Full Time: Canterbury Bulldogs 20 Newcastle Knights 18
You have to feel for Lamb, there's a lot of pressure on that kick and Hodkinson has handed him the tee, when it really should have been him taking it.
Incredible scenes and Josh Reynolds is warmed by fans after the finish.
Heartbreaking for the Knights but it's a day Reynolds will never forget. He loves it, they love him.
Until next time.
That's an absolute shocker.
A chance to lock it up but the @NRLKnights were unlucky tonight!#NRLBulldogsKnights 20-18.#NRL pic.twitter.com/F4DEtK2dUg
— NRL (@NRL) July 9, 2017
What a moment!
Reynolds has taken out a kick-chaser! Of all people!
Lamb will have a kick ahead of Hodkinson, who doesn't think he has the legs. Off the tee from near the sideline, 35 metres out and after the siren to tie things up and take it to golden point...
Canterbury Bulldogs 20 Newcastle Knights 18
Kerrod Holland slots it with 15 seconds remaining on the clock.
That is about as fairytale as it gets when it comes to grandstand finishes - the last game at Belmore for Reynolds no less.
Canterbury Bulldogs 18 Newcastle Knights 18
Moses Mbye with a huge chargedown! Lamb puts in the grubber but Mbye is right up there. It drives into him, taking a bit of heat off the ball.
He collects and he's gone! Full length of the field - they've stolen it here!
We've said it once and we'll say it again...
— NRL (@NRL) July 9, 2017
It's not over until the final buzzer!#NRLBulldogsKnights #NRL pic.twitter.com/imm9DPuMJt
Kick to come.
Back to topFour minutes remain. Suddenly all the pressure is on Newcastle, who are desperate to avoid another heartbreaking defeat.
Canterbury are charging now. Suddenly, Mata'utia out of nowhere pumps into Stanley who has been absolutely rocked.
He'll likely be leaving the field for an HIA.
Lamb with great hands to take the kick for Newcastle that comes in quickly once play is resumed.
Canterbury Bulldogs 14 Newcastle Knights 18
The right-hand side that gave the Knights such trouble in the first half has delivered in the late stages of the second.
Montoya sails over the try line in the corner after finding himself in a bit of space.
We're not done with yet!#NRLBulldogsKnights 14-18 with 4 minutes remaining.#NRL pic.twitter.com/3lSnvhqXGS
— NRL (@NRL) July 9, 2017
Kerrod Holland has a massive kick from the sideline to keep his side in with a shot at stealing the win.
A converted try will do it now. He's slotted it!
Canterbury threatened a few times in the set just gone. They're desperate and showing it with a lot of improv, but that could be the undoing of the Knights here.
They struggled earlier on when Canterbury were a bit more creative going about things.
The Dogs force a repeat set as the Knights dive to tip it dead..
The home side are suddenly full of life but a pass from Reynolds is knocked on... by a Knight!
It looked like it was going the other way after the referee failed to blow his whistle, but he's made a decision now.
Bulldogs from 30 metres out. They are working the ball left and look dangerous
Wardle comes in with a massive shot on Matt Frawley to shut it down. And he's lost it! The Knights get around him real quick, they know how much that play means.
Canterbury Bulldogs 8 Newcastle Knights 18
Sione Mata'utia has just left the field clutching his hand in real pain. He's had a really big influence for the Knights today - hopefully for them it's nothing serious.
Newcastle are almost away before Ross lost the ball in the excitement after a good tackle. The loose ball sparks a counter attack from the Bulldogs.
The Knights looked a bit rattled but I doubt a no-look pass from Kasiano was Des Hasler's preferred fifth-tackle option..
That's a wasted opportunity just metres out from the line.
Back to topThe last 15 minutes has been all Newcastle... 75 per cent of possession! Canterbury have gone quiet and will need that statistic to change over the final 15 minutes.
Canterbury Bulldogs 8 Newcastle Knights 18
Through the boot of Hodkinson again! He slots the grubber after seeing space in-goal on the left side.
Mata'utia is onside, but very quickly in the region of the football - reaching out to score, with a bit of a flourish.
They'll go upstairs to check the grounding as he's dived at speed and rolled away afterwards, but it looks good.
Another one for Pete Mata'utia!#NRLBulldogsKnights 8-18 with 18 minutes remaining.#NRL pic.twitter.com/CzvDnYIvrY
— NRL (@NRL) July 9, 2017
They say yes! Hodkinson will have a crack at adding a couple more. He takes his side to a ten-point lead.
The half is having a massive influence on the game in the second period.
Newcastle earn a penalty through Buhrer, who is driven back after the referee called 'held'.
He happened to lose his grip on the ball as he hit the deck... that's still going to be a penalty. Newcastle will hit the line.
Mata'utia almost does it all himself on the third, beating a few men but being driven to the right sideline the whole time, eating into his metres.
Finally, Hodkinson puts in a nice grubber on the last to force a repeat set. A different looking side, really!
Canterbury Bulldogs 8 Newcastle Knights 12
Hodkinson finds touch just 20 metres out from the line. A lovely kick, really from ten metres inside his own half.
It's the same man who finds the key pass: a cutout to Mata-Utia on the left side. That's a cracking ball giving the winger a whole lot of room to work in.
The @NRLKnights take the lead thanks to Chanel Mata'utia!#NRLBulldogsKnights 8-12 after 54 minutes.#NRL pic.twitter.com/yoyEIQdtOx
— NRL (@NRL) July 9, 2017
Hodkinson sets up the field position, sets up the try... but he can't quite convert. Still, suddenly Newcastle are the side in front!
Newcastle are showing a little bit of belief about themselves, with Canterbury a much quieter side.
Not Hopoate, though, who breaks what looked to be an easy tackle, before adding 20-odd metres more.
He's been great tonight for the Dogs.
Debutant Saunders knocks a pass on late in the same set, and it's quickly picked up. Newcastle make it out to their own 40 quickly before Canterbury concede a ruck penalty.
Back to topCanterbury Bulldogs 8 Newcastle Knights 8
This time it's the Bulldogs who are ruled offside.
Former Canterbury man Trent Hodkinson has a chance to level things up off the tee from 30 metres out, straight in front.
He will have kicked a few at this ground in his 92 games for the dogs. He's kicked another. We're level!
Hodkinson nails it and we're all locked up!#NRLBulldogsKnights 8-8 after 49 minutes.#NRL pic.twitter.com/69C6X7wHgT
— NRL (@NRL) July 9, 2017
Hopoate deals with an ugly floater with ease, but the Bulldogs end up starting upfield after the referee pointed out a number of offside kick-chasers.
It gives the Dogs their first real shot at the line this second half after five minutes. Morris finds Holland out on the wing who breaks through the defensive line, but is eventually held back.
The cross field kick that follows on the last goes loose, but bounces towards a Knight, who maintains possession.
Newcastle defend their line once more.
They're back out there!
Game on.
An unusual kick off from the Dogs only goes 25 metres, giving the Knights something to work with early if they're good enough.
Hopoate deals with a high bomb from the 40 with ease, about 10 out from the try line.
Canterbury are over halfway in four tackles, before Reynolds puts in a non-threatening punt deep and central.
No one was ready for that one... 😳
— NRL (@NRL) July 9, 2017
Perfect timing before HT!#NRLBulldogsKnights 8-6.#NRL pic.twitter.com/G6Y4OeIbdt
Half Time: Canterbury Bulldogs 8 Newcastle Knights 6
Newcastle work another repeat set, as the Bulldogs are forced to flick a loose ball dead, after a Hodkinson kick finds the turf, post-aerial contest.
A penalty shortly into those tackles and Mata'utia, thinking quickly, takes the tap. He's off and steps two defenders who have failed to fill the line and he's over!
He was just outside the ten and had no-one in front. A huge moment as the siren sounds!
Strong! Hodkinson knocks it over to reduce the lead to just two.
The scoreboard does not reflect how dominant Canterbury have been, but when you are a team that struggles to score as it is, losing some of your best to Origin isn't going to help you put them on the board.
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