{"id":1790,"date":"2026-04-05T22:19:38","date_gmt":"2026-04-05T16:49:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/banitoday.com\/nrl-wrap-knights-deliver-raiders-a-fourth-straight-loss-sharks-put-warriors-to-the-sword\/"},"modified":"2026-04-05T22:19:38","modified_gmt":"2026-04-05T16:49:38","slug":"nrl-wrap-knights-deliver-raiders-a-fourth-straight-loss-sharks-put-warriors-to-the-sword","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/banitoday.com\/hi\/nrl-wrap-knights-deliver-raiders-a-fourth-straight-loss-sharks-put-warriors-to-the-sword\/","title":{"rendered":"NRL wrap: Knights deliver Raiders a fourth-straight loss, Sharks put Warriors to the sword"},"content":{"rendered":"


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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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Now they have begun 2026 1-4 and are languishing in the bottom three.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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Newcastle have experienced a sensational turnaround after last year’s wooden spoon.\u00a0 (Getty Images: Scott Gardiner\u00a0<\/span>)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Canberra were first on the scoreboard after 10 minutes when Simi Sasagi finished a slashing midfield break by Ethan Strange.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Young made Canberra pay and scored in the same corner a minute later.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Savage also went off late in the game for Canberra with what looked to be a leg injury.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n