Round 18
Penrith Panthers 18 l. Newcastle Knights 30

2008 NRL Telstra Premiership Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: Aus_NZ > National > First Grade Competition: NRL Telstra Premiership

Brilliant Gidley inspires Knights
Sat July 12, 2008
An excellent display from stand-in Newcastle captain and utility Kurt Gidley was the difference in the Knights 30-18 against Penrith at CUA Stadium last night.

Gidley produced one of his finest displays as he stood tall in the absence of captain Danny Buderus and vice-captain Steve Simpson as Newcastle withstood a one-sided 10-4 penalty count to come home the stronger side.

The victory by Newcastle will put them within 1-2 points of the top eight depending on results whereas Penrith hang on the edge of the eight, but victories by either Parramatta or Wests Tigers will see them slip out by a point.

Penrith started extremely well with Trent Waterhouse crashing over in the 4th minute to open up a 6-0 lead and it was soon 8-0 when Lachlan Coote landed a penalty goal following his successful conversion.

Gidley scored a brilliant try to put the Knights into the match in the 11th minute and Chris Bailey sent the Newcastle ahead 12-8 with a try in the 24th minute.

An excellent blindside play from Luke Priddis and Coote saw Brad Tighe cross over in the corner just before half-time. Coote was unable to put the Panthers in the lead with the scores locked up at 12-all as both sides went into the break.

Newcastle regained the lead eight minutes into the second half when Chris Houston scored the first of his two tries and Gidley's successful conversion pushed the margin out to six points.

Penrith leveled up the scores in the 57th minute with Waterhouse crossing for his second try and Coote adding the extras.

Gidley took advantage of a rare Knights penalty to edge Newcastle two points in front and from there they were never headed.

Daniel Tolar crossed in the 65th minute to push the Knights out to an eight-point lead and Houston's second try in the final stages sealed an excellent victory.

Buderus, who is out injured said of Gidley's performance, "Kurt has taken his body and his mind to a whole new level as a result of his Origin experience

"He had a blinder in the third game and he has come back to Newcastle and it is as if he has said to the rest of the guys here: 'Come with me, boys'. But he has done it with his actions, rather than his words. He's an action type of leader and I think NSW would be silly not to consider him as captain in the future."

Newcastle coach Brian Smith wasn't impressed with referee Gavin Badger and after originally not taking any questions about the man in the middle, he said, "I'm not suggesting any bias or anything like that. I just think the balance of how they were viewed went against us. There - I finished up talking about it and I didn't want to."

Penrith coach Matthew Elliott said, "I think, in this comp, when your attitude is down you put yourself in the position to be outnumbered and outplayed and outsmarted.

"We played nowhere near what we practised to do, and as a coach I've got to accept responsibility. Something in our preparation wasn't right."

Meanwhile, in the Toyota Cup the 13th placed Knights had an 18-all draw with competition leaders Penrith. Newcastle led 14-6 and the Panthers clawed their way back to lead 18-14. Newcastle's Simon Williams scored a hat-trick of tries including one late in the match to level up the scores.

LIVE SCORES & STATS
NRL: Panthers 18 v Knights 30
NYC: Panthers 18 v Knights 18
Panthers v Knights Discussion Thread

Advanced Search