Knights’ Grand Final Breakthrough Shakes NRL Finals

Newcastle defeated Penrith 22–14 in a dramatic NRL preliminary final at Stadium Australia, earning a place in the grand final for the first time in 25 years. The article identifies the 35th minute as the turning point: Nathan Cleary, who had been benched before kickoff and entered in the 20th minute, suffered a serious ankle injury in a tackle by Newcastle hooker Phoenix Crossland. Crossland was sent off, leaving the Knights with 12 players, but Newcastle went on to control much of the second half and score three tries, each beginning on their own side of halfway. The match is presented as a clash between Penrith’s disciplined, ruthless professionalism and Newcastle’s joy, speed and belief. The Knights’ resilience was illustrated by Kalyn Ponga’s try-saving tackle, Mat Croker’s work securing loose balls and Dane Gagai’s determined performance. Penrith remained competitive despite Cleary’s injury and other physical setbacks, but Newcastle’s late intercept try by Sandon Smith put the result beyond doubt. The loss places Penrith’s long-running premiership dynasty under pressure, although the article cautions that it is not necessarily over. Consecutive preliminary-final defeats show how narrow the margins have become as new contenders emerge. Newcastle now face the Sydney Roosters in the grand final as underdogs, with history against them: only two of the 117 previous premiers finished outside the top four. Still, the Knights’ run through the finals and their performance while a player down have made their prospects feel less constrained by the odds. The article portrays them as a team capable of overcoming the challenge and reaching a rare piece of rugby league history.

Former Newcastle Knights player Matty Johns became emotional after the Knights defeated Penrith 22–14 in the NRL preliminary final, securing a place in the grand final for the first time in 25 years. Speaking on Fox Sports after the match, Johns praised both the team’s effort and the supporters who have continued to back the club through years of disappointment. He said the fans had endured “a lot of shit” and credited their presence with helping Newcastle win. The Knights played more than half the match with 12 players after Phoenix Crossland was sent off for a hip-drop tackle that broke Nathan Cleary’s leg. Penrith took a 14–6 lead into half-time, but Newcastle defended resolutely and scored three tries in the second half to complete the comeback. The result was a major upset against a historically dominant Panthers side. The win carries particular significance for the club: Newcastle’s men have not reached a grand final since Andrew Johns led them to victory over Parramatta in 2001. The article notes that the club has also endured five wooden spoons in the intervening years. Coach Justin Holbrook and captain Kalyn Ponga also credited the travelling supporters, whose journey to Sydney was complicated by train disruptions and heavy traffic on the M1. Holbrook said the crowd made the 12-man Knights feel as though they had 14 players. Newcastle will face the Sydney Roosters in the grand final on October 4. Johns and Ponga both emphasized that the team will need its passionate supporters again in the decider.

The live blog follows two NRL and NRLW preliminary finals on Sunday, September 27, 2026. In the NRLW match at Robina Stadium, the Brisbane Broncos defeated the Gold Coast Titans 20-8, earning another place in the grand final and setting up a rematch with the Sydney Roosters in Sydney the following week. The Titans threatened in the second half, with Evania Isa’ako scoring after regathering her own grubber, but Brisbane repeatedly defended their lead. Errors and defensive plays, including a try-saving tackle by Jaime Chapman and a late scramble by the Broncos, limited the Titans’ chances. Titans fullback Lily Patston left the game for a category-one head injury assessment and was ruled out for the remainder of the match. Attention then turned to the men’s NRL preliminary final between the Penrith Panthers and Newcastle Knights. Penrith named star halfback Nathan Cleary on the bench as he managed a stress-related bone issue in his foot. Lindsay Smith and Isaiah Papali’i were also moved to the bench; the Knights made no changes to their 19-player squad. The blog discusses how Penrith might adjust if Cleary could not start, with Dylan Edwards and Isaah Yeo expected to take on greater playmaking responsibilities and Jacks Cole and Bradman? No: Cole and Cogger named to start in the halves. Cleary had trained his kicking and was expected by Panthers great Greg Alexander to enter the game early, though he would not goal-kick. The coverage also reports major train delays affecting Knights supporters travelling from Newcastle to Sydney. Passengers were stranded for hours before replacement services began, including eight buses for about 300 passengers from a terminated train at Morisset. Despite the disruption, travelling fans remained upbeat. Rail technicians were working on the freight train that caused the delay, while buses operated between Wyong and Hornsby.