Pearce gives Knights fans reason to smile again

GET excited Newcastle fans. We all know it’s only Round 1 and there’s a long road ahead in 2018.

But if the Mitchell Pearce- inspired 19- 18 golden point win over Manly last night is an indication of what is to come this year for Nathan Brown’s new- look Knights, the days of being the NRL’s easybeats are over.

You couldn’t have scripted a better finish for the home team when star recruit Pearce slotted the winning field goal in the 88th minute to close out a wonderful win.

As the players came charging in ju- bilation, a crowd of 23,515 celebrated like they haven’t done for years.

High in the stands, Pearce’s famous father Wayne would have been proud to watch his boy who had left the Sydney Roosters with his heart broken after the signing of Cooper Cronk.

Pearce and fellow recruit Kayln Ponga both played huge roles in the win, with Ponga scoring the first try in just the second minute.

The lightning fast fullback also showed great courage in defence and came up with a couple of terrific trysaving efforts in the second half.

Rake Slade Griffin, who came from Melbourne to take Danny Levi’s spot at hooker, also proved valuable when he barged over from dummy half for a crucial try, while Connor Watson threw a great ball from dummy half to put Lachlan Fitzgibbon over. It was the third biggest first- round crowd at Newcastle since the club came into the competition in 1988.

Just when Newcastle appeared to have the two competition points in the bank, a 77th minute penalty goal to Daly Cherry- Evans locked the scores to send the match into overtime.

Cherry- Evans missed two shots in golden point and while Pearce also missed his first the new co- captain nailed the one that delivered victory.

Not since 2013 when they finished a game short of the grand final under Wayne Bennett have the Knights looked as good as they did last night.