The nib Newcastle Knights have secured a second consecutive victory with a 26-4 triumph over the Wests Tigers in front of a bumper crowd at McDonald Jones Stadium.
Just over 23,000 loyal Knights supporters made their way to the first game back at MJS since July, 2021 and the Knights put on a show in front of the Hunter faithful.
In another impressive all-round showing, the Knights ran in five tries to the Tigers one to claim the annual Allan McMahon Shield contested between the two Clubs.
NRL Match Highlights: Knights v Wests Tigers
With confidence high after the dominant Round 1 win, the Knights were off to a blistering start.
Jake Clifford put through a kick and picked up the ricochet to score next to the posts and the first of the afternoon.
Clifford scores the Knights first
The Newcastle crowd were soaking up seeing their team back at home and the side fed off the crowd energy.
The Knights would have a second try only five minutes later when stand-in Captain, Tyson Frizell, produced a skipper's effort.
A deep kick into the in-goal from Adam Clune saw a flying Frizell get to the ball first and plant the ball down.
Frizell great grab and touchdown
After the fast start, the match went into an arm wrestle before Tyrone Peachey was sent to the sin-bin.
The Knights couldn't capitalise on the extra-man advantage, but would take a solid 14-0 lead into the break.
The red and blue again jumped out of the blocks in the second half putting the Tigers under pressure.
Bradman Best would score the Knights third of the afternoon charging onto a beautiful short ball from Clune.
Best extends the Knights lead
The halfback summed up the numbers on a short side and double-pumped to send 'The Beast' crashing over for his first try of the season.
Newcastle continued to own the contest and it wasn't long before they would have their fourth.
Jake Clifford raided the short-side before quick hands found Dom Young, who made no mistake in the corner on the 57th minute mark.
Young finishes off smart play from Clifford
The Tigers looked to have pegged one back through front-rower Stefano Utoikamanu, but was overturned by The Bunker for a drop ball on the grounding.
Dane Gagai put the icing on the cake with 16 minutes to play with an acrobatic finish on the right-edge to score his second try in as many games and his first back in front of the Hunter faithful.
Gagai dives over in the corner
The Tigers would score a late consolation through Ken Maumalo, however it was Newcastle's day running out comfortable victors.
The Knights made it two from two to start the 2022 season and claimed a piece of silverware with the Allan McMahon Shield.
The Club also raised a whopping $116,070 to the Red Cross Flood Appeal with $5 for every person in attendance going towards flood impacted communities.
Newcastle will prepare for a mammoth top-of-the-table clash with the Penrith Panthers next Saturday in Bathurst.
AOB & Frizell: Next man up mentality and attacking improvements
