Newcastle’s dream of a first premiership in 25 years is still alive after the Knights defeated the Rabbitohs 20-10 on Friday night.
The Knights came out firing playing a fast-paced brand of football and controlled the contest, while Souths copped a massive blow with Cody Walker suffering a calf injury.
Newcastle claimed their first finals win away from home since 2013 — the Knights will take on the loser of the qualifying final between the New Zealand Warriors and the Dolphins.
The Knights got on the board first in sudden death clash at the Sydney Football Stadium when Dom Young caught a high ball and passed to Jermaine McEwen, who crossed over untouched for a try.
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Latrell Mitchell and Dane Gagai were lucky to escape a sin bin as tensions heated up in a fiery exchange early in South Sydney’s elimination final against Newcastle.
When Newcastle repelled a Souths attacking surge, Mitchell saw red when Gagai grabbed his jersey and appeared to clip his chin with a light punch, which Kayo Sports commentator Dan Ginnane described as a “little rabbit punch”.
The Rabbitohs star didn’t appreciate the treatment and responded by making contact with Gagai’s face as a scuffle broke out.
“Mitchell and Gagai, they’re starting to go at it,” Ginnane said.
“Oh, Mitchell. He has thrown one! At least it’s a slap at the minimum. Gagai has gone to Latrell Mitchell. That is going to be a problem.
“The veteran has got one over the Latrell Mitchell, although he’s giving as good as he’s getting.
“High drama. Latrell is red-lining now and he’s only got eyes for Dane Gagai.”
The Bunker reviewed the play and ruled there was no striking action and both players avoided being sent to the sin bin with only a penalty given.
“Something was said from Dane Gagai, maybe Gagai instigated,” Cooper Cronk said.
“This game has just gone up another notch.”
Captains Cam Murray and Kalyn Ponga were called over and referee Ashley Klein told them: “Whatever happened over there, there’s no need for it. We’re gonna cut that out, OK. We’re not going to have that type of incident occur throughout the game.”
Cody Walker injured in devastating blow
The Rabbitohs were dealt a brutal blow when playmaker Cody Walker suffered a calf injury and immediately hobbled off the field and would take no further part in the game.
“Oh no, Cody Walker has gone down,” Ginnane said in commentary.
“Cody Walker has gone straight to his leg, Cody Walker is in big trouble. This looks dramatic and it looks terrible. This is terrible.”
Walker, 36, is out of contract at the end of the 2026 season and was in tears on the sidelines after suffering the injury, with ice on his calf.
“Cody Walker slammed his crutch into the ground, frustration brewing on the sideline,”Kayo Sports reporter Eloise Sohier said.
“Terrible scenes,” Adam Reynolds said on Kayo Sports.
“He’s the key to South Sydney and their success. He’s been a big hand in the resurrection in South Sydney getting to the finals.
“Scenes like this are devastating. I know how much this moment would have meant to him. Never easy to see someone of that calibre go down.”
In commentary on Kayo Sports, Cronk said Walker would likely play on for one more season for the chance to play alongside star recruit Payne Haas who is joining Souths from the Broncos.
Gagai scored Newcastle’s second try when he got on the end of a Sandon Smith grubber as the Knights took the upper hand in the first half playing a fast-paced brand of football.
The Rabbitohs made the most of an offside penalty when Campbell Graham scored in the corner and Mitchell nailed the conversion kick from the sideline to head into halftime trailing 10-6.
Bunker denies Bunnies try in huge call
Mitchell helped set up a spectacular try to Jayden Sullivan that would have levelled the score 10-10, but the Rabbitohs were denied the try.
In a crucial decision, the Bunker ruled Alex Johnston had dropped the ball in a loose carry and Newcastle’s Jermaine McEwen had made incidental contact it was not an attempt at a strip.
Knights winger Young clinched the victory with a try of his own when he danced along the sideline to put the result beyond doubt.
Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett slammed the Bunker in savage remarks in his post-game press conference, frustrated at calls that went against his side.
“The quicker they get rid of the Bunker, the happier I’ll be,” Bennett said.
“I saw the same thing happen last year with Canberra late in the game and it happened again here tonight.
“I think anyone that plays rugby league or knows rugby league knows that was a knock-on.
“The ball was knocked out of his hands. Then, to award no try, the referee awards a try, then the bunker flies in and says it’s a no try.
Watch Wayne Bennett’s press conference in the video at the top of this article
“Ten minutes later, Newcastle winger Dom Young goes down the sideline there. I’m not sure if they put his foot on the line or not, but the bottom line is the bunker then comes back and says we go at the referee’s call.”
“I want to know who’s refereeing the game. That’s the first thing I want to know. Is it the Bunker, or is it the referee?” he elaborated.
“You can look at that fifty times. Everyone can come up with a different opinion on that. It’s just too technical. It’s not what the game needs.
“It’s not where I want the game to be personally. I’ve been in a long time and said a lot of things and I don’t think the Bunker enhances our game to the amount of what we believe it does.
“I’m happy to live with the referee’s call. Always have been. Always will be. None of us are getting it right. The Bunker don’t get it right either every time.
“I have been (critical of the Bunker) for a couple of years because I’m over the decisions they make and the impact it has on teams.
“I’d rather have a referee doing his job properly, best he can. He’ll make a mistake. I can live with that. My players make mistakes. I live with that.
“What I can’t live with is this thing called a Bunker that’s supposed to be 100% perfect. It’s not perfect because we’ve got other officials running it.
“As I said, one’s a try because the referee says it’s a try. The other one’s a no-try because the bunker says it’s a no-try.
“I want to know who’s running the game?”
Mitchell struggled to impose himself on the contest and Gagai played a massive role in limiting his influence on the game.
“Dane Gagai really went after Latrell Mitchell and he’s won that battle hands down,” Cronk said.
“Newcastle have come to Sydney and absolutely ambushed them,” Michael Ennis said.
“They bashed them, they went after them physically.”
“It was a knockout win to the Newcastle side,” Greg Alexander added.
Originally published as Wayne Bennett lets rip in savage comments after Rabbitohs knocked out of finals