As it happened: Sharks climb ladder; Young leads Raiders comeback

Relive all of the Round 7 action in the 2025 Telstra Premiership on NRL.com's live blog.

Having mustered just 10 points in their last 240 minutes of football, Newcastle were again unable to unlock the brilliance of Kalyn Ponga and Bradman Best as the season begins to get away from them.

From the Gold Coast it was off to Newcastle where the Knights were desperate to bounce back against the highly rated Sharks but lost 34-10.

The Raiders came from 16-0 down in the first half to triumph 30-20 and record their third consecutive win.

The Easter Sunday action kicked off on the Gold Coast with the Green Machine maintaining their momentum against a Titans side boosted by the return of skipper Tino Fa'asuamaleaui.

The Sharks returned to their best to climb into sixth position on the NRL ladder after a comfortable 34-14 defeat of the Knights at McDonald Jones Stadium.

With props Addin Fonua-Blake and Oregon Kaufusi leading the way, Cronulla stormed to an early 16-0 lead and were never troubled as they backed up their win over Manly in Perth last weekend.

Leading 16-4 at halftime, the Sharks capitalised on the sinbinning of Newcastle winger James Schiller to race in back-to-back tries before the Knights finished with two late consolation tries.

The Knights travel to Christchurch to play the Warriors on ANZAC Day, while the Sharks meet Wests Tigers at Leichhardt Oval next Sunday.

79th min: Schiller made the scoreline more respectable when he scored just before fulltime. Sharks 34 Knights 14.

75th min: Hiroti scored his third try in as many games after coming into the Sharks side to replace the injured Kayal Iro. Sharks 34 Knights 10

72nd min: The Knights scored a sensational consolation try after winger Greg Marzhew beat 8 Cronulla defenders on a 60 metre run before throwing a pass over the head of Hynes and Ramien for Sharpe to score. Sharks 28 Knights 10.

64th min: Rudolf came from the field with an ankle injury, but the move was more of a precaution in a bid to ensure he is fit to play the Warriors next weekend.

54th min: Some luck for the Knights after Cronulla prop Toby Rudolf dropped the ball over the try line.

50th min: The Sharks made the Knights pay further when Brailey jumped out of dummy half and grubbered for Will Kennedy to beat Best and Sharpe to the ball and score. Sharks 28 Knights 4

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47th min: Stonestreet bombed a try after batting back a Trindall kick when he could have caught it and scored but the winger quickly made amends by backing up Ramien after he intercepted a Ponga pass. Sharks 22-4.

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45th min: Knights winger James Schiller has been sent to the sinbin for a high shot on Sharks centre Mawene Hiroti.

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Halftime Summary

Sharks frontrowers Addin Fonua-Blake and Oregon Kaufusi laid the platform for a dominant first half performance against the injury-hit Knights. After making seven first half errors and conceding four penalties and three set re-starts, the Knights are their own worst enemies and had just 42 per cent possession. However, the Sharks deserve full credit for the way they have capitalised. Kaufusi scored the opening try, got over the line on a second occasion only to be held up managed an offload for Fonua-Blake to score. Newcastle's left side combination of Fletcher Sharpe, Kalyn Ponga and Bradman Best have threatened on occasions and the trio combined for their side's only try by Greg Marzhew.

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32nd minute: Crossland has been assisted from the field with a leg injury, while Brodie Jones has also come to the sideline for treatment.

31st min: Newcastle winger Greg Marzhew got the home team back in the game after finishing a movement in which Kalyn Ponga held up a pass and Best batted it on. Ponga missed the conversion. Sharks 16 Knights 4.

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23rd min: Winger Sam Stonestreet extended Cronulla's lead when he dived over in the corner after Braydon Trindall, Will Kennedy and Jesse Ramien combined to create an overlap following a Tyson Gamble error from a kick and disallowed Kaufusi try. Sharks 16 Knights 0

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18th min: The Sharks went to the other end and scored through prop Addin Fonua-Blake after an offload by Kaufusi and quick hands on the tryline by Blayke Brailey and Cameron McInnes. Sharks 12 Raiders 0

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17th min: Newcastle five-eighth Fletcher Sharpe had a try disallowed due to an obstruction by second-rower Thomas Cant after sending Bradman Best into the clear and backing up to score.

13th min: Sharks prop Oregon Kaufusi scored the first try as Cronulla capitalised on early posession and field position. Nicho Hynes stepped Phoenix Crossland before passing to Kaufusi who charged over from close range. Hynes converted. Sharks 6 Knights 0

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Late Mail

Knights: A couple of troops return with Tyson Gamble (back) taking over at No.7 and winger James Schiller (concussion) also good to go. Phoenix Crossland moves from halfback to hooker and Jayden Brailey goes to the bench. Tyson Frizell has been named at prop with Tyrone Thompson reverting to the bench. Mat Croker starts at lock after coming off the bench last week. Kyle McCarthy is 18th man.

Sharks: Star prop Addin Fonua-Blake has been cleared to play despite leaving the field with a groin problem in Perth. The Sharks stick with the same squad that got the job done against Manly. Centre Kayal Iro could be another two weeks away with a hamstring injury. No late changes.

Stat attack

The Knights have the second-best defensive record in the competition.

The Sharks have won four of their past five games against the Knights.

The Knights have scored 10 points in their last three games.

Sharks second-rower Briton Nikora has scored four tries in his last three games at McDonald Jones Stadium.

Knights five-eighth Fletcher Sharpe has scored nine tries in seven games at McDonald Jones Stadium.

Titans v Raiders at Cbus Super Stadium

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Raiders second-rower Hudson Young became the first forward since Steve Menzies to score two tries in three consecutive matches as Canberra overcame a 16-0 defecit to triumph 30-20.

Young, who has all but cemented a place in the NSW backrow for Origin I at Suncorp Stadium on May 28, secured Canberra's fourth consecutive win when he charged over in the 66th minute.

The Titans scored three early tries from kicks but a tackle by Young and Tom Starling on Reagan Campbell-Gillard forced an error and inspired their team-mates.

The injection of forwards Morgan Smithies and Zac Hosking from the interchange turned momentum and after levelling at halftime the Raiders stormed home to prove themselves genuine finals contenders.

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69th min: A Fogarty penalty goal after a high shot by Gold Coast hooker Sam Verrills on Strange has extended the visitor's lead. Raiders 30 Titans 20.

66th min: Young did his best to secure Canberra's third consecutive win when he charged over for his second try from close range. Raiders 28 Titans 20

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64th min: Fitzgibbon looked to have scored his second try after flying high to snatch a Weaver kick but the Bunker ruled that the ball had been knocked forward by Brimson in mid air as he also contested the ball.

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Crowd: 15089

52nd min: Titans rookie Allan Fitzgibbon scored his first NRL try when the 26-year-old winger, making his starting debut, dived over in the corner after Fa'asuamaleaui and centre Brian Kelly combine. Raiders 24 Titans 22.

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44th min: The Raiders hit the front for the first time in the match after centre Seb Kris jumped above Fifita to grab a Fogarty kick and score his sixth try of the season. Raiders 22 Titans 16.

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Halftime summary

Canberra halfback Jamaal Fogarty revealed to Fox League at halftime that he and Ethan Strange had worked late in the week on the tryscoring move that levelled the scores at the interval. The Titans started with energy and capitalised on some early Canberra errors to race to a 16-0 lead but the injection of Morgan Smithies and Zac Hosking from the bench helped turn momentum.

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A tackle by hooker Tom Starling on former Kangaroos prop Reagan Campbell-Gillard from a kick return inspired his team-mates and proved a turning point as they piled on three tries in the last 12 minutes of the first half.

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40th min: Boom Canberra five-eighth Ethan Strange has levelled the scores at halftime after charging over on an angled run off a Fogarty pass. Fogarty converted. Titans 16 Raiders 16.

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34th min: Hudson Young has continued to push his case for a NSW Blues secondrow berth after managing an offload to enable Fogarty to force a repeat set and then scoring off a short pass from lock Morgan Smithies. Titans 16 Raiders 10.

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32nd min: Fa'asuamaleaui has returned to the fray after a five minute spell in a bid by Gold Coast coach Des Hasler to wrest back momentum from the Raiders.

28th min: A Tom Starling tackle on a bloodied Reagan Campbell-Gillard forced an error and inspired his team-mates, with Tamale finishing a backline movement to score Canberra's first try. Titans 16 Raiders 4.

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21st min: The Raiders survived a scare after rookie Gold Coast fullback Jaylan De Groot made a 60 metre break but they couldn't defend a chip and chase by Brimson, who regathered to score. Weaver converted. Titans 16 Raiders 0

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11th min: Raiders second-rower Hudson Young has been placed on report for a high tackle on Titans captain Tino Fa'asuamaleaui.

10th min: Rookie Titans halfback Tom Weaver's kicking game has been superb in the early exchanges of his seventh NRL match and winger Jo Jo Fifita capitalised by outjumping Raiders opposite Savelio Tamale to snatch the ball and score. Weaver missed the conversion from out wide. Titans 10 Raiders 0

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4th min: Maroons Origin hopeful Beau Fermor has opened the scoring for the Titans after an AJ Brimson grubber behind the Raiders defence bounced up perfectly for the second-rower. Tom Weaver converted. Titans 6 Raiders 0

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Late Mail

Titans: A double blow for the Titans with Jayden Campbell sustaining an ankle injury at training on Friday and David Fifita failing to overcome a minor hamstring strain. Tom Weaver comes into the starting side at halfback while Chris Randall will start in the second row after initially being named on the bench. Arama Hau takes his place on the pine. Allan Fitzgibbon will replace Tony Francis on the wing after making his NRL debut in Round 6. Skipper Tino Fa'asuamaleaui is back from suspension while winger Jojo Fifita (thigh) and bench forward Iszac Fa'asuamaleaui (ankle) are also back on deck.

Raiders: Back-rower Zac Hosking returns after missing four games with a hand injury so Simi Sasagi drops out in the only change to the squad that downed the Eels in Darwin. Josh Papal'ii was named on the bench but will start at lock in a late swap with Morgan Smithies. Pasami Saulo is 18th man.

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