Birthday boy Fletcher Sharpe has starred with a hat-trick as the Knights snapped a five-game losing streak with a dominant 30-4 win over South Sydney.

Turning 21 today, Sharpe wasted little time finding the scoresheet for his side, pouncing on a kick from Kayln Ponga in just the fourth minute to put his side ahead.

He soon had a double when he broke through several tackles close to the line, and did well to ground the ball.

Newcastle had struggled to score in recent weeks, but when Jack Cogger dived over in the 15th minute, it was three tries to nil and the Knights were well and truly in control.

One of the keys to Newcastle’s dominant start was the inclusion of Jacob Saifiti, who was a clear leader in the forward pack with 18 runs for 211 metres.

Ponga, who is favoured to take the Maroons jersey in the opening State of Origin – with Reece Walsh out through injury – was also benefiting from the pack’s momentum, producing 16 runs for the match, making 134 metres.

It was a poor start from Souths, and at halftime, despite the possession count just being 53-47 in Newcastle’s favour, the Rabbitohs’ defence was woeful.

Kalyn Ponga and Fletcher Sharpe of the Knights. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

That was even before the heavens opened, with pouring rain coming late in the first half.

Newcastle had a 6-0 lead in terms of linebreaks, and Souths made 19-8 missed tackles in the first 40 minutes, so South Sydney’s coach Wayne Bennett would be considering himself lucky it was just 18-0 at the break.

New South Wales incumbent centre, Bradman Best, wasted little time striking after the break, and from there Newcastle were barely troubled.

When Sharpe found space just after the hour mark, he streaked away to bring up his third and take Newcastle’s points tally to 30, which was their highest amount of points in a game for the season.

It took until the 64th minute for South Sydney to find the scoreboard, when Isaiah Tass crossed in the corner. It was the final score of the game, but it was nowhere near enough as the Knights closed out just their third win of the season.

The defence didn’t improve for the Rabbitohs in the second half, closing out the game with 50 missed tackles to the Knights’ 30.

To compound the Rabbitohs’ woes fullback Jye Gray, arguably their best player this season, left the field with a suspected hamstring injury in the 58th minute and hooker Peter Mamouzelos dislocated his right elbow with one minute to go.

Coming into the game, the Rabbitohs were already without nine of their top squad, eight due to injury and Latrell Mitchell due to suspension, and the Red and Green are now in the midst of a four-match losing run.

For Newcastle, with his side well in control, Ponga left the field in the 76th minute after playing with a rib cartilage injury.

– with AAP