Newcastle legend Andrew Johns is convinced the whirlwind rise of the Knights can continue for one more game, and says one moment epitomises the stunning turnaround of the team that collected last year’s wooden spoon.
The Hunter side is the first NRL team in 16 years to go from last on the ladder to a grand final in the space of a year. The Roosters did so in 2010, in Brian Smith’s first season in charge, before falling to Wayne Bennett’s Dragons in the big dance.
Sandon Smith celebrates the game-winning try. NRL Imagery
Last week they had all the chips stacked against them and still managed to beat Penrith in a win some commentators called the best they’ve ever seen.
Newcastle was left with 12 men on the field after Phoenix Crossland was sent off. But the Panthers failed to score a point in the second half despite the overlap, and two Sandon Smith tries sealed an epic Knights win.
Late in the contest, before the second Smith try and as the Knights were desperately clinging to a narrow lead, Penrith threw everything it had at the opposition defence and went achingly close to scoring a try that could have won the game.
Panthers wrecking ball Moses Leota charged full-steam at Knights captain and fullback Kalyn Ponga, but was floored by the superstar’s left shoulder despite holding a significant weight and momentum advantage.
Johns, who is tipping Ponga to be man of the match in Sunday’s grand final and add a Clive Churchill Medal to his Dally M gong from 2023, reckons that was the moment that epitomised Newcastle’s spirit this season.
“What about his tackle on Moses Leota?” Johns said on Wide World of Sports’ NRL Tips.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen Moses get folded.
“If there’s a moment you go, this represents the turnaround of the Knights from struggling to belief and confidence… and also the elevation of Kalyn to be that great leader; that tackle epitomises the change in the Knights, and change in Kalyn Ponga.”
Newcastle is the fairytale story of 2026.
The Knights were the worst team in the competition last year and many were tipping them to collect it again this year. Injuries to key men throughout the campaign threatened to derail Holbrook’s men.
“No Dylan Brown – we know the money he’s on ($1.3m a year) – no Jacob Saifiti, and no Trey Mooney,” Johns said of some of the big names missing from the finals.
Kalyn Ponga floors Moses Leota in the preliminary final. Nine
“So you might be missing $2.5 million or more of the salary cap.
“But these young guys – Cody Hopwood, young (Lachlan) Crouch – geez they’re playing well. The workers are getting through their work.”
Roosters legend Brad Fittler was the coach that took the Tricolours to that wooden spoon in 2009, before being ousted and replaced by Smith.
While he appreciates the fairytale story of the Knights this week, he is happy his old team is flying under the radar.
“It’s amazing, you think of Newcastle, all the storylines,” Fittler said.
“No one is talking about the Roosters. Nice way to be.
“And the coach (Trent Robinson) has been there three times and won three of them.”
Nine’s experts have predicted the NRL and NRLW grand final winners, as well as the Clive Churchill Medal winner for NRL’s best afield.
Clive Churchill Medal tips
Sam Walker (David Middleton, Mathew Thompson, Ben Glover)
James Tedesco (Brad Fittler, Paul Gallen)
Lindsay Collins (The Mole)
Mark Nawaqanitawase (Ruan Sims)
Fletcher Sharpe (Peter Psaltis)
Kalyn Ponga (Andrew Johns)
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