Dom Young hat-trick inspires Knights to upset victory over Bulldogs

Newcastle have pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the season with $2.7 million of their salary cap sitting on the sideline after a Dom Young hat-trick inspired a 24-16 victory over the Bulldogs.

Canterbury had the second-best defensive record in the competition behind Penrith heading into Saturday’s contest but were outplayed in their first home game of the season, as the Knights, missing fullback Kalyn Ponga and halfback Dylan Brown, chalked up their third win from four games.

After the Knights went to the break with a 16-point lead, Bulldogs skipper Stephen Crichton moved to the inside of five-eighth Matt Burton in the second half in an attempt to get his hands on the ball more and create opportunities.

With Viliame Kikau, Burton and Crichton teaming up on the left edge, Burton scored two tries in six minutes to drag the Bulldogs back into the contest. But with the Knights on the ropes, an error from Lachlan Galvin let them off the hook and stalled the Bulldogs’ momentum.

Knights halfback Sandon Smith then made a break down the right edge to put Young across for his second try of the afternoon, extending Newcastle’s lead.

The Knights lacked discipline in the second half, with repeat ruck infringements giving the Bulldogs easy field position. But with the contest in the balance, Young snuck between Connor Tracey and Jacob Kiraz to snaffle an intercept, racing away for yet another long-range try to put Newcastle up 24-12 with 11 minutes to go.

Bulldogs winger Kiraz went over to cut the margin to eight with as many minutes to go.

The home side refused to give up the fight, with Sitili Tupouniua and Jacob Preston continuing to punch through the Newcastle defensive line, but could not catch the Knights, who handed the Bulldogs their first loss of the season.

The visitors showed toughness in defence to kept the Bulldogs out when Dylan Lucas was sent to the sin bin for a professional foul in the first half, and their quick attack proved the difference.

Unfancied before the start of the season, Newcastle are thriving under new coach Justin Holbrook has this season – while the man he replaced, Adam O’Brien, watched on from the Bulldogs coaches box after taking a role as attack coach under Cameron Ciraldo this season.

Ironically, Canterbury’s attack was clunky in the first half compared to that of Newcastle, with the visitors quicker and more creative than their opponents.

Besides the defeat, there are also injury concerns for the Bulldogs, with Josh Curran leaving the field in the first half following a bone-rattling tackle from Pasami Saulo. Curran attempted to play on, but was taken from the field soon after and failed to return for the rest of the game.

Meanwhile, Galvin and Kikau were both put on report for hip-drop tackles, while Max King was also put on report for a crusher tackle on Young.