2006 Round 10 vs Wests Tigers:
Newcastle 18 defeated Wests 16.
Newcastle won a 2 point thriller for the second week in a row, and a Knights winner dived over for the matchwinner for the second time in 48 hours when the Knights defeated Wests by 18 points to 16 in round 10. Anthony Quinn was the hero on Friday night for Country, and this time Brian Carney scored an equally as skillful try to steal a win for Newcastle in front of a parochial Tigers home crowd.
The game bore other similarities to Friday night's City vs Country clash, in that it was a low scoring game that was played out amongst the forwards, but the backs looked more dangerous throughout, leading to a highly entertaining spectacle. Andrew Johns was the spark that ignited the first points in the match after 11 minutes. Taking the ball in his own half he made a 35 metre break, before offloading to David Seage, who took a low pass and coasted over the tryline untouched. Johns did well to draw Brett Hodgson so effectively, and he also added the conversion to make the score 6-0.
Wests quickly struck back through Daniel Fitzhenry however, who became the merged club's highest tryscorer 4 minutes later. Dean Collis got around Matthew Gidley, drew Anthony Quinn and passed to Benji Marshall. From 40 metres out Marshall headed infield and found Fitzhenry backing up. Hodgson missed the relatively easy conversion, leaving the score at 6-4.
Both sides added one more try a piece before the break. In the 28th minute Andrew Johns threw an inside pass to Steve Simpson on the last tackle, and he crashed over from short range. Then 10 minutes later Wests spread the ball from right to left inside the Newcastle 20, and Benji Marshall drew several defenders with a dazzling run before giving the ball to Shane Elford who crossed in the corner. Elford almost made it 2 seconds before the break, with Newcastle looking very tired, but Kurt Gidley was able to force him into touch with a piece of desperate defence.
If Newcastle limped to the break then both sides looked weary after halftime, and the match slowed right down. It always seemed that the game would be won and lost in the final 10 minutes. Wests went closest to scoring a try before then, but a good George Carmont tackle on his own line caused Dean Collis to lose the ball over the tryline in the 55th minute. An Andrew Johns penalty goal extended the Knights lead to 14-10, 3 minutes later.
9 minutes from the end it looked as if Wests had landed the knock-out blow when Chris Heighington crossed under the posts. From well within his own territory Benji Marshall again cut the Matthew Gidley-Brian Carney defensive duo to ribbons, giving an inside ball to Shane Elford, who did exceptionally well to find Heighington 20 metres out. Brett Hodgson converted from in front, and the Tigers hit the lead 16-14.
But there was one final twist in the tail. With 3 minutes to go Andrew Johns (who began the match quietly, but came to life in the final 5) flung a long pass to Matthew Gidley. Gidley gave it to Brian Carney who chipped kicked ahead. Matthew Gidley and Brett Hodgson both went for the ball - video referee Bill Harrigan ruling Gidley missed it - the ball spilt free and Carney grubbered it into the in-goal where he forced it. Andrew Johns couldn't convert from the sideline, but the 4 points was enough to give Newcastle a 16-14 win.
There was plenty of controversy after the match, with Wests coach Tim Sheens contending that Matthew Gidley touched the kick, but although refereeing was poor in general, it did not seem to favour either side.
Newcastle would be exceptionally happy with their victory over last years premiers, as well as their third straight narrow victory. Heading into the State of Origin period (of whom Steve Simpson and Danny Buderus were selected for NSW) the Knights were sitting pretty in equal second position on the competition ladder, and faced having Andrew Johns available for the entire representative season for the first time since 1994.
Wests were very good in defeat, and looked to have recaptured some of their championship attack from 2005. They could not, however, stop Newcastle from regaining the Allan McMahon Shield for the second time - leaving the overall tally for the prize celebrating the inaugural Knights coach and former Balmain player at 2 wins each.
What they said:
Brian Carney:
"I was just trying to slice it into play … That shows you how much of a team game it is. If Matt Gidley hadn't put that extra pressure on Brett Hodgson it would have been a nothing kick. I was just glad when I toed it ahead that the ball stayed in. I would have looked stupid if it hadn't."
"[Was it the last tackle?] I wouldn't have a clue. I wasn't even sure what the score was."
Craig Smith:
"[On Brian Carney] He's not the most gifted rugby league player going around but he's one of the most dedicated and not afraid to have a go at things."
"I've seen him do things like that at Wigan and he popped up at the right time of the game for us today."
"He's the jovial joker but he has slotted straight into Newcastle and the NRL like he has been here for years."
"He has turned himself into a bit of an athlete by working hard, and he goes about the game in the same manner, so it's not surprising to see him do things like he did today."
Michael Hagan:
"[On Brett Hodgson] If ever a bloke was trying to play himself into a rep team, I thought today - on the back of what he did on Friday night - he handled everything superbly, was very skilful and he wouldn't be out of place in the NSW side on that form."
Brett Hodgson:
"[On Carney's late try] I thought there was definitely a bit of doubt there. I definitely did get a push in the back. Whether he was going for the ball or not, I'm still unaware. I haven't seen a replay yet."
"I don't know what's worse, losing by forty or losing with one minute to go. They're both very low feelings."
Tim Sheens:
"I've had two games lost in two days in the last three minutes so I'm doing it a little hard at the moment on Mothers' Day, but I won't go home and abuse my mother. I'll go home and be a good boy."
"But I'll have something to say if I find he [Gidley] put his hand in on that last jump for the ball. I mean, why look at it so fast. It's 'I know everything' Harrigan, I suppose. If he's right, I'll apologise for that statement - but if he's wrong, I'll expect one from him."
"I'm very proud of the guys, particularly those backing up [from Friday night]. I just hope that it is the players that decide the outcome and the officials don't play a part in it."