Newcastle’s maiden minor premiership has come at a value with star halfback Jesse Southwell struggling a leg harm within the membership’s 28-8 NRLW win over Wests Tigers.
The Knights sealed their standing on the league’s comeback specialists on Thursday night time at Leichhardt Oval, overcoming a half-time deficit to win for the fourth time this 12 months.
The victory secured the Knights their first minor premiership in both the NRL or NRLW, with Newcastle two wins away from the second-placed Roosters early within the remaining spherical.
However victory didn’t come with out some considerations for the defending premiers.
Southwell limped from the sector within the twenty second minute after sustaining a leg harm when establishing the Knights’ first attempt for Sheridan Gallagher eight minutes earlier.
Newcastle have been assured the harm was solely a cork, with the 18-year-old faraway from the sector as a precaution.
Gallagher was additionally harm late within the match, limping with a knee harm after cleansing up a ball in her personal in-goal.
The Knights winger remained on the bottom in ache for a number of minutes as knee checks have been carried out, earlier than medical workers cleared her to proceed.
With Southwell off the sector, the Knights threatened to lose their method within the first half as Rikeya Horne and Rebecca Pollard scored to offer the Tigers an 8-6 lead on the break, the second of these tries coming after a bust from Jakiya Whitfeld.
However simply as they did in opposition to North Queensland, Brisbane and Canberra in latest weeks, the Knights have been in a position to end stronger.
The sport swung early within the second half when Caitlan Johnston pressured an error from the Tigers’ Brooke Talataina.
From the scrum, Tamika Upton put Abigail Roache by a gap to go 60 metres to attain. The Tigers have been by no means actually again within the match.
One other attempt got here to Roache after a Nita Maynard break, and the centre was within the motion once more when she made a 70-metre intercept from which Yasmin Clydsdale profited within the 57th minute.
The win means Newcastle will enter subsequent week’s semi-final on a seven-game win streak, with a match in opposition to the fourth-placed finisher looming.
AAP