Veteran Newcastle centre Adam MacDougall turned back the clock this afternoon scoring two tries in Newcastle’s 39-12 demolition of South Sydney.

The eight tries to two thumping keeps the Knights hopes of playing in this years NRL finals series alive, as they sit only one win out of the top eight.

Both sides traded early chances but it took 21 minutes for the first try to be posted to young Knights winger Akuila Uate. Switching the play to the left edge, Cory Paterson threw a wide pass to Junior Sau whose quick ball put Uate in space to score.

Kurt Gidley, in career best form carved a hole in the Rabbitohs defence a few minutes later running in untouched to extend the Knights lead. The try was sent to the video referee for adjudication after possible evidence of an obstruction but replays showed it was just a clever decoy run.

The Knights, unable to stamp their authority on the match allowed the Rabbitohs to score a soft try four minutes later. Craig Wing, stepped around the defence of Chris Houston before pushing an inside pass to Nathan Merritt who scored untouched.

Five minutes prior to halftime the Knights were disallowed a try to Sau after video referee Steve Clark judged that he lost control of the ball as he attempted to plant it over the line.

It failed to prove costly for the Knights as they got across the stripe three minutes later through Houston. Scott Dureau, replacing Jarrod Mullen at halfback after Mullen failed a fitness test earlier in the morning, shot a slick pass to Houston who scored from close range to put the Knights ahead 14-6 at the break.

The Knights advantage continued four minutes into the second half after some brilliant lead up work from Gidley. A jinking run from the fullback gave him the space to feed the ball to Cameron Ciraldo who scored ten metres out from the posts. Gidley continued his horror afternoon with the boot as he missed another conversion to keep the Knights lead at 18-6.

Merritt scored his second try of the afternoon to edge Souths back into the contest. Early in the set he worked the ball close to the line and then on the last tackle Michael Greenfield passed to Merritt on his left who went across the line.

With their finals hopes on the line Newcastle put the foot to the pedal in the final twenty minutes, beginning in MacDougall’s first try. A torpedo bomb from Dureau was taken superbly by MacDougall who soared high to retrieve it and score. Dureau took over the kicking duties from Gidley but he too was unable to convert as his attempt slammed into one upright, which left the Knights lead at 22-12.

McDougall scored his second try seven minutes later. Turning the back the clock to his former glory days MacDougall took a couple of defenders with him on a bullocking run to the line. Dureau again missed the conversion for the Knights lead to remain 26-12.

Marvin Karawana, playing his first game of the year for the Knights extended their lead in the 71st minute as he found the try line. Back rower Zeb Taia, who turned in a powerful performance passed to Karawana who scored close to the posts.

Paterson, the Knights third goal kicker of the afternoon landed the conversion much to the applause of the crowd.

Two minutes later, Dureau stunned both the defence and his teammates as he landed a successful field goal conversion.

Four minutes from fulltime the Knights scored their last try of the afternoon through Uate. Danny Buderus, who put in some great work earlier in the set, began the play which ended with Uate scoring don the left edge, two metres in from touch.

Paterson landed the sideline conversion for a final score of 39-12, leading to suggestions that he should be employed in that capacity on a fulltime basis.

A disappointing game for the Rabbitohs after their great form across the past few games. Their defence, which had been so great in their past wins, failed them today and only the failure of Newcastle’s goal kickers prevented the score from being greater.

Newcastle continues their gritty season and is still locked in a battle for the final eight. After the turmoil that the club endured last season their effort this season has been remarkable.

NRL 2008 - Round 20:

Newcastle Knights - 39

Tries: Adam MacDougall, Akuila Uate (2), Kurt Gidley, Chris Houston, Cameron Ciraldo, Marvin Karawana
Goals: Kurt Gidley 1/4, Scott Dureau 0/2, Cory Paterson 2/2

South Sydney - 12

Tries: Nathan Merritt (2)
Goals: Chris Sandow 2/2

@ Energy Australia Stadium, Newcastle
Referee: Ben Cummins
Crowd: 23,182