A week after breaking James Tedesco's jaw with a swinging arm, Gold Coast prop Ryan James scored two first-half tries to help sink the Knights 26-6 at Hunter Stadium on Saturday.
Found guilty of a careless high tackle for his hit on the Wests Tigers fullback, James controversially escaped suspension when the charge was downgraded.
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Finals beckon as Titans down Knights
The Titans are on the cusp of securing an unlikely finals berth after defeating the Knights 26-6.
He made the most of his reprieve by crashing through Newcastle's ruck defence to score twice in the first 20 minutes.
The win left Titans eighth with two rounds to play. For the Knights, their club-record losing streak has now extended to 16 games.
![Double trouble: Ryan James scores under the posts.](/web/20161115035854im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/q/x/c/o/8/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gqxcmp.png/1471734547859.jpg)
Titans superstar Jarryd Hayne was surprisingly subdued in his third game since returning to the NRL.
He injured an ankle making a crucial goal-line tackle in the 61st minute, then was helped to the head bin four minutes later when he was knocked senseless making a tackle on Knights forward Jacob Saifiti.
He did not return and will need to pass concussion tests to play in next week's crucial game against Penrith.
After Knights winger Brendan Elliot was bundled into touch in the sixth minute diving for the corner, James opened the scoring with a barging try 10 minutes later.
![Rough handling: Jarryd Hayne is taken down.](/web/20161115035854im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/q/x/c/o/f/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gqxcmp.png/1471734547859.jpg)
Six minutes later, back-rower Chris McQueen crashed over, then James scored again in the 20th minute.
Former Knights halfback Tyrone Roberts converted all three tries to give the visitors an 18-0 lead.
A 90-metre intercept try from Knights winger Nathan Ross in the 28th minute at least gave last-placed Newcastle some hope.
But a try from Titans prop Luke Douglas after a quick tap, converted by Roberts, made it 24-6 with half an hour to play, and the home side were never likely to haul in that deficit.
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