NRL: More dark Knights look likely

Greg Bird scores for the Titans last night as Chris Houston tries to stop him. Photo / Getty Images

Knights 14
Titans 24

It is still early days but Wayne Bennett's latest crusade is not in good shape. This scoreline flattered the Knights, as the game was essentially over with almost 30 minutes still to play.

The Knights were awful, with a lack of effort on defence and no cohesion on attack.

Their attack is the major concern, as they offered little threat until the game was long gone. Willie Mason tried hard, while Danny Buderus returned but had limited game time after a head knock.

The Titans scored three tries in an 18-minute first-half burst to sprint away and are playing to their potential after a terrible start to 2012 with just one win in seven games. They had unlikely away wins against Manly and the Bulldogs, as well as the narrow one point loss to the Tigers. Last night's victory meant back-to-back wins for the first time since 2010.

For the sixth week in a row, Newcastle opened the scoring with Akuila Uate producing an acrobatic finish after a bullet Jarrod Mullen pass. The Titans started slowly - they didn't reach the Knights 22 until the 13th minute - but a piece of William Zillman magic with a zig-zag 30m run created a try for hooker Matt Srama in the 19th minute and gave them momentum.

Two minutes later, David Mead extended the visitors' lead after clever play from Beau Champion. By the time Nate Myles crashed over just before halftime, it looked like the Knights were, in the words of the Eagles, Already Gone.

From five opportunities in 2012, the Knights had been unable to successfully haul in a halftime deficit - and it happened again. Meanwhile, the Titans were in rare form; they had not scored more points in a first half in 18 months.

After an error-plagued start to the second spell, when Greg Bird strolled past Jarrod Mullen in the 53rd minute, the match looked all but over.

Tyrone Roberts slipped across the line in the 67th minute to offer some hope but it was in vain.

Knights 14 (A. Uate, T. Roberts, A. McKinnon tries; J. Mullen goal), Titans 24 (M. Srama, D. Mead, N. Myles, G. Bird tries; S. Prince 4 goals). Halftime: 16-4

EELS v DRAGONS

Two tries by Kyle Stanley, the second three minutes from the end, robbed Parramatta of only their second win this season. The Eels led from the third minute until Stanley forced his way over the line for the clincher.

Dragons 14 (K. Stanley 2, B. Morris tries; J. Soward goal), Eels 12 (C. McGuire, M. Ryan tries; L. Burt 2 goals). Halftime: Eels 12-4.