Final blow for Dragons as Knights run riot in Bennett farewell

Newcastle sent Wayne Bennett out a winner on Sunday at the expense of the club he took to a premiership four years ago.

Before heading back to Brisbane, the clubs Bennett has taken charge of met in a game which had no bearing on the finals, with both out of contention.

But while Bennett may have tasted success in Wollongong, the Knights were in total control at Hunter Stadium.

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Newcastle outside backs Timana Tahu and Sione Mata-utia bagged doubles and Kurt Gidley's right boot was well and truly on target as the Knights ran away with the scoreboard.

It took less than five minutes for Knights centre Joey Leilua to open the scoring when he found a hole and dived over the line.

Leilua was destined to spend most of the game in the sheds, however, after he was stretchered off the ground following an accidental high shot from Josh Dugan not long after.

Knights staff later confirmed the young centre had sustained concussion but was cleared of neck damage,

Jarrod Mullen barged his way over in the 13th minute and Gidley converted again to give the home team a 12-point buffer.

Timana Tahu came on in the 19th minute and took no time at all to warm into the game, finding himself with plenty of space on the wing to take advantage of the overlap and score.

The game became heated when Dugan and Knights playmaker Tyrone Roberts exchanged blows and both were marched to the bin, leaving just 24 men on the field.

Dragons captain Brett Morris finally broke through to score for the Red V when he was on the end of some quick hands in the 30th minute.

Morris was disallowed another opportunity just minutes later when the video referee judged he had been taken into touch, then Beau Scott went close for Newcastle but was held up before the line,

Knights sensation Sinoe Mata-utia extended the lead just before half time when he scored his sixth try in three games to give the home team a 24-4 lead at the break.

It took less than three minutes into the second half for Tahu to bag his second and Gidley converted.

Beau Scott was awarded a try which could have as easily been given to Dane Gagai when the latter managed to keep the ball in play while taking Morris out, and Scott was there to pounce on the loose ball.

Sione Mata-utia bagged another one for good measure when he again got the ball out wide and crossed untouched.

Dragons hooker Kyle Stanley scored a consolation try in the dying minutes after the ball was thrown around and he eventually barged his way through.

Widdop converted but it was too little, too late.