The Canberra Raiders’ season has slumped even further with the 2025 minor premiers losing their fourth match in a row, thumped 32-12 by high flying Newcastle.
Ricky Stuart’s side lost just five regular season games en route to the minor premiership in 2025 and didn’t suffer their fourth loss until round 20.
Now they have begun 2026 1-4 and are languishing in the bottom three.
Meanwhile, last year’s wooden spooners, the Knights, have continued to thrive in the Justin Holbrook era, bringing their early season record to 4-1 and claiming second spot on the ladder.
With Sunday’s win at a packed McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle, the Knights have equalled their best start after five rounds since 2015 and snapped a seven game losing streak at home.
Dane Gagai and Tyson Frizell turned back the clock, Sandon Smith controlled the game with class and wingers Dom Young and Greg Marzhew both crossed for doubles.
Canberra were first on the scoreboard after 10 minutes when Simi Sasagi finished a slashing midfield break by Ethan Strange.
Marzhew returned serve later in the half before Fletcher Sharpe put the home side in front when Raiders duo Xavier Savage and Kaeo Weekes failed to defuse a bomb. At the break it was 10-6.
The second half didn’t begin well for the visitors when Savelio Tamale was sin-binned by referee Adam Gee just two minutes in for a ‘cynical’ grab on Young’s arm as the pair contested a bomb in the in goal.
Young made Canberra pay and scored in the same corner a minute later.
Four minutes later, with Tamale missing, Gagai found space down the right edge and sent Phoenix Crossland over for Newcastle to take a 20-6 lead.
Zac Hosking looked to kick start a comeback for Canberra with 16 minutes remaining, but the try was overturned for an obstruction by Josh Papalii and the game was as good as done.
It was not all good news for the Knights, with Bradman Best failing to return from the halftime break with a groin injury, affording 20-year-old Wilson De Courcey an NRL debut.
Savage also went off late in the game for Canberra with what looked to be a leg injury.
