Newcastle arm-wrestled with Cronulla for the best part of an hour in their NRL match on Saturday night, before eventually pulling away to win 18-0 and re-ignite their finals hopes.

The Knights moved into eighth spot and will stay there unless Penrith upset Manly on Sunday.

Fielding an under-strength line-up with Wes Naiqama and Neville Costigan out of the side, the Knights were also forced to overcome an 8-3 penalty count against them in the first half.

Apart from a Kurt Gidley penalty goal in the 12th minute, there was nothing between the two sides in the first half, but with both sides blowing key chances, it was only a matter of time before something was to finally give.

The turning point eventually came in the 52nd minute when Sharks youngsters Nathan Stapleton and Nathan Gardner tried their hand at a bit of magic from a kick-return, before spilling the ball and gifting the Knights golden field position.

Winger Stapleton took the kick and made an incisive run, but will rue his decision to pop a risky pass to Gardner, with the ball not quite finding its mark and the fullback knocking on.

From the ensuing set the Knights spread to the right and despite a dusty pass from halfback Jarrod Mullen, Keith Lulia was able to throw the right ball for Akuila Uate to score in the corner.

Newcastle took a stranglehold on the match minutes later, when Gidley got his nose through the line and found Matt Hilder, who was strong enough to force his way over from close range for a 14-0 lead - before the captain posted two further penalty goals to put the result beyond doubt.

The Knights clung to their 2-0 advantage over Cronulla at halftime, with the Sharks best chance to post points being knocked back by video referee Chris Ward with 10 minutes to go before the break.

Stapleton claimed a try and although he was losing the ball, it looked possible the video ref might decide there was no separation between hand and ball. But after several looks Ward put up the red light.

The Sharks, who were without skipper Paul Gallen, had centre Colin Best put on report for sticking his leg out in an attempt to stop Uate's try.

Sharks coach Shane Flanagan was angry at the no-try ruling against Stapleton and described it as costly.

"If that try isn't a try ... talk about no separation, I'd like to hear their reasons for that," he said.

"I think it does definitely (makes a difference), the confidence for the players and just a bit of momentum. I couldn't see any separation there, but you've got to roll with the punches sometimes and we didn't roll with them today."

Flanagan said it's not panic stations for Cronulla, despite missing another chance to close in on the top eight.

The Sharks will monitor Gallen's calf tear through the week but Flanagan said it's not an injury where he can rush his inspirational leader back.

Newcastle are concerned halfback Jarrod Mullen might have done further damage to the pectoral muscle he hurt earlier in the season, but coach Rick Stone believes he'll be right to play the Gold Coast next round.

The news isn't so good for prop Richard Fa'aoso, who suffered a hamstring tear and is unlikely to back up for the Titans.

Stone said a win was all that mattered on the night.

"The result was the most important thing, we came down here understanding our destiny is in our own control and we need to win a game," he said.

Gidley, who was frustrated at the lopsided penalty count in the first half, said they need to put back-to-back wins together.

"We took a backward step last week so hopefully this is a step in the right direction and stringing a few wins together is pretty vital for us," he said.

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