Stats Breakdown: Where the Sharks showdown was won

For all the stats fanatics out there, this one is for you!

The Newcastle Knights achieved a crucial win over Cronulla and the stats well and truly tell the tale of tape.

Struggling in the first half, the Knights went into the sheds 12-8 behind after completing just 75% of their sets.

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This lifted to 85% by the end of the game, and it's no coincidence the scoreboard changed as a result.

The Knights' second over Cronulla this year, with each clash going right down to the wire.

We all remember Kalyn Ponga's 77th minute winner back in Round 6, with these four premiership points proving crucial in the race for the top eight.

The Knights have now beaten Cronulla in each of the last four games played between the two sides, dating back to August 2018.

POSSESSION 

Holding the ball proved crucial for the Knights, who came away from the contest with 54% of the footy.

This equated to four and a half extra minutes with the ball as opposed to the Sharks, who held the pill for just 25 of the 80 minutes.

ATTACK

Not only did the Knights have more of the football, they were far more potent with it once they got in their groove.

The made more run metres (1723) and tackle breaks (34) than their rivals in the battle for seventh spot on the ladder.

Enari Tuala crossed for the fastest try of the NRL season, with referee Matt Cecchin awarding the four pointer just 40 seconds into the contest.

Newcastle were only out done by Cronulla in the line breaks category, with the Sharks making three line breaks to Newcastle's two.

DEFENCE

The Sharks were forced to make almost 60 more tackles than the Knights (383), the equivalent to ten extra sets of six.

They also missed 34 tackles (ten more than Newcastle) and were ineffective on 16 occasions (one more than Newcastle).

PLAYER STATS

Enari Tuala has become the Knights' top try-scorer, with eight four pointers this year.

He has now scored six tries in his last three games.

Kalyn Ponga ran for a match-high 184 run metres, while Jayden Brailey made a mammoth 50 tackles.

Ponga also broke an enormous 10 tackles.