Jett Cleary has announced himself to the NRL with a fantastic performance to spearhead the Warriors to a crucial 46-32 win over a 12-man Newcastle, but the clash was marred by a “savage” hit resulting in a send-off.
Knowing a victory at Go Media Stadium on Sunday would all but lock up a home qualifying final, the Kiwis were handed a pre-game setback, with halfback Te Maire Martin rested on his return from a hamstring niggle.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Luke Laulilii knocked out after brutal hit
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It meant 21-year-old debutant Cleary was thrust into the fray alongside two-game five-eighth Luke Hanson.
But the club’s newest halves pairing — buoyed by having Cleary’s brother Nathan and father Ivan in the stands — showed impressive maturity as the Warriors held off the determined Newcastle.
Cleary (three try assists, 220 kicking metres) was given a leg-up after Knights prop Jacob Saifiti was sent off in the 12th minute for a reckless high tackle on club debutant Luke Laulilii, who was treated on the field before being taken off and failing an HIA.
“He’s gone. He has to be,” Michael Ennis said on commentary.
“He’s come out of the line with intent and has absolutely rocked Luke Laulilii. Boy, that’s savage.
“He comes out of the line and just gets it wrong.”
Although back-rower Jermaine McEwen stormed over for the visitors minutes later, the home side then piled on eight tries to three to keep alive their hopes of securing a first minor premiership since 2002.
The Warriors (40 points, +309) will need to beat Manly on Saturday and hope second-placed Penrith (40 points, +308) lose or win by a smaller margin than them to snatch top spot.
Adding more pain to their defeat, Newcastle back-rower Francis Manuleleua picked up an elbow injury and will go for scans.
The Knights (14-10) will also rue what could have been if they had 13 players, as they now must rely on the Sydney Roosters to beat South Sydney on Friday to lock up a home final.
Newcastle opened the scoring when Fletcher Hunt soared across the line, before five-eighth Fletcher Sharpe danced through the Warriors defence and handed it off to a barnstorming Manuleleua.
But the visitors’ afternoon soured after Saifiti’s send-off and McEwen’s try.
In-form second-rower Jacob Laban scored, before hooker Wayde Egan and lock Erin Clark made light work of their opponents’ frazzled defence.
A booming Cleary kick landed in the hands of Adam Pompey, who offloaded it to substitute Demitric Vaimauga, but Hunt crossed for his second to help the Knights trail 22-20 at the break.
Centre Ali Leiataua and Pompey put the Warriors in the box seat, but winger Greg Marzhew snared a quick double to close the deficit to two points.
The Kiwis opened up some breathing room when they spread left and found winger Alofiana Khan-Pereira, before Laban surged over to complete the roller-coaster win.
