By Jasper Bruce
Newcastle have kept their fairytale finals bid alive with a 26-18 upset defeat of Melbourne that breaks an 11-game losing streak against the Storm.
On Saturday night, the Knights were gutsier and more entertaining than they have been all year, coming back from 12-0 down after eight minutes to steal a famous victory at home.
Melbourne forward Tariq Sims went to the sin bin for a high shot that proved game-defining – Newcastle scored three tries while they were a man up and never surrendered their lead.
NSW centre Bradman Best continued his blistering form since making his State of Origin debut earlier this month, while teammate Tyson Frizell celebrated his imminent contract extension with two offloads that led to Newcastle tries.
It will still take something special for the Novocastrians to make finals from here – they must win four of their final six games to finish the season with a winning record and even that may not guarantee a top-eight finish.
But defeating the fourth-placed Storm for the first time since 2015 could prove the confidence boost the side needs, and on the run home, they face only three more top-eight sides.
Referee Gerard Sutton sends Tariq Sims to the sin bin.Credit: Getty
Sims went to the sin bin just before half-time for a high shot on Knights halfback Jackson Hastings, and while he was off the field, the Knights had 90 per cent possession to turn a 12-10 deficit into a 24-12 lead.
Lachlan Fitzgibbon scored a spectacular team try just before the break, the ball passing through eight players’ hands before it went to the tryline.
Just after the break, bench prop Mat Croker chased a Phoenix Crossland grubber kick for an uncharacteristically acrobatic four-pointer.
Newcastle’s biggest challenge was always going to be keeping the momentum going when the Storm regained their full complement of players.
Justin Olam scored from a routine scrum play to bring the scoreline back to 24-18 and the levee appeared primed for the breaking.
But as was the case in their win against the Roosters last week, the Storm lacked polish in attack. When they conceded an offside penalty in the final 10 minutes, Kalyn Ponga kicked for goal and the Knights held on.
Best again lived up to his name as the Knights clawed back into the contest.
He ran a beautiful line to cut through the inside of Reimis Smith for a try at close range and managed a one-handed offload that sent his winger Greg Marzhew over to give Newcastle their first lead.
Storm centre Reimis Smith left the field with a suspected torn adductor in the second half and appears set for a stint on the sidelines.
AAP
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