow Knights recruit Slade Griffin burrowed his way over before Apisai Koroisau and Shaun Lane combined for Manly to go into half-time at 12-all.
Manly’s first lead of the game came courtesy of a try to Brian Kelly who showed some crafty ball skills but again, Newcastle hit back to take the lead again after Lachlan Fitzgibbon’s try.
Player of the Game:
3. Kalyn Ponga
2. Shaun Lane
- Herman Ese’ese
FT | Knights 19 (T: Ponga, Griffin, Fitzgibbon G: Ponga 3/3, FG: Pearce 1/1) Sea Eagles 18 (Lane, Kelly, Taufua; G: Cherry-Evans 3/3).