NRL trials LIVE: Newcastle lead at half-time after a double for Dylan Lucas

Riley Jones jumps out of dummy half for the Knights and scores an impressive individual try.

Jones threw a dummy to the left before Lachlan Jake Crouch and Kade Dykes to tumble over the line.

Once again Cogger nails the kick, and Newcastle take the lead for the first time today.

Knights 18, Sharks 12

A pass back behind from Jackson Hastings and Dylan Lucas spins to shake off Cronulla fullback Kade Dykes and score.

Jack Cogger’s conversion is good, and the scores are locked.

A fun fact on Lucas – he scored 11 tries in his final nine games of 2023, which were a combination of NSW Cup and NRL games.

Sharks 12, Knights 12

Jack Cogger is on the field, and he’s had an immediate impact with a 40/20 to lift Newcastle up the field.

The premiership winner was a massive part of Penrith’s success in 2023 – slipping into Jarome Luai’s shoes while the playmaker was out with a shoulder injury.

Now Cogger, a Newcastle junior, returns to the Knights, but he’s up against Tyson Gamble and Jackson Hastings for a permanent spot in the halves. I’m sure coach Adam O’Brien is liking what he’s seeing from him today.

Sharks 12, Knights 6

Newcastle has entered the game with an impressive try for Kyle McCarthy who scooped up the ball after it was hit backwards by Laitia Moceidreke.

The kick from Tyson Gamble is picture-perfect, and the Knights trail by just six.

Sharks 12, Knights 6

Well, Daniel Atkinson has redeemed himself.

After dropping another catch from a kick-off, the young half is instrumental in Sione Katoa’s try, putting in a well-placed kick for the winger to chase and score.

Once again the conversion from Mawene Hiroti is good, and the Sharks are gaining some momentum.

On another note, skipper Cameron McInnes has continued his head-strapped form from 2023 after splitting his head in the game’s opening minutes – luckily no concussion concerns for him.

Sharks 12, Knights 0

Jayden Berrell gets the first points of the day for Cronulla after a handy offload from Oregon Kaufusi at the line.

At 28-years-old Berrell is yet to make his NRL debut, but he has previously been named the NSW Cup and Queensland Cup player of the year, as well as player of the year for Newtown Jets.

The kick from Mawene Hiroti is good, and Cronulla takes an early lead.

Sharks 6, Knights 0

We’re just six minutes into this match, and already the errors are starting to pile up.

I think it’s a combination of young players eager to impress, and the usual rustiness that comes with the start of the season.

Newcastle’s completion rate is at just 50 per cent.

We’re under way for game one in Gosford.

It’s stinking hot on the Central Coast today – testing conditions for the first match back from the off season.

A kick from the Knights get us under way, and it’s a dramatic opening 12 seconds. Daniel Atkinson drops the ball from the kick-off, but it goes backwards, however, Krystian Mapapalangi scoops up the ball and looks like he’s knocked out cold after making heaving contact with Oregon Kaufusi.

No foul play involved, and the young centre is leaving the field slowly.