NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS 10 NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS 12
TOM SMITH, Eden Park, Auckland, Sunday

NEWCASTLE won a cliffhanger against the Warriors to book a place against Penrith in Sunday’s preliminary final.

The record was broken for the biggest-ever Rugby League crowd in New Zealand, as 48,511 supporters sold out Eden Park, but most of them went home unhappy after the visitors clung on.

Fletcher Sharpe and Dom Young gave the Knights a slender lead which they defended doggedly.

Leka Halasima’s two-try return from injury wasn’t enough to prevent the Warriors from going out of the finals in straight sets. 

Newcastle now face the heavyweight Panthers for a place in the Grand Final, while the Aucklanders’ season is over.

The result continues the Knights’ fairytale campaign under ex-St Helens and Gold Coast coach Justin Holbrook, who has revived last year’s wooden spooners. 

Newcastle crossed the Tasman as outsiders, but that didn’t bother them in last week’s 20-10 elimination final win over South Sydney. 

New Zealand, on the other hand, were left to rue a 26-16 defeat to the Dolphins that put them into this sudden-death semi-final. 

Andrew Webster lost luckless forward Jackson Ford, who hurt his ankle on return from a pectoral injury last week, but brought in outside backs Halasima (hamstring) and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (collarbone). 

Holbrook largely stuck with the same squad that overpowered the Rabbitohs, besides welcoming back Dylan Lucas (ankle). 

The Wahs outgunned the Knights 46-32 in a Mount Smart shootout three weeks ago, and the Novocastians hadn’t won in New Zealand since 2019 — but it was a different story here at Eden Park. 

Sharpe should’ve opened the scoring on the end of a Kalyn Ponga bust, but tripped over his own feet within sight of the line. 

Then Young’s try claim was chalked off for a forward pass and the Bunker denied Sharpe for a Francis Manuleleua touch in the build-up. 

Instead, the Warriors found the first points through the destructive Halasima, who linked up with Chanel Harris-Tavita and shrugged off three would-be tacklers to score. 

Greg Marzhew repelled Watene-Zelezniak before the Knights levelled the scores thanks to Bradman Best. 

The wrecking-ball centre fended off Jacob Laban to break the line then found Sharpe in support to complete the long-range strike. 

It stayed locked up 6-all at half-time before Newcastle hit the front. 

After Watene-Zelezniak pushed an errant pass, Dane Gagai produced a brilliant flick offload to Young, who raced down the right touchline to score. 

Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad copped a head knock tackling Gagai, which brought on Alofiana Khan-Pereira. 

The hosts thought they’d hit back when Ali Leiataua crossed, but the officials spotted an Eddie Ieremia-Toeava obstruction. 

Halasima eventually touched down acrobatically in the left corner, after Kurt Capewell and Wayde Egan shifted down the short side. 

Tuaupiki missed the sideline conversion to leave the New Zealanders adrift by two, then had to go off for an HIA. 

And with the game on a knife’s edge, Ponga went off for an HIA too, but passed to ensure he’ll be available next week.

Newcastle benefited from two late captain’s challenges and Tyson Frizell’s block on Halasima that would’ve gifted the Warriors an equalising penalty-goal to hold on for a famous upset. 

GAMESTAR: Fletcher Sharpe scored a try and could’ve had another two in a livewire display for his 50th NRL appearance.

GAMEBREAKER: Dom Young’s 45th-minute try gave the Knights enough points to desperately defend until the 80th minute.

MATCHFACTS

WARRIORS
1 Taine Tuaupiki
2 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
3 Ali Leiataua
22 Leka Halasima
23 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
6 Chanel Harris-Tavita
7 Te Maire Martin
8 James Fisher-Harris
9 Wayde Egan
10 Mitch Barnett
11 Kurt Capewell
12 Jacob Laban
13 Erin Clark
Subs
4 Adam Pompey (not used)
5 Alofiana Khan-Pereira
14 Sam Healey (not used)
15 Tanner Stowers-Smith
16 Demitric Vaimauga
17 Eddie Ieremia-Toeava

Tries: Halasima (13, 70)
Goals: Tuaupiki 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 (not used)
18 Fletcher Hunt (not used)
22 Dylan Lucas

Tries: Sharpe (29), Young (45)
Goals: Smith 2/2

SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 6-6; 6-12, 10-12

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Warriors: Leka Halasima; Knights: Fletcher Sharpe

Penalty count: 3-5
Half-time: 6-6
Referee: Ashley Klein
Attendance: 48,511