NRL: Knights put 50 on struggling Titans

Akuila Uate of the Knights is tackled by Greg Bird of the Titans. Photo / Getty Images

Knights 50
Titans 20

Newcastle seized the perfect opportunity to cement an NRL top eight berth at Ausgrid Stadium, surging to a 50-20 demolition of last-placed Gold Coast.

As well as taking on a struggling opposition, the Knights went into the match knowing their main rivals for a finals spot, Penrith and Canterbury, had both lost.

The comprehensive victory means the Knights put a four-point gap on the ladder between them and the Panthers and Bulldogs - and although the job's not done yet, 24 competition points should be enough for the Novocastrians to make the playoff cut.

In a further boost, the nine tries to four demolition nullified the Wests Tigers' points-differential advantage over Newcastle, and the Knights have now slotted into seventh place on the competition table.

Flying Fijian Akuila Uate was on fire for the Knights, bagging a hat-trick, while his opposite winger James McManus also claimed a double.

Veteran centre Adam MacDougall wound the clock back for the Knights, `Mad Dog' taking advantage of his late inclusion in the side to power over for a second half try and also pop up a magic offload for Uate to score his third.

Scott Prince scored a solo try late in the first half to get the Titans back into the game, trailing 16-12 at the break.

But Newcastle then came out firing, blowing the match apart with two tries in the first five minutes of the second half.

A sweeping backline play ended with McManus dashing 40 metres to score his second, before second-rower Cameron Ciraldo marched through some feeble defence to extend the score to 28-12.

Keith Lulia dashed away off a Jarrod Mullen ball to join in the rout, before Neville Costigan brought up the 50 off his halfback's grubber in the 79th minute.

The Knights, who have struggled to score points all season, became the first NRL side to break the half-century mark this year.

Gold Coast opened the scoring after just five minutes, with a Greg Bird strip on Uate off a kick-return, resulting in the ball being fed out for David Mead to cross in the corner.

But from there the Knights wingers ensured the home side didn't lose the lead again.

NEWCASTLE 50 (A Uate 3 J McManus 2 C Ciraldo N Costigan K Lulia A MacDougall tries K Gidley 6 R Stig goals) bt GOLD COAST 20 (G Bird D Moore S Prince B Thompson tries S Prince 2 goals) at Ausgrid Stadium. Referee: Gavin Badger, Alan Shortall. Crowd: 17,327.

- AAP