The Sydney Morning Herald
· collected 2026-09-20 · by Christian Nicolussi
Newcastle Knights secured their place in the preliminary final of rugby league after defeating the New Zealand Warriors with a narrow 12-10 victory in front of 48,511 spectators at Eden Park. The decisive moment was missed by referee Ashley Klein who did not award a penalty when Leka Halasima appeared to be illegally run off the ball late in the game, potentially changing the outcome if corrected. Despite this controversy and poor performance from the Warriors, Newcastle’s resilience and effective tactics under coach Justin Holbrook propelled them forward, with standout performances by key players like Kalyn Ponga and Fletcher Sharpe.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-20,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
The Newcastle Knights secured their spot in the NRL preliminary finals with a nail-biting 12-10 victory over the Warriors at Eden Park on September 20. The game saw Mat Croker, Newcastle's lock forward and an unsung hero of the season, play every minute this year, showcasing his pivotal role in the team’s dynamic attack by linking up with halfbacks to create scoring opportunities.
However, controversy surrounded the final moments when a potential penalty against Tyson Frizell for what is deemed an "escort" play was not reviewed due to the Warriors having already used their captain's challenge. This oversight could have given the Warriors a chance at leveling the score or extending the match into extra time, leading to the Warriors contacting the NRL for clarification on several contentious decisions during the game.
The Knights' remarkable turnaround from wooden spooners last season to reaching the preliminary finals has made them an inspiration within the league, with other struggling teams like the Tigers and Dragons looking closely at what Newcastle did right this year. The Penrith Panthers now await the winner of this match in Sydney next week for a place in the grand final.
Written for “NRL Finals Knights Warriors” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 5 other(s) covering the same event.
But the big talking point out of their epic 12-10 win over the New Zealand Warriors in front of 48,511 fans at Eden Park was the failure to award the home side a penalty in the final minute.
asserted
point → award → minute
Leka Halasima, one of the Warriors’ best despite playing on one leg, appeared to be run off the ball by Tyson Frizell when he chased a kick.
asserted
he → play → kick
Referee Ashley Klein refused to award a penalty in real time and the Warriors had lost their captain’s challenge, which meant the bunker could not intervene.
uncertain
bunker → refuse → challenge
Fans, however, will be wondering why the bunker could not use its powers to step in and over-rule such a poor on-field decision.
uncertain
bunker → wonder → decision
The Warriors could have kicked a penalty goal from close range to level the scores.
uncertain
Warriors → kick → scores
Only minutes earlier, Warriors playmaker Te Maire Martin was also penalised for stripping the ball from Greg Marzhew when the Knights winger appeared to drop it.
asserted
winger → penalise → it
Regardless of the controversial calls, the Warriors produced far too many poor options at the end of their sets.
asserted
Warriors → produce → sets
How is it a team that averaged almost 30 points a game all season could only come up with three tries in two finals on home soil?
uncertain
that → average → soil
One of those tries featured individual brilliance from Halasima when he somehow stayed in the field of play to plant the ball down and get around Dom Young.
asserted
he → feature → Young
Prop Mitch Barnett found himself going down the short side on two occasions late in the tackle count, and came up with a grubber in the first half that gifted Newcastle a seven-tackle set that led to a Fletcher Sharpe try.
asserted
that → find → try
The Knights were brave with Kalyn Ponga forced off the field in the dying stages with a head injury assessment.
asserted
Ponga → force → assessment
Ponga confirmed to Fox League after the game he had passed his HIA and would be fit for next Sunday’s clash against the Panthers.
“I feel good, I feel proud, I feel like crying,” Ponga said.
asserted
Ponga → confirm → Panthers
“Everyone counted us out about five or six weeks ago.
asserted
Everyone → count → us
To represent our town with so much pride, it’s an awesome feeling.
asserted
it → represent → pride
“I can’t wait to get back to Newcastle and get on to next week.”
asserted
I → wait → week
Nobody expected Newcastle to get past South Sydney in an elimination final last week.
asserted
Newcastle → expect → final
Nobody gave them a hope against the Warriors either.
asserted
Nobody → give → Warriors
As long as they have Ponga they have to be a hope.
asserted
they → have → Ponga
He is a big-game player whose bomb defusals were first class, and his captain’s challenges bang on.
asserted
challenges → bang → ?
Dane Gagai was placed on report for a high shot on Taine Tuaupiki, who was forced off the field for a HIA.
asserted
who → place → HIA
Phoenix Crossland was brilliant diving on the ball in desperation late in the game.
asserted
Crossland → dive → game
Sharpe was brilliant in attack and defence, Gagai and Bradman Best asked plenty of questions on the edges, as did their young back-rowers Jermaine McEwen and Francis Manuleleua.
asserted
rowers → ask → edges
Even Dylan Lucas made his comeback from a serious ankle injury in the final 12 minutes.
asserted
Lucas → make → minutes
One man who should take a bow is coach Justin Holbrook, who has breathed new life into the Hunter club.
asserted
who → take → club
The players love playing for him, and he is now 80 minutes away from a decider.
asserted
he → love → decider
Do we still call it a success after bombing out in straight sets?
asserted
we → call → sets
It was their veteran, Kurt Capewell, and Halasima, who turns 21 on Monday, who were their standouts.
asserted
who → turn → Monday
Tuaupiki came up with a brave tackle on Marzhew, but his halves were unable to put him into decent space close to the line.
asserted
halves → come → line
The Knights would have been delighted heading into the sheds at the break with the score locked up at 6-all.
asserted
score → head → 6
Newcastle were not great with holding the ball, but the Warriors were worse.
asserted
Warriors → hold → ball
Halasima opened the scoring, then Sharpe hit back after a great run by Best.
asserted
Sharpe → open → Best
Young scored early in the second half when he got on the outside of his defenders, and only after the visitors were allowed go on the attack because of an Watene-Zelezniak error courtesy of a brutal Manuleleua hit.
asserted
visitors → score → hit
Centre Ali Leiataua thought he had locked up the scores midway through the second half, but Eddie Ieremia-Toeava was ruled to have obstructed Sharpe.
asserted
Toeava → think → Sharpe
The Aporia
