Sloppy Canberra Raiders start proves costly as Ponga's Newcastle Knights run rampant

Bradman Best scored off the back of the resulting scrum and the rot had set in for the Green Machine in what wasn't a memorable start to their home games in Sydney.

It wouldn't be fair to blame Nicoll-Klokstad for the loss though.

The whole Raiders team were terrorised by Newcastle fullback Kalyn Ponga, who was returning from suspension, in the 34-18 loss to the Knights at Campbelltown on Sunday.

Ponga played a hand in almost all of the Knights' tries and scored one himself as the Raiders suffered their first loss of the 2020 NRL season.

Raiders coach Ricky Stuart was unhappy with his team's defensive display, stating they played like "children".

Former Raiders winger Edrick Lee came back to haunt his old club as well scoring a brace, as did young gun Newcastle centre Bradman Best.

The Knights outside backs and halves feasted off the dominant display of their forward pack, with David Klemmer (125 metres), Herman Ese'ese (138m) and Daniel Saifiti (142m) all ran for a century.

Canberra rallied in the second half, but it wasn't enough as the first ever virtual Viking clap didn't provide the hoped-for spark it's non-virtual counterpart is known for.

To make matters worse, Raiders five-eighth Jack Wighton went off with a head knock and didn't return and Joe Tapine could come under the scrutiny of the match review committee following the all-in scuffle after the siren.

Tapine tangled with Klemmer, after the Knights prop barged into Raiders halfback George Williams.

Wighton had a mixed bag, scoring a brilliant try, but also produced a few costly errors as well.

Ponga scored off the back of one of those, splitting the Raiders' line after a Wighton loose carry in slippery conditions and it was 10-0 after 20 minutes.

The Raiders found themselves on the back foot with the Knights pack offloading almost at will.

They looked like they might be turning things around on the half hour when Wighton produced a brilliant solo effort. He jumped high for a George Williams chip kick to score.

But the Knights crossed again just before the break. It was the start of a purple patch for Lee.

He knocked back a high ball and Best's kick in behind fell perfectly for Enari Tuala to score, but Wighton tackled him without the ball for a penalty try to make it 16-6.

The Raiders came out of the sheds and almost scored immediately, with Tapine falling inches short, but then Lee crossed twice in a matter of minutes to put the game out of reach of the Green Machine.

His long arm reached out for one and then he crossed untouched for another.

The Raiders rallied with a couple of tries to get themselves some hope - Nick Cotric out jumped Lee and showed strength to finish.

Then Raiders enforcer Josh Papalii produced an outrageous solo effort, brushing off about four Knights to score.

But it was as close as they got, with Best crossing for his second try right at the death and the push and shove ensued..

The Raiders return to Campbelltown next week, this time as the away team, taking on Wests Tigers on Saturday. Newcastle host the Melbourne Storm at Gosford earlier that day.

AT A GLANCE

NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS 34 (Edrick Lee 2, Bradman Best 2, Kalyn Ponga, Enari Tuala tries; Kalyn Ponga 4, Tex Hoy goals) bt CANBERRA RAIDERS 18 (Jack Wighton, Nick Cotric, Josh Papalii tries; Jarrod Croker 3 goals) at Campbelltown Stadium. Referee: Ashley Klein.