The Bulldogs had more than 60 per cent of possession in the first half but still couldn’t crack the Newcastle line.

The Knights lost winger James Schiller and prop Jacob Saifiti in the opening minute but still managed to hang tight and repeatedly repel the Dogs, who have been below their best in attack.

Newcastle only completed at 72 per cent, but that’s understandable considering the mountain of defence they’ve had to do.

The goal-line defence from the Knights was genuinely unbelievable — dare I say, Canterbury like — but you get the feeling the mountain of tackling they’ve had to do will take a toll later in this game, especially considering they’ll be playing over 78 minutes of this game with only 15 players available.

Bradman Best and Stephen Crichton are having a phenomenal battle and Best’s won another contest, forcing the error from Crichton as he tries to stand him up in the right corner.

I cannot believe the Knights haven’t conceded a try yet.

Greg Marzhew is put in another aerial contest with Jacob Kiraz and the ball flies into touch. Ashley Klein says Greg Marzhew touched it, but he’s got it wrong.

Kalyn Ponga challenges and the call is overturned. Another story of survival by the Knights.

The Dogs kick across to the right with Greg Marzhew completely out of position.

He gets there in time and appears to tackle Jacob Kiraz in the air. That’s ignored as Bradman Best flies up the left wing. Harry Hayes tracks him down and Best flings a pass back in-field, where Stephen Crichton recovers the ball.

But Ashley Klein goes all the way back to the aerial contest, claiming the Bulldogs knocked on in the contest and there was no advantage taken by the Knights. Not sure I agree with either call, much less ignoring Marzhew tackling Kiraz in the air.

The Bulldogs break down the right through Stephen Crichton and Bradman Best bundles him towards touch. Crichton flings a desperate pass back in-field and Jermaine McEwen cleans up, and the Knights get a penalty as Jacob Kiraz whacks him high.

They hold out for at least four sets.

Dane Gagai took Marcelo Montoya in the air as he skied for a crossfield kick. It was almost worth a sin-bin to be honest.

Ultimately, a Bailey Hayward grubber ricochets off Phoenix Crossland and the Knights regather.

The Dogs skipper gets the ball off a crossfield kick and quickly puts it on the toe to grubber into the in-goal.

The short dropout is batted back to Jacob Preston, who I’m certain knocks on in the tackle, but it’s missed.

The Bulldogs appear to have the Knights shot out to the left but Thomas Cant, shifted from the back row to centre after Schiller’s head knock, manhandles Bronson Xerri into touch and lets him know about it.

Greg Marzhew gets the ball stripped on his kick return and is lucky to have it recovered by Fletcher Sharpe. But Thomas Cant, trying to take a definitive charge, drops the dummy-half pass.

Meanwhile, it’s confirmed James Schiller has failed his HIA.

The Knights get another full set on the Bulldogs’ line thanks to a Kalyn Ponga grubber, but they just go for one-out crashballs for three tackles in a row, straight into the teeth of perhaps the most vicious defence in the game.

Eventually Mat Croker drops it. Nothing doing from the Knights there.

Thomas Cant charges into the line and gets cut down, lowering his head in a hurry, and Xerri’s forearm connects with his head.

The crackdown continues.

Josh Curran is swarmed in the middle of the park and Tyson Frizell, Phoenix Crossland and Jermaine McEwen all have the ball wrapped up. Curran drops it and Crichton challenges again, but this time no luck.

Jacob Kiraz skies for a cross-field kick and the Knights knock the ricochet into touch.

The sideline official steps in and says it’s a knock-on by Bradman Best, which it was, but I reckon Kiraz or Josh Curran knocked on first.

Stephen Crichton pots the penalty goal from right in front and the Bulldogs lead 2-0.

Meanwhile, Newcastle Jacob Saifiti has left the field after the first set with a calf injury. Mat Croker replaces him.

The Knights will really be hoping James Schiller passes his HIA (I don’t love their chances) otherwise they’ll be down to 15 men for 77 minutes of this match.

Greg Marzhew is pinged for an incorrect play-the-ball and the Dogs attack from great field position.

Max King drops the ball, but he convinces Stephen Crichton to challenge and the bunker says Tyson Frizell ripped it out.

Leo Thompson takes the first run against the Dogs and it’s a good one.

James Schiller, however, has a worse time. He’s got blood pouring from his ear after a head clash with Daniel Suluka-Fifita. DSF is also bleeding from the eyebrow from that collision.

Schiller is off for an HIA and his night may be over.

A big in for multicultural round, with Lebanon international Jacob Kiraz lining up on the wing for the Bulldogs for the first time this season.

Kurt Mann is on the bench for game number 200, and Blake Taaffe also joins in jersey number 20.

Keep an eye on Newcastle prop Leo Thompson, looking to make a statement against the players who will be his teammates next year.

Once again I’m grateful to not be in any NRL tipping competitions because good luck figuring out what’s going to happen week after week in the NRL.

And Manly is the embodiment of that.

Round one they get some premiership buzz with a 42-12 drubbing of the Cowboys, week two they ship 36 points in a loss to the Warriors, round three they batter the Raiders 40-12 without Tom Trbojevic, then beat the Eels 26-12.

And today they crash back to earth with a pummelling at the hands of Melbourne with a few consolation tries preventing a record loss.