Cronulla winger Valentine Holmes scored four tries as the Sharks handed the Knights a record 62-0 drubbing at Hunter Stadium on Sunday.

It was Newcastle's heaviest defeat on home soil, eclipsing a 50-0 hammering from Parramatta in 2000.

It was their second-biggest loss at any venue, passing the 53-0 loss in Brisbane last month.

Their benchmark thrashing remains 71-6 by Brisbane in 2007.

After being beaten 38-0 by the Roosters in their previous game, the Knights have now been beaten 100 to nil in their past two outings.

Cronulla equalled their best-ever winning margin.

The home team fielded a depleted side minus injured regulars Trent Hodkinson, Jarrod Mullen, Robbie Rochow, Sam Mataora, Peter Mata'utia, Kade Snowden and Nathan Ross, who withdraw at the last minute after breaking down in the warm-up.

Newcastle's squad featured seven players aged 20 or under: debutant Jack Cogger and Cory Denniss (both 18), five-eighth Brock Lamb and centre Sione Mata'utia (both 19) and 20-year-olds Daniel and Jacob Saifiti and Danny Levi.

Cronulla's line-up, in contrast, included hardened veterans such as Paul Gallen, Michael Ennis, Luke Lewis, Matt Prior, Chris Heighington and James Maloney.

The first of Cronulla's 11 tries was scored by Holmes in the eighth minute.

He scored a hat-trick in the first half and finished with four. His opposite winger Sosaia Feki scored a hat-trick and back-rower Luke Lewis posted a double.

Newcastle's humiliation was completed on the final play of the game when fullback Dane Gagai was denied a try by the video referees for a knock-on.