Fletcher Sharpe celebrated his 21st birthday in style, scoring a remarkable hat-trick for the Newcastle Knights, which helped snap their five-match losing streak. The match, held at Suncorp Stadium during Magic Round, saw the Knights dominate early on, establishing an impressive 18-point lead against the South Sydney Rabbitohs within the first 15 minutes.
From the outset, Sharpe was the centre of attention, determined to fulfil his birthday wish of scoring multiple tries. In an exhilarating display, he crossed the try line twice in just eight minutes. His first try came from a perfectly executed grubber by his teammate, Kalyn Ponga, which Sharpe capitalised on, darting through the defence to score under the posts. He then showcased his agility, weaving past four Rabbitohs defenders for his second try, setting up Ponga for an easy conversion.
Cameron Smith, in a commentary spot, remarked on the exceptional birthday performance from Sharpe. Despite the inclement weather, which soon caused both teams to struggle with handling, Newcastle maintained its offensive momentum. Bradman Best contributed to the scoring, teaming up with Ponga for a breakaway down the sideline before Sharpe added to his tally, receiving an offload from Best and outmanoeuvring Bayleigh Bentley-Hape to touch down once again.
The Knights were in control, much to the delight of former player Andrew Johns, who noted their strong performance. Meanwhile, the Rabbitohs faced their own challenges, with Isaiah Tass managing to score a consolation try. However, the match was marred by injuries to key Rabbitohs players, Jye Gray and Peter Mamouzelos, both of whom left the field due to painful injuries during the game.
Gray’s concern was particularly significant as he had recently suffered a similar injury. The severity of Mamouzelos’ elbow injury raised alarms, further compounding the Rabbitohs’ woes as they continued to search for solutions to halt Newcastle’s onslaught.
In summary, it was a memorable match for Sharpe and the Knights, filled with excitement, as they turned their fortunes around and showcased their attacking prowess despite adverse conditions.