LeagueNews.co | Robbie Hamilton
The Newcastle Knights have extended their winning streak to four matches with a hard-fought 22-14 victory over the Cronulla Sharks.
The Knights' impressive form has put them on equal points with ladder leaders, the Roosters, with only three rounds remaining in the regular season.
The first half was dominated by the Knights, who went into halftime with a commanding 16-0 lead.
However, the Sharks fought back in the second half, scoring three late tries in an attempt to reduce the deficit.
Despite their efforts, they were unable to overcome the Knights' strong defense.
The Knights' success can be attributed to the outstanding performances of Jesse Southwell and Tamika Upton, who helped guide their team to victory in front of a passionate home crowd at McDonald Jones Stadium.
The match got off to a promising start for the Knights when the Sharks made an early error, giving the Knights valuable field position.
Southwell took advantage of the opportunity and set up Shanice Parker for a try in the right corner.
The Sharks' chances took a blow in the seventh minute when Annessa Biddle was sin-binned for a hip-drop tackle on Upton.
The Knights capitalized on the one-player advantage, with Tayla Predebon crashing over from close range to extend their lead.
The contest remained evenly poised for the next 20 minutes until Yasmin Clydesdale broke through a gap created by Caitlan Johnston in the 30th minute, increasing the Knights' lead to 16-0.
Although the Sharks fought back in the second half, the Knights' early dominance proved to be decisive.
The Knights can take confidence from this victory as they continue their push for a top spot on the ladder heading into the finals.