Knights Defeat Panthers to Reach NRL Grand Final After Stunning Playoff Run

Seven days after eliminating the New Zealand Warriors, the Newcastle Knights earned a place in the NRL grand final by defeating the Penrith Panthers 22-14 at Sydney’s Accor Stadium. The Knights endured a numerically-disadvantaged contest after Panthers’ star Nathan Cleary suffered a suspected compound ankle fracture and hooker Phoenix Crossland was dismissed for a dangerous tackle. Despite the setbacks, Newcastle opened the scoring through Bradman Best’s long-range effort and later added a decisive intercept try by Sandon Smith.

Penrith’s early lead was built on tries from Blaize Talagi and a penalty by Dylan Edwards, but the Knights capitalised on the extra space to pull ahead. Coach Justin Holbrook’s side, last season’s wooden-spoon recipients, now face the Sydney Roosters in the championship match, echoing the 2010 Roosters’ similar rise.