SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS 10 NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS 20
TOM SMITH, Allianz Stadium, Friday

DOM YOUNG, Kalyn Ponga and Jermaine McEwen combined to conjure Newcastle’s upset of South Sydney to kick off the 2026 NRL finals series.

Young assisted McEwen’s two tries then bagged one of his own, while Ponga tormented the Rabbitohs’ defence all night. 

The Rabbitohs lost Cody Walker to a calf injury in the first half then Alex Johnston to a groin complaint in the second. 

Latrell Mitchell did his best to inspire the Bunnies, and thrilled the crowd when he tangled with ex-teammate Dane Gagai early. 

But with the game in the balance midway through the second half, Young stepped up to feed McEwen a second time and dive into the right corner to effectively seal the result. 

These clubs contested two thrillers earlier this season – Newcastle won 42-38 on home turf in round nine, then Souths held on 26-24 at Homebush in round 19. But this one proved more comfortable for the victors. 

The sixth-placed Bunnies stormed into the play-offs on the back of four wins from five, including a demolition of the undermanned Roosters at the same venue seven days earlier. 

Wayne Bennett added dangerous back-rower Tallis Duncan (hamstring) to his team sheet, replacing Euan Aitken (shoulder). 

The seventh-ranked Knights took a different form line into September, dropping their last two matches ahead of their round 27 bye. 

Justin Holbrook had plenty of good news at the selection table, recalling Young (suspension), Tyson Frizell (suspension), Phoenix Crossland (knee) and Francis Manuleleua (elbow). 

Backed by busloads of Novocastrians who’d made the two-hour journey down the highway, the Knights made the perfect start. 

Mitchell allowed Young to collect a Sandon Smith bomb, and the Englishman handed McEwen a simple try inside five minutes. 

And although Smith missed that straightforward conversion attempt, his boot did lead to Newcastle’s next points. 

The halfback speared a perfectly-weighted grubber kick into the in-goal, which ex-Rabbitoh Gagai grounded with mere inches to spare. 

Things got even worse for South Sydney when Walker went down clutching his calf on the half-hour mark. 

But the Bunnies finally got a foothold in the contest when Campbell Graham found the right-hand corner, courtesy of a damaging run by Keaon Koloamatangi and some sharp hands by David Fifita and Jack Wighton. 

Mitchell’s sideline conversion made it 10-6 at the break. 

The second half simmered until Mitchell and Johnston appeared to produce a miracle. 

Souths’ talisman released their record try-scorer, who lost the ball in a McEwen tackle but booted it forward for Jayden Sullivan – only for the Bunker to rule a loose Johnston carry rather than a McEwen strip. 

Instead, the young back-rower soon found try number two to extend Newcastle’s lead. 

Young was the provider again, bamboozling Johnston – who then limped off – and finding McEwen in support. 

The Huddersfield product was quickly rewarded with a try of his own, tip-toeing the sideline to dive into the right corner. 

Mitchell set up a late consolation try to Jye Gray but it was purely academic. 

The Knights now travel to face the loser of Saturday’s Warriors-Dolphins qualifying final in a sudden-death semi-final next week, while the Rabbitohs can start planning their end-of-season holidays.

GAMESTAR: Dom Young handed Jermaine McEwen two tries, then notched one of his own to put Newcastle on top.

GAMEBREAKER: English winger Young came within millimetres of the touchline, but managed to find the right corner for the match-sealing try in the 66th minute.

MATCHFACTS

RABBITOHS
1 Matt Dufty
2 Alex Johnston
3 Latrell Mitchell
4 Jack Wighton
5 Campbell Graham
6 Cody Walker
7 Jayden Sullivan
8 Tevita Tatola
9 Brandon Smith
10 Keaon Koloamatangi
11 David Fifita
12 Tallis Duncan
13 Cameron Murray
Subs
14 Jye Gray
15 Lachlan Hubner
16 Sean Keppie
17 Jamie Humphreys
18 Adam Elliott (not used)
19 Latrell Siegwalt (not used)

Tries: Graham (36), Gray (75)
Goals: Mitchell 1/2

KNIGHTS
1 Kalyn Ponga
2 Dom Young
3 Dane Gagai
4 Bradman Best
5 Greg Marzhew
6 Fletcher Sharpe
7 Sandon Smith
8 Tyson Frizell
9 Phoenix Crossland
10 Cody Hopwood
11 Jermaine McEwen
12 Francis Manuleleua
13 Mat Croker
Subs
14 Harrison Graham
15 Lachlan Crouch
16 Pasami Saulo
17 Thomas Cant
18 Fletcher Hunt (not used)
19 Toby Winter (not used)

Tries: McEwen (5, 62), Gagai (26), Young (66)
Goals: Smith 2/4

SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-4, 0-10, 6-10; 6-16, 6-20, 10-20

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Rabbitohs: Keaon Koloamatangi; Knights: Dom Young

Penalty count: 6-7
Half-time: 6-10
Referee: Ashley Klein
Attendance: 28,152