THE Newcastle Knights surged into the NRL top eight with a stunning 45-12 triumph over St George Illawarra in Mudgee on Sunday.
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With skipper Mitchell Pearce and fullback Kalyn Ponga in dazzling form, the Knights made it four straight wins, a feat they last managed in the opening four rounds of the 2015 season.
Pearce was considered a long shot for the NSW Origin team, which is named on Sunday week, but his performance will surely have provided coach Brad Fittler with food for thought.
The result lifted Newcastle temporarily to fifth on the points table and set the stage perfectly for Friday's blockbuster home game against defending premiers Sydney Roosters.
The Knights produced a dream first half to lead the shell-shocked Dragons 28-0 at the interval.
Ponga continued his outstanding recent form with two tries and five goals before the break.
Newcastle's other scorers were lock Tim Glasby, after chasing down a Pearce grubber in the fourth minute, and Kurt Mann, who stamped a rare starting appearance at five-eighth with a fine solo try.
Newcastle increased their lead four minutes after the resumption when winger Shaun Kenny-Dowall scored, then Pearce scored his fourth try in as many games after winning the race to an Edrick Lee kick.
The sin-binning of Mann in the 59th minute left Newcastle a man short, and the Dragons capitalised soon after when back-rower Tariq Sims and winger Zac Lomax scored in quick succession.
Normal service resumed when Mann returned to the field and Newcastle increased their lead with a try by bench utility Connor Watson.
Ponga appeared to have himself a hat-trick in the 50th minute but was denied by the video referee.
The dynamic fullback finished with a match haul of 24 points from two tries and eight goals. Pearce capped a big game with a towering 35-metre field goal in the last minute of play.
