The nib Newcastle Knights have gone down in a tight encounter against the North Queensland Cowboys in Townsville, 18-16.
After another back and forth match with the lead shared throughout the majority of the game, the Cowboys came out on top by two points.
In 2023, We Are Bound Together
Kalyn Ponga made his return to the field in game 100 with one goal separating the two sides in the end.
HOW IT PLAYED OUT:
1st min - The match kicked off at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.
10th min - The Cowboys opened the scoring as fullback Scott Drinkwater broke into the back field and found Reece Robson backing up in support.
13th min - Newcastle replied quickly after a set move down the left had our winger Greg Marzhew diving over for his sixth try in Knights colours.
Quick hands from Bradman Best and Lachlan Miller freed up Marzhew and the No.5 couldn't be stopped close to the line.
Marzhew leaves them in his wake
18th min - Dom Young almost pulled off a miraculous try, leaping high off a Jackson Hastings kick and getting across the try-line, however dropped the ball on the put down.
Young can't reel it in
26th min - North Queensland re-gained the lead when Kyle Feldt planted the ball in the corner.
27th min - Captain Kalyn Ponga re-entered the field after his five game stint on the sidelines for his 100th match in the NRL.
39th min - Valentine Holmes missed a late penalty goal as the home side took a 12-6 lead into the change of ends.
47th min - Cowboys winger Murray Taulagi was sent to the sin-bin after a late shot on Dane Gagai.
48th min - The Knights capitalised on the extra-man with Kalyn Ponga jumping into the action.
Ponga sends Young over
The 25-year-old jinked his way through the line and found an unmarked Dom Young on the wing for our second try of the night.
56th min - The Knights took the lead when Lachlan Fitzgibbon strolled over untouched next to the posts.
Jackson Hastings roamed across the field before putting Fitzgibbon through a hole for the Knights third of the night.
Fitzgibbon straightens up for the try
63rd min - North Queensland struck back with Tom Dearden scoring their third to take the lead.
68th min - Dom Young and Greg Marzhew stopped a certain try, with Jeremiah Nanai dropping the ball over the line after a line-break from the Cowboys.
79th min - The Knights through plenty of attack at the Cowboys, but couldn't crack their defence as the home side held onto their two-point advantage.
WHAT IS UP NEXT:
The Knights will play away against the Parramatta Eels next Friday night in Sydney at CommBank Stadium.
