The Canberra Raiders’ season has slumped even further with the 2025 minor premiers losing their fourth match in a row, thumped 32-12 by high-flying Newcastle.
Ricky Stuart’s side lost just five regular-season games en route to the minor premiership in 2025 and did not suffer their fourth loss until round 20.
Now they have begun 2026 1-4 and are languishing in the bottom three.
Meanwhile, last year’s wooden spooners, the Knights, have continued to thrive in the Justin Holbrook era, bringing their early-season record to 4-1 and claiming second spot on the ladder.
Newcastle have experienced a sensational turnaround after last year’s wooden spoon. (Getty Images: Scott Gardiner )
With Sunday’s win at a packed McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle, the Knights have equalled their best start after five rounds since 2015 and snapped a seven-game losing streak at home.
Dane Gagai and Tyson Frizell turned back the clock, Sandon Smith controlled the game with class and wingers Dom Young and Greg Marzhew both crossed for doubles.
Canberra were first on the scoreboard after 10 minutes when Simi Sasagi finished a slashing midfield break by Ethan Strange.
Marzhew returned serve later in the half before Fletcher Sharpe put the home side in front when Raiders duo Xavier Savage and Kaeo Weekes failed to defuse a bomb. At the break, it was 10-6.
The second half did not begin well for the visitors when Savelio Tamale was sin-binned by referee Adam Gee just two minutes in for a ‘cynical’ grab on Young’s arm as the pair contested a bomb in the in-goal.
Young made Canberra pay and scored in the same corner a minute later.
Four minutes later, with Tamale missing, Gagai found space down the right edge and sent Phoenix Crossland over for Newcastle to take a 20-6 lead.
Zac Hosking looked to kick-start a comeback for Canberra with 16 minutes remaining, but the try was overturned for an obstruction by Josh Papalii, and the game was as good as done.
It was not all good news for the Knights, with Bradman Best failing to return from the half-time break with a groin injury, affording 20-year-old Wilson De Courcey an NRL debut.
Savage also went off late in the game for Canberra with what looked to be a leg injury.
Earlier, Will Kennedy warned he’s open to the prospect of leaving Cronulla if he feels it’s best, after the off-contract fullback scored a double in the Sharks’ 36-22 win over the Warriors.
On a day when the Warriors lost luckless playmaker Luke Metcalf to a hamstring injury, the Sharks recorded back-to-back wins for the first time this year to go back into the NRL top eight.
Kennedy is one of 13 Sharks off contract at year’s end, with his future having been in limbo for the past 18 months after only inking a one-year extension in October.
The 28-year-old opted to stay on that occasion with a heavily pregnant wife and limited options elsewhere, but his avenues could potentially open up now with Perth still yet to sign a No.1 for next year.
“I’ll do whatever is best for my family. I just had a newborn, so it was only right for me to stay that one more year here,” Kennedy said after Sunday’s win.
“I want to keep playing footy. If I stay here, happy days. I love this club. But if I have to do what’s best for my family, then I have to do it.”
Key Events
Signing off
That’ll do me – apologies, but due to technical difficulties I wasn’t able to bring you the press conferences tonight.
See you next time.
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Fulltime: Knights 32 def Raiders 12
That will do us – Canberra have one last attack and Tapine goes close but his offload is intercepted by the Knights.
That’s a fantastic win for Newcastle and an awful showing from the Raiders, who’s season has now lurched to disaster.
77′ Young goes a long way for his second
Strange puts up a bomb, Young tries to belt Hunt but falls off the tackle and the Knights fullback runs right at where Young would be in the line and puts Young away down the sideline to cap things off.
A great win for Newcastle and a dreadful performance from Canberra.
Smith converts and it’s 32-12 Newcastle.
71′ Canberra score off their own kick-off
Well yeah, of course. Canberra go short and get it back, Sasagi cuts through and flicks a pass to Strange who scores.
Weird try but a good one. Too little, too late though. Sanders kicks it from the sideline and it’s 26-12 Knights.
70′ Marzhew gets his second
Canberra give away a restart on the last tackle and the Knights take full advantage, Smith kicks in behind Savage, Weekes is way out of position and Marzhew gets their easily to score.
The Knights will win this and Canberra will slump to their fourth-straight loss. Smith
Sasagi got pushed in backplay and he crashed into Savage’s legs and the winger is being helped off with a lower leg injury.
Smith’s kick from touch is perfect and it’s a big lead now at 26-6.
Match report: Metcalf injured as Sharks smack Warriors
Luke Metcalf’s luckless run has continued with the Warriors half suffering an apparent hamstring injury as his side succumbed to a 36-22 loss to Cronulla.
On a day when off-contract fullback Will Kennedy sent another reminder of his value to Cronulla, Metcalf limped off late as the Warriors suffered a second straight loss.
The star of last season and Dally M leader before he suffered an ACL rupture, Metcalf had only returned from that injury last week against Wests Tigers before Sunday’s blow.
The 27-year-old looked in clear discomfort as he left the field, leaving him in significant doubt to face Melbourne next Saturday night.
Making matters worse for the Warriors will be a neck injury for centre Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, who was at least cleared of a concussion.
Questions would already have been asked about the Warriors’ attack, after they won the opening three games before Metcalf’s return.
Halfback Tanah Boyd in particular had a tough afternoon on Sunday at Ocean Protect Stadium, in both attack and defence.
It was down Boyd’s right-edge defensive channel that Kennedy scored Cronulla’s first two tries, first sent over by Braydon Trindall and then Nicho Hynes.
One of several Sharks off contract at the end of this year, Kennedy had to wait until last October to have his future secured for 2026 at the Sharks.
Cronulla must decide whether they see him as the long-term No.1 at the club, or if Liam Ison is the man to take over once he returns to full flight after an ACL rupture.
What is clear is that Kennedy fits into the Sharks system.
The 28-year-old finished Sunday with nine tackle busts to go with his two tries, while he also put Sione Katoa into space late.
KL Iro also tormented the Warriors down that side with a try and nine tackle busts, as the Sharks went back into the top eight with their first back-to-back wins of 2026.
Hynes and Trindall again combined nicely in the win, while a knee injury for Jesse Ramien was the only concern for the Sharks.
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak scored a hat-trick of tries for the Warriors, including when he picked off a Trindall pass to go 80 metres and score in front of a chasing Kennedy.
The winger’s third — again from another brilliant corner put-down — had the Warriors back to 24-16 down after halftime.
But when Blayke Brailey grubber-kicked out of dummy-half for a chasing Teig Wilton with 30 minutes to go, the game was effectively over.
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65′ Raiders denied a try
Weekes toes through a loose ball and Hunt just manages to tap it dead in time. McEwan knocks on a grubber to give them another set.
Knights challenge, I doubt they get it – and they don’t. Hunt is offside from the scrum so it’s a penalty.
It’s a very haphazard set, on the last Brailey fires it to Hosking for some reason but he manages to push through some bad defence and get over.
But they chalk it off – Papalii bumped into Mooney. Knights penalty. That’s the story of the day.
58′ Knights denied by the Bunker
Another set restart for the Knights and they’re on the attack again.
Young goes up and he’s first to a bomb, McEwan picks up the scraps for the try. It goes up as no try and there’s not enough to overturn.
Another bullet dodged for the Raiders but they are on life support.
57′ Canberra can’t strike back
Newcastle loose the ball on a kick return and Canberra are on the attack. Weekes nearly cuts through after an extravagant dummy but on the next play Strange throws a wild and high pass over the sideline.
55′ Knights nearly get another
Gagai breezes past Sanders again, he puts Young away, his pass inside to Smith looks forward but Sasagi manages to pull off a great save and force the ball free.
But Weekes has been pinged for a shoulder charge on Young, so the Knights get the penalty. Canberra are on the rack.
Tamale is back on. Hunt taps back a bomb and Strange is there. They just survive – for the first 15 minutes of the half Canberra have had just two sets.
49′ Knights go in again through Crossland
Newcastle spread it right, Gagai beats Sanders pointlessly and he has Crossland in support to score. The crowd is going crazy and the Knights are well in control.
Smith converts and it’s a three-score lead to Newcastle, 20-6.
47′ Pad denies Frizz
Canberra give away another restart, then a penalty for pulling Young’s hair – seriously.
Newcastle on the attack again, I’ll be surprised if they don’t score here.
Sharpe drifts back in-field and drops a beautiful little kick in behind, Frizell is the only man anywhere near it but it hits the post and just falls for the Raiders! Very lucky.
Injury: Bradman Best
The star Newcastle centre is done for the day with a groin strain. Lucas moves to left centre and Wilson de Courcey comes on for his NRL debut.
44′ Knights make the most of advantage
On the last Smith pulls out of a kick, swings the ball back towards where Tamale would be standing and Young goes over in the corner. Hard to imagine a worst start for Canberra.
Smith’s kick is wide but it’s 14-6 Knights.
43′ Tamale goes to the sin bin
Tamale knocks on a bomb and the Knights are on the attack straight away. Graham tries to sneak over, but is just stopped short.
Young is first to a bomb but it goes forward, the Knights challenge it and they’ll get the call. Tamale grabbed him before the ball got there and he’s off to the bin.
A disastrous start for Canberra. Knights on the attack against 12.
Second half is underway
And we’re back on, Raiders kicking off.
Halftime: Knights 10 lead Raiders 6
Canberra hold on to deny Newcastle’s final chance and that’s the break. The Knights have made the most of their chances and the Raiders still look on tilt.
38′ Knights nearly get another
Savage taps back a bomb, it goes through Martin’s legs, Crossland picks it up and he gets hit in the face by Weekes. Knights penalty.
Sharpe kicks for Smith, he has it and looks certain to score but Weekes just drags it out at the last minute. Lucky escape.
34′ Knights score an easy one
Well, that was embarrassing for the Raiders. Smith puts up a bomb, Savage and Weekes just stare at each other and let it bounce, it lands perfectly for Sharpe and he scores an easy try.
Despite Canberra having the better of much of the running their poor play in transition has cost them the lead. Smith converts and it’s 10-6 Knights.
29′ Knights make Canberra pay
Canberra let a ball bounce and Horsburgh knocks it on, Knights on the attack.
A restart will help but they only need one more tackle as they strip Canberra for numbers down the right and Best puts Marzhew over.
The Raiders compound their errors again and the Knights take advantage. Sanders from out wide – no good.
Raiders 6-4.
