THE Newcastle Knights have climbed to outright seventh on the NRL ladder after a gutsy 16-14 win against an equally desperate Cronulla at Moreton Daily Stadium, Redcliffe, on Sunday.
The win came at a cost, however, after NSW Origin prop Daniel Saifiti was forced off with a knee injury.
With three games to play, Newcastle are two points clear of eighth position and appear on track for their second finals appearance in as many years.
The Knights enjoyed a dream start after Cronulla fumbled the kick-off. Barely 30 seconds later, Newcastle spun the ball to the left edge, where winger Enari Tuala scored in the corner.
Knights five-eighth Jake Clifford landed a booming conversion from the sideline.
The Sharks hit back 10 minutes later when, after stringing several attacking sets together, they found some space on the right edge and centre Jesse Ramien crashed over.
Halfback Braydon Trindall converted, but five minutes later a Clifford penalty goal nudged Newcastle into the lead.
Cronulla surged ahead in the 25th minute when Newcastle fumbled a bomb and it ended up in the hands of Sharks winger Ronaldo Mulitalo, who scored in the corner.
Trindall converted from touch for a 12-8 lead that Cronulla retained until half-time.
The Knights equalised early in the second half when Tuala scored his second try of the match, after a Bradman Best offload.
Nine minutes later, Cronulla shot to a 14-12 lead when Trindall kicked a penalty goal after a Mitch Barnett high shot.
Clifford levelled it up at 14-all after Cronulla were penalised for offside in the 64th minute.
There was drama for Newcastle in the 69th minute when Saifiti suffered a knee injury that required treatment. He tried to play on before limping disconsolately off the field.
Another penalty, when Kalyn Ponga was tackled without the ball in the 72nd minute, presented Clifford with a 35-metre shot at goal, right in front.
He was bang on target to give Newcastle a 16-14 advantage.
