Newcastle Knights skipper Mitchell Pearce leads from the front as Kalyn Ponga destroys Sharks

Kalyn Ponga may have come up with a three-try spectacular in a brilliant performance from the star fullback on Friday night but it was Mitchell Pearce who led from the front as the Knights bounced back emphatically with a dominant 38-10 win over the Sharks.

More on the game: Ponga scores hat-trick as Knights blitz Sharks 38-10

Pearce has had to wear plenty of criticism at times this season. No player in the NRL has missed more tackles than he has and when the attack has spluttered, the finger of blame has generally been pointed in his direction, even when it hasn't been justified.

But it was no surprise, in the biggest game of the season for the club less than a week after their worst loss of the year, it was Pearce who was front and centre for his side.

Typically, he was on the ball all game, scheming and probing and no doubt enjoying the fact he was playing behind a dominant forward pack.

His kicking game, particularly in the first half, was right on the money but so too was his defence with one bone-rattler on Bryson Goodwin late in the first half forcing an error that led to a Ponga try.

Coach Adam O'Brien said Pearce led from the front "like good captains do", not only during the game but also in the build-up after last Sunday's dismal loss to the Warriors.

"Straight after fulltime last week, Junior's played a huge part in getting the side refocused and in some of the honest conversations on Monday, he's played a big part in that," O'Brien said.

"He played how he led all week."

Pearce and Ponga's efforts were mirrored by plenty of team-mates who were clearly smarting after dropping their standards badly against the Warriors.

Jacob Saifiti produced his worst individual performance of the season by a long way in Tamworth but was back to his best against the Sharks. His stats could not have been more stark.

Just 27 metres from four carries in 44 minutes against the Warriors as opposed to 148 metres from 13 carries in 59 minutes against the Sharks.

The Knights can taste finals footy for the first time in seven years right now but the dilemma facing O'Brien is how he treats the final three games with a home semi potentially up for grabs.

With players such as Daniel Saifiti, Sione Mata'utia and Edrick Lee set to return next week, does he risk finding a week off for the likes of Pearce, David Klemmer, Kurt Mann and even Ponga before the play-offs?

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