Match Centre

Bunker for a possible Bulldogs try...

Bulldogs hold on with some desperate defence - fantastic display from the Belmore side tonight.

Newcastle now with an attacking chance.

No try... then Newcastle get it back via a handover but cough it up two plays later. Canterbury now have it on the attack and earn a penalty after going wide and Brett Morris is taken high.

71' @NRLBunker for a possible Bulldogs NO TRY to @bmozzle

Checking contest in the lead-up then grounding.#NRLKnightsBulldogs

— LeagueUnlimited (@LeagueUnlimited) June 30, 2018

Penalty for the Bulldogs on their own line after Hopoate was tackled in the air taking a high ball.

Fifth tackle options really letting Newcastle down in this part of the game where they've dominated - lacking direction at the end of a set and it's meant no points thus far.

Bulldogs really struggling to make metres in this set, last tackle is 35m from their own line, and the kick from Lewis is fielded after a bobble by Sio and the Knights start their set 35m out from their own line.

Barnett is held on the last tackle as the Knights try to shift it to the left but the second-rower is tackled and Canterbury hold Newcastle at bay once more.

A heavy kick on the last from Canterbury and it's a 20m restart for Newcastle.

Newcastle try something different with a kick across the face from Watson but it's fielded comfortable by JMK and the Bulldogs come away with it.

Mata'utia goes from dummy half on the last and falls centimetres short! Bulldogs handover on their own line.

Newcastle pick up a useful penalty just inside their own half, and advance it to halfway with a solid kick for the line. Big chance for them to get back into the contest they've largely been quiet in since halftime.

Canterbury with repeat sets inside Newcastle's half here...

Bulldogs looking very fluent and relaxed in attack at the moment, complete contrast to the side we've been watching most of the season. Newcastle, admittedly, have only two players on the bench and will no doubt be tiring quicker than they would've liked.

47' @NRLBunker for a possible Bulldogs try. Checking onside and grounding.#NRLKnightsBulldogs

— LeagueUnlimited (@LeagueUnlimited) June 30, 2018

Both sides square away their first sets but on their second march up the park, Canterbury pick up a handy penalty and start a new set just 30m from Newcastle's line.

We resume for the second half with Canterbury getting first use.

Nothing doing for the Bulldogs and we go to halftime with Newcastle leading Canterbury 16-12.

Brett Morris goes up for a high ball, can't hold it and it's grounded by a teammate. Drop-out Bulldogs.

Newcastle with a match up the park and straight on the attack once more. Canterbury desperately defending.

UPDATE: Ponga won't return - he's picked up a hamstring injury, grading to be confirmed. No doubt this puts a cloud over Queensland Origin preparations - and doesn't help the Knights' chances today.

Newcastle starting to ease into this one after absorbing plenty of early pressure. A big kick on the last sees the 'Dogs set start deep.

Desperate defence on the last from Canterbury saves a certain try - Kenny-Dowall takes a cross-field kick, taps it back to Sione Mata'utia but Morris and Montoya drag him into touch. Bulldogs scrum.

Newcastle with a penalty and they go on the attack here...

Time off with Ponga nursing an injury. He comes from the field.

Kerrod Holland loses it looking for a try on the right flank and it's a Newcastle scrum.

A full set for the Bulldogs now inside Newcastle's 20m zone. Huge chance here.

A shallow kick from Cogger on the last and Canterbury will have most of their set inside the Knights' half again.

A high ball tests Ken Sio on the last for Newcastle, but he's true to the task, with a great chase by Kerrod Holland ensuring Sio has to play it on his own line.

Both sides getting good first sets away despite some low visibility in the opening minutes - pre-game fireworks creating a grey shroud over the field of play but that has slowly cleared. Canterbury now with the ball inside Newcastle's half.

Boos ring around McDonald Jones Stadium, Kalyn Ponga taken by Josh Jackson after getting a kick away. Contact is legal and timely so no penalty.

Halftime update on the injuries - Kalyn Ponga (hamstring) looks unlikely to be fit for Origin pending scans, while Slade Griffin's future remains in the air. There are concerns he's done his ACL again.

We're underway at McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle to receive first use of the ball. Just the one change prior to kickoff with Jamie Buhrer replacing Luke Yates on the bench for the hosts. Perenara puts whistle to mouth, Hunter boy Kerrod Holland puts boot to ball and the game begins.