The Newcastle Knights faced a tough loss, reflecting on a 20-18 defeat to the Cronulla Sharks on Friday night, largely due to their goal-kicking struggles.
Despite tallying four tries compared to the Sharks' three, the Knights could not capitalize on their chances, with Kalyn Ponga managing just one successful conversion out of four attempts.
Ponga headed into the game boasting a conversion rate around 76 percent this season, but his off night with the boot proved to be a significant blow.
On the other hand, Sharks halfback Nicho Hynes displayed precision, completing all three of his conversions and adding a penalty goal, which made the two-point difference decisive.
This loss keeps Newcastle in fifth place on the ladder, holding only two points above the South Sydney Rabbitohs, intensifying their battle for a top-four position.
Despite the disappointment, Knights coach Justin Holbrook commended his team's performance, acknowledging Ponga's challenge of playing three games in nine days due to State of Origin duties.
"We've got a really good footy side here and poor Kalyn - that's three games in nine days. That's a lot to ask of anybody, let alone your best player," Holbrook remarked.
"For him to get himself up to play tonight and for us to come here and outscore them, you're probably unlucky to win the game. I thought we did enough. It's hard to swallow because we expect a lot of the team now."
Holbrook concluded by recognizing the difficulty of the narrow loss, especially considering the opportunities his side generated during the match.