Newcastle proved too much to handle for Illawarra at Collegians on Sunday coming away with a 28-12 win.
Co-captain Creighton Meafou bagged a double for the Steelers – his first of which breathing some life into the Steelers’ chances on the stroke of half-time after a hot Newcastle start.
A slew of poorly timed errors and penalties cruelled the minor premiers however who looked sharp with the ball on multiple occasions but left points on the table.
Match: Steelers v Knights
Finals Week 1 -
home Team
Steelers
away Team
Knights
Venue: Collegians Sporting Complex, Wollongong
The clash started in frantic fashion with Jett Brookfield having his opening kick of the afternoon charged down and re-gathered by Newcastle.
Ollie Burton came up with a try-saver off it but the Knights found a try several plays later with winger Callum Esley taking advantage of a short Steelers edge to stroll over down the right-hand side and make it 6-0.
Piggybacked by a high tackle penalty, Newcastle continued their hot start with fullback Riley Rostron taking advantage of a well-timed offload to score.
Points went begging for the Steelers moments later after they stripped Newcastle’s left edge for numbers only for the final pass to go to ground.
A determined Sonny MacGregor was held up in a similar spot soon after as the hosts continued the search for their first points.
Newcastle went up by beyond a pair of converted tries courtesy of a Chase Butler penalty goal 22 minutes in.
Curtis Mulherin was placed on report for an alleged bite on Steelers prop Mason Andrews prior to the break.
Illawarra again put the ball down in frustrating fashion on the attack after Burton sent Brookfield into space before swinging it right.
The Steelers’ efforts down the right were finally rewarded on the final play of the first half with co-captain Creighton Meafou putting it on the toe and winning the race to his own kick to score and earn his side their first points.
Tayler Humphries added the extras to cut the deficit back to 14-6 for the hosts.
The Steelers were made to pay for a poor start to the second stanza with Elsley going over for his second in the right-hand corner off an attacking scrum to make it a 12-point game.
Noah McNamara was placed on report for a high shot on Burton, but Illawarra failed to find touch off it as their frustrating afternoon continued.
Kade McKay took in a short ball from Butler to race away and score for the Knights off it as their lead ballooned out to 22-6.
Brookfield looked a certainty to nab a late try for the hosts but had the ball dislodged out of his grip over the try-line in what proved a microcosm of their afternoon.
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Harold Matthews Cup Qualifying Final: Steelers v Knights
The Knights went down the other and added to their lead through Butler who linked up nicely with halves partner Cooper Votano.
Brookfield combined with Meafou to lay on his second try of the afternoon in the final stages and bring it back to 28-12.
The Steelers will next week face the South Sydney Rabbitohs in an Elimination Final with the winner to advance to a Preliminary Final.
