It’s the top-four clash that seemed highly unlikely at the beginning of the NRL season, and even less so with lengthy injury wards wiping out a bevy of stars in the opening weeks.
And yet, players from the Newcastle Knights and Wests Tigers are salivating at the prospect of continuing their winning form when the two sides meet for the final clash of Round 6 on Sunday.
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The Tigers and Knights sit second and third respectively on the NRL ladder, each succumbing to just one loss five rounds into the season. A win this weekend would level either side on points with the competition-leading Penrith Panthers.
So how did we end up here?
It was the great Jack Gibson who coined the expression that ‘winning starts Monday’ in rugby league. The truth is that Newcastle and Wests are building on systems that have been developed since day one of their pre-seasons late last year – and led by their coaches.
“Benji is the one driving these standards,” Wests Tigers centre Sunia Turuva told foxsports.com.au. “From the first day of pre-season to now, nothing has really changed from his end.
“He has that balance, he knows when to muck around but he knows when to switch the focus as well. He can be one of the boys, but the boys also know that he is also our coach and he’s not afraid to make those tough calls.”
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Justin Holbrook and Benji Marshall have somehow turned Knights v Wests Tigers into a top-four NRL clash.Source: FOX SPORTS
It’s a similar story at Newcastle, where new coach Justin Holbrook has helped cultivate a fun yet connected environment. It’s one that star winger Dominic Young says is the best he has been a part of in the Hunter, and has helped the side overcome key personnel loses including Kalyn Ponga, Fletcher Sharpe and Dylan Brown over the opening rounds.
“We’ve put a big focus on building our connection in the pre-season, everyone knows that the connected teams win and it’s definitely the most connected group I’ve been as part of since being at the Knights,” Young told foxsports.com.au.
“We’ve been faced with a lot of challenges but it has been testament to how connected the group is. Everyone is just really enjoying coming to training, showing up on the weekend and getting results.
“Even with our key players out, that ‘next man up’ mentality – everyone that comes in is given a job, and each week we’re playing no one is really letting the side down. We’re going out there and doing a job and it’s been really pleasing.”
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The Wests Tigers are playing a potent brand of expressive attack under coach Benji Marshall, bolstered by a resilience in defence not seen at the club for 15 years.
The side’s preparation under head of high performance Peter Moussa has been keenly advocated by the playing group for building the new brand of depth and resilience.
The by-product is a composure that has galvanised the side in huge pressure moments, according to Fox League commentator and analyst, Andrew Voss.
“Two weeks ago against the Warriors, that was the best I’ve ever seen from them tactically under Benji Marshall,” he said. “They’re dialled in and they’ve believing what their coaching staff have put before them and now they’re getting the confidence of winning as well.
“Right at the moment, if they’re put in a close situation this Sunday I don’t want to be betting against them. It must be great to be at training at the Tigers at the moment.”
Sunia Turuva and his Tigers teammates pray together after a win in Auckland.Source: Getty Images
While the Tigers are capitalising on the building blocks developed over Marshall’s three years at the helm, there’s evidence that Newcastle started the season with a clear slate under new coach Holbrook, stripping back the bad habits of 2025 and keeping things simple.
“I reckon there’s evidence that Holbrook has stripped back everything, and I know it sounds like words, but absolutely he’s gone back to square-one again,” Voss commented.
“Holbrook has had six months of hard work to get them to this point. From November through to April, there would have been no shortcuts taken at Newcastle. They’ve been honest, they’ve obviously had accountability on the poor form of last year and they’ve started over again. Leave your egos at the door.”
Dominic Young (L) says the Knights are thriving this season under new coach Justin Holbrook.Source: Getty Images
Young concurred, praising Holbrook for his ability to identify each player’s individual role and the accountability that is attached to it.
“We’re aware it’s only early in the season, we need to keep the momentum going and building, and we need to keep picking up the two points each week and obviously be playing finals footy,” Young said.
“Justin is an attack-minded coach and he really knows how to unlock us and get the best out of us as well, which is really showing on the field.
“He has made our game plans and our identity as a team so simple. Everyone understands it, everyone knows their role. It’s easy for everyone to go out there on the weekend and do what they’ve been told to do.
“He’s definitely added a lot of connection to the group with how he is, too. He has been great for us.”
Connectedness aside, the key trait unifying these two unlikely top four sides is their underdog status.