Dylan Lucas’ hat-trick has powered Newcastle to a vital 25-6 defeat of four-time reigning premiers Penrith, who slumped back to the bottom of the NRL ladder in Bathurst.
As injuries and State of Origin absences depleted both sides, Lucas showed his credentials as a future NSW player, helping the struggling Knights ease pressure on coach Adam O’Brien with an improved attacking performance.
Fletcher Sharpe excelled replacing Queensland’s Kalyn Ponga at fullback, scoring the Knights’ first try at close range to trigger a 24-0 first-half skirmish.
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Sharpe finished with a staggering 18 tackle busts and four line breaks to go with a game-high 272 metres and was the Knights’ best in a more even second half on Saturday night.
Penrith’s five Origin absences notwithstanding, O’Brien may have found the solution to his long-running halves problem as five-eighth Tyson Gamble laid on all three of Lucas’ tries.
Two came from beautiful flat balls in back-to-back sets before Gamble put boot to ball and helped the second-rower make it a four-score game after 25 minutes.
Lucas could’ve had a fourth try in the shadows of halftime had he not spilt the ball over the tryline with Daine Laurie covering in defence.
Adam Elliott tore a bicep in the first half as the only sour note for Newcastle.
The loss laid bare the mighty task ahead of the Panthers to salvage an already dire campaign in the always-testing Origin period.
The Panthers mercifully have byes before the final two Origin games but may need to rest players after Origin II given a trip to Auckland three days later.
Goal-line defence was again a major issue for Penrith in the first half, with back-up halfback Brad Schneider targeted by Lucas ahead of his first two tries.
The Panthers are now one point adrift at the bottom of the ladder and could lose prop Liam Henry to suspension for a crusher tackle on Sharpe.
Henry went to the sin bin for the shot in the first half, putting the Knights in position for their fourth try.
Highly-touted forward Harrison Hassett cut through for a try on debut in the second half.
But that was good as things got for Penrith as former Panther Jack Cogger put the cherry on top with a field goal as the last five minutes approached.
Newcastle debutant Paul Bryan dislocated his shoulder in his first minute but played on after having it popped back in.