WITH his side's skipper and two alternatives both sidelined, and his team also down two starting props, Tyson Frizell stood up with a captain's knock to lead the Newcastle Knights to a 26-4 victory over the Wests Tigers at home on Sunday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Frizell, captaining the Knights for the first time in place of injured fullback Kalyn Ponga, was immense for his side and needed to be given David Klemmer was ruled out before kick-off.
The Knights were also already without their other starting prop, Daniel Saifiti, for their first home game of the year - and first at McDonald Jones Stadium since July.
Frizell, the second-most experienced player at the Knights behind Dane Gagai, was playing his 198th game on Sunday and his experience was on full display as he helped guide the club to its second victory in as many games this season.
He scored the Knights' second try in the eighth minute, latching onto an Adam Clune crossfield kick in the in-goal area and putting it down about a metre shy of the dead-ball line.
It was an impressive effort for a 108kg forward and a play that stunned Tigers defenders, who barely contested the ball.
Frizell, who almost had another in the second half but it was ruled a no-try, played the full 80 minutes and had a number of strong runs. He finished the game having made 165 metres from 17 runs and 21 tackles.
Fox League commentator Greg Alexander said late in the match that Frizell had "not been beaten physically" on any occasion.
The 30-year-old former NSW and Australia representative was supported up front by big games from Jacob Saifiti, Mitch Barnett and Matt Croker, who replaced David Klemmer.
The Knights were all over the visitors in the first half, completing at more than 80 per cent and dominating the play to lead 14-0 at the break.
Tigers great Benji Marshall said in commentary at half-time he was "surprised it wasn't 30-nil".
Bradman Best scored just seven minutes into the second half to push the scoreline out to 18-0, but with a depleted outfit the Knights could hardly rely on that lead to secure victory.
However, when the Tigers knocked-on from a Knights' kick midway through the second half inside their own 20 metres, the home side made them pay.
Shortly after Jake Clifford earned a repeat set, British flyer Dom Young scored a try akin to his effort last week against the Roosters, diving over in the corner and putting the ball down with one hand. His try reignited the home crowd and made a Knights victory feel all the more likely for the 23,241 in attendance.
Playing his first home game in Knights colours since returning from South Sydney, Dane Gagai scored in the same corner of the field in the 64th minute to send the red-and-blue fans into a frenzy again.
Earlier in the game, Clifford got the party started by scoring from his own kick after just three minutes.
Newcastle reclaimed the Allan McMahon Shield with the win.
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
- Bookmark: newcastleherald.com.au
- Download our app
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Twitter
- Follow us on Instagram
- Follow us on Google News