Newcastle’s NRL season is in jeopardy as the Warriors handed the Knights their fifth consecutive defeat with a score of 26-12 in Christchurch.
Once again, the Knights’ offense was their main concern on Friday night, averaging only 7.2 points over their last five matches.
Their right side struggled to counter Chanel Harris-Tavita’s kicking game near the goal line, leading to a critical 16-0 deficit by halftime.
The Knights have failed to lead in any match during their longest losing streak in nearly three years, and they risk slipping to the bottom of the table if they lose to South Sydney at Magic Round next week.
Pressure will certainly increase on sixth-year coach Adam O’Brien if they fall in that crucial match.
Adam Pompey gets us started! 😝#NRLWarriorsKnights pic.twitter.com/rbvm5vDOiN— NRL (@NRL) April 25, 2025
However, the Knights can take some solace from recent experiences; they were in 14th place after 19 rounds in 2023 before a surge led by Kalyn Ponga pushed them into the top eight.
Even Ponga, their star fullback, is finding it hard to ignite the 2025 Knights, who have never experienced such a long losing streak in the previous two seasons.
The Warriors’ halves, Harris-Tavita and Luke Metcalf, were excellent, keeping the team firmly within the top four standings with a 5-2 record after eight rounds.
Both of the Warriors’ early tries were set up by Harris-Tavita’s kicks in the red zone, first when Kurt Capewell retrieved the ball to set up Adam Pompey, and then when Ali Leiataua passed inside to Jackson Ford.
Metcalf also prevented Greg Marzhew from scoring by pushing him into touch, then intercepted a pass from Jack Cogger and sprinted 65 meters to assist Wayde Egan’s second-half try.
In contrast, the Knights’ halves, Cogger and Fletcher Sharpe, each wasted a kick during the team’s first two attacks toward the line.
James Schiller also missed a scoring opportunity, dropping a pass from Dane Gagai when he seemed set to score, adding to a tough night for the right winger.
The Warriors quickly scored after Newcastle had two first-half tries ruled out by the bunker, with Ford following up to score his first double.
Gagai assisted Schiller by sprinting down the right edge 10 minutes after the break.
But Metcalf’s interception soon dampened the Knights’ momentum, and Pompey secured a double in the final ten minutes to seal the victory.
Marata Niukore and Leo Thompson may face penalties from the match review committee for high shots that landed them in the sin bin within the first five minutes.
