Newcastle Knights

Lomax broke a 16-16 deadlock with two minutes left on the clock before the Dragons kept the ball alive on the last on the stroke of full-time with Feagai crossing for his second of the afternoon in the win.

It was an enthralling encounter between the two clubs, who were equally as desperate to turn their early season form around after sluggish starts.

The Dragons enjoyed 56 percent of possession in the opening half to set up an 8-0 lead but didn't have it all their way with Newcastle repelling their attack and hitting the lead midway through the second half.

In heavy rain in Newcastle, the home side looked to have scored first through Dom Young but the try was overturned for Tyson Frizell's lead run taking out Kieran Foran.

Instead Manly scored the only two tries of the opening half with Dylan Walker's short ball helping Andrew Davey over and a pinpoint Daly Cherry-Evans kick sitting up nicely for Morgan Harper and a 10-0 lead at the break.

A series of ruck penalties and set restarts given away by the Sea Eagles invited the Knights to attack after the resumption and Kalyn Ponga crossed after a nice sequence of offloading.

Playing in southerly winds gusting at up to 65kph, the Sharks proved too hard to handle for a Knights outfit who lost Tyson Frizell to a hamstring injury and were already without forwards David Klemmer (knee), Lachlan Fitzgibbon (knee) and Mitch Barnett (suspended).

Stand-in centre Siosifa Talakai was outstanding for Cronulla and made 17 tackle breaks as he scored a try and carried the ball for 228 metres, while creating space for his left edge winger Ronaldo Mulitalo, who ran 207 metres with the ball.

Barnett's elbow to the jaw of Panther Chris Smith in the 33rd minute was both late and high and left referee Peter Gough with no option but to march him.

The Knights were leading 6-4 at the time courtesy of Dominic Young's converted try in the 19th minute which answered Taylan May's early strike but the numerical advantage soon told.

Four minutes after Barnett exited, May had a second try thanks to a pinpoint grubber from Izack Tago.

Newcastle dominated the match, making six line-breaks to nil and holding the Roosters tryless until four minutes before fulltime.

Five-eighth Jake Clifford was the star of the win but it was a team performance, with the back five of Kalyn Ponga (146m), Dominic Young (124m), Dane Gagai (200m), Bradman Best (146m) and Enari Tuala (109m) all running more than 100 metres with the ball.

Both sides were part of the finals action in 2021 but came up short of the ultimate prize as the grind of a long season took its toll, particularly at the Roosters, who dealt with all manner of adversity along the journey.

With two of their most influential players, Luke Keary and Lindsay Collins, back from knee reconstructions, the Roosters take on a formidable look, while the addition of Dane Gagai gives the Knights more strike power.

Tries to Jake Clifford and Jirah Momoisea set up a 12-0 lead for the Knights early before Bulldogs recruit Matt Dufty made his mark on the game with a long-range try against the run of play minutes after an assist for winger Jayden Okunbor.

Newcastle halfback Adam Clune also gave a strong first impression in his first appearance in red and blue, linking well with Clifford, before putting Dominic Young over the line late in the first half.

Meanwhile the Cowboys have staved off the Knights to re-sign a young gun back-rower.

DOLPHINS TARGET TITANS VETERAN AS DAD’S ARMY GROWS

Gold Coast forward Jarrod Wallace is reportedly set for a reunion with Wayne Bennett at the Dolphins in 2023.

Ponga has one of the more intricate contracts in the NRL. The 23-year-old is signed to the Knights until the end of 2024 but he has an option in his favour for the final two seasons — and doesn’t have a decision deadline looming.

The Dolphins have held talks with Ponga, while he has previously shared his interest in playing for the All Blacks.

Milford was meant to be a Rabbitoh this year after signing a one-year deal, however that contract wasn’t registered after assault allegations emerged.

The 27-year-old is reportedly due to face court in mid-February, casting doubt over whether he will feature for South Sydney — or any team at all — this year.

However, Triple M’s Ben Dobbin has reported Milford’s relationship with the Rabbitohs “is done” and instead he will sign with the Knights for the 2022 season.