Live: 'I just can't believe how poorly they're playing' Knights struggle against Sharks (2025)

This is little more than consolation, but as Newcastle finally show that they are capable of doing more than just the bog-standard backline moves by going back against the grain to score in the corner through James Schiller.

The kick is missed, so it's 34-14.

A bit of padding to the scoreline isn't a bad thing for the Knights, given they've only twice scored more than this all year.

They won't have liked conceding there - and a bloodied Mawene Hiroti with a gash splitting his forehead, runs through a gap as wide as Sydney Harbour to cross.

Incredibly, Mawene Hirotihas scored in five consecutive games now - but over three different seasons, such is his injury record.

It was Trindall who created the gap.

The kick is good, the score is 34-10.

Even the knights in Game of Thrones had more to be happy about than these men from Newcastle at the moment.

Well, that was allGregMarzhew.

He got the ball on the left edge and then proceeded to bounce through or around seven (7) tacklers before offloading to Fletcher Sharpe to score.

A rare moment of quality for the home fans.

The kick is good and the Knights hit the double-digit mark.

That is cause for celebration, of sorts.

It's 28-10.

Fox Sports are reporting that it's only minor and he will be available next week.

But he won't play again in this match.

Not great that from the Knights.

I mean, even more than the very low baseline they've set themselves this half.

GregMarzhewwas, at least, trying to move the ball and try and spark something from inside his own defensive zone.

But he loses the ball in the tackle and the Sharks have great field position.

This time Stonestreet is the beneficiary and has no space to run, but that was another really poor, no-look pass from Ponga.

Has to be said, the Sharks rush defence has been very impressive and accurate in their execution of this tactic, but the Knights have just been desperate in getting the ball wide.

It was for a possible hip drop on Nicho Hynes - and it sparked a little coming together of the players there as the Sharks half lay on the ground.

He's OK though and there were no real pushing or shoving.

Not even the Sunday Roast is getting carved up as much as this Newcastle team at the moment.

Toby Rudolf on the crash ball bounces his way over the line now.

But no! Rudolf drops the ball over the line and it's only that error that saves the Knights blushes.

I mean, they're already blushing plenty - or should be - but you know what I mean.

Blayke Brailey skips his way past a horror attempt at a tackle from Kalyn Ponga, kicks through for William Kennedy who races through and dabs down.

"It is a horror show for Newcastle," says Alexander.

Yep.

The kick is good.

Kalyn Ponga throws an intercept to Jesse Ramienwho offloads to Stonestreet, who scores untouched.

Wowza, that was abysmal from the Knights.

"I just can't believe how poorly they're playing," Greg Alexander says on Fox Sports.

He's right.

The kick is good and it's 22-4.

The Sharks moved that ball very nicely out to the left side of that attack.

ThenMawene Hiroti dived over in the corner, spinning past Kalyn Ponga and then being held up by Schiller.

However - he's been cut open on the nose by a swinging arm of Schiller and it's enough forceful contact to see him sent to the bin by the bunker!

Look, I don't think you can argue it was moderate contact, but we've seen shots all weekend with more that haven't resulted in a sin bin - and some that have caused cuts.

Something, something, something, consistency, something, something.

Safe to say, Newcastle needs to see more from its Knights.

The Sharks will have first use of the ball though as the Knights kick off.

-AAP

I'm already bored of this NRL season subplot, but there has been another development.

Lachlan Galvin's management company has served Wests Tigers with a legal letter claiming the teenager has been bullied.

Galvin was set to play for Western Suburbs in the NSW Cup on Monday after being dumped from the NRL squad.

The move came after the 19-year-old declined an improved deal and raised concerns over his career trajectory under Benji Marshall's coaching.

Marshall said on Sunday ahead of Easter Monday's clash with Parramatta that Galvin still had a chance to win his way back into the Tigers' NRL side before moving on at the expiry of his contract at the end of 2026.

But that seems increasingly unlikely given the Tigers have been served with a letter alleging Galvin has been bullied out of the club.

Social media posts from teammates singled out the teenager for criticism, and there has been a heavy social media pile-on against Galvin.

The Tigers declined to comment when contacted by AAP on Sunday.

Isaac Moses, the director of Galvin's management firm Cove Agency, has been approached for comment.

John Gibbs, on ABC Radio, said "you can see something has happened in the workplace".

Galvin's place in the Tigers' number six jersey has been taken by Adam Doueihi, who will celebrate his 100th NRL match after suffering three separate anterior cruciate ligament injuries.

"Going through that (knee reconstruction) process all over again, how hard it is, and if you're even going to come back at the same level, is very tough," Marshall said.

"I said it in our jersey presentation, this 100 is like 300 (games), it's that big of a deal.

"It's a great milestone for Adam … if it was up to him he'd prefer to play in halves, but we've had him at centre (until this week).

"The good thing for us is he's a good talker, an organiser and can kick the footy well.

"He loves the chance to play there and we are looking forward to what he brings."

These ones? I'm not so sure.

Newcastle have scored eight points in total in their last two and a half matches since the bye.

So far this season, they have scored 46 points, by far the lowest in the league and a woeful return for a side so packed with backline talent.

Let's just pop back to Robina for some reaction to the Raiders come from behind victory over the Titans.

The Raiders started slowly and trailed 16-0 after 21 or so minutes before roaring back.

A slow start might be expected from the Raiders.

So far this season their schedule has looked like this:

• Las Vegas
• Canberra
• Sydney
• Townsville
• Canberra
• Darwin
• Gold Coast.

That's a fair few air miles.

But that's not the reason for the slow start, according to Tom Starling.

“I don’t think it is getting to us," Starling told ABC Sport about the travel.

"We have a lot of fun going away. We’re enjoying our time together.

"Rugby league is about the camaraderie.”

Well there you go.

The Knights have tried to come back into this game, but they're not being particularly successful at the moment.

A team that has barely scored this year has once again proven itself relatively impotent in attack.

The Sharks deserve their 16-4 lead and the way the Knights are playing, you can't see that lead going any other way than up.

An error from the Sharks and Bradman Best picks the ball up and launches himself up field, playing the ball toJamesSchillerwho makes some good ground.

However, the Knights move the ball to the right side and it is thrown over the sideline - another disappointing end from this misfiring Knights attack.