The Newcastle Knights’ fairytale season continued on Sunday with a stunning 22-14 upset win over the Penrith Panthers on Sunday afternoon.
Here is foxsports.com.au’s ratings for every player.
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1 Kalyn Ponga 9
Has there been a greater transformation in any player this year? He deserves a first grand final appearance. As always, regularly threatened on the edges and helped put Bradman Best away before Newcastle’s opening try. Threw himself into the defensive fray many times on his own line. The play he will want to frame? Wrestling Casey McLean to keep the ball millimetres from the turf as Penrith searched for the winner. Or maybe the massive hit on Moses Leota? So many to choose from. The complete player now.
2 Dom Young 7.5
Inspector Gadget arms – and he needed every inch of them – for a brilliant try after half-time in slick exchange with Dane Gagai and Jermaine McEwen. Never shirked his task in the tough carries out of his own end.
3 Dane Gagai 7.5
Has worked up such an outstanding understanding with Dom Young in attack. It will be a shame to see it end when the veteran heads to Brisbane. Miscued with a kick dead when it might have been advised to run, but more than made up for it in the second stanza. What about the oldest man on the field retrieving a short line dropout? Massive play.
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4 Bradman Best 8.5
Are there many better sights in the NRL when The Beast is in space? Burnt Blaize Talagi on the outside to set up Newcastle’s first try, but also culpable for a high shot on his opposite number which led to Penrith’s opener. Almost looked their biggest menace with ball in hand and flawless in defence. A team high 185 run metres. Big game monster.
5 Greg Marzhew 6.5
Might have had his quietest game in attack and was limited in the damage he could do in the backfield. Still such a crucial cog in this back five and snuffed out Brian To’o’s attacking raids.
6 Fletcher Sharpe 7
There’s so much to like about the flying mullet, but you know what’s the best? He has a memory like a goldfish. Came up with a huge blunder when he belted a kick into the first row at a crucial stage in the second half. But got on with it and shouldered much of the long kicking afterwards, developing a decent spiral threat. Looks like he could achieve anything in the game.
7 Sandon Smith 9.5
Came up with the heads-up play which sent the Knights to their first grand final since 2001, sprinting 50 metres downfield from a tap restart with Penrith’s backs uncharacteristically turned. And then ran 90 metres for the intercept try in the dying seconds. He can keep running all the way to the grand final against his old team. A game for the ages.
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Smith stunner sends Knights to the GF | 00:43
8 Tyson Frizell 6.5
The glue which has held Newcastle’s battered middle together, but had a forgettable start. Dropped the ball on his second carry in the first set of the game and then gave up a penalty for a savage late hit on Jack Cogger. His experience will be so crucial in the decider.
9 Phoenix Crossland 2
Made more than 1000 tackles for the season, but sadly it will only be remembered for one. Sent off for the hip drop tackle which caused a catastrophic leg injury to Nathan Cleary. How his teammates came back from eight points down is a story they will be telling for decades.
10 Cody Hopwood 7.5
Of all the plays which sum up a local prop the Knights have been yearning for, watch him chop down Brian To’o on a desperate last tackle play in the first half. It’s why he’s so highly regarded. Made the most metres (57) of any Knights forward in the first half.
11 Jermaine McEwen 9
Found a home in the Hunter when his family needed to get out of Penrith, but didn’t leave the mongrel in him behind after going toe to toe with Moses Leota in an early scrap. Over read in defence for Lindsay Smith’s try. That’s being hyper critical. Now for the good. Made 45 tackles and one meant more than any other: will forever be remembered as the man who stopped Casey McLean from getting the ball down on a blade of grass. Also ran for more metres (116) than any other Newcastle forward.
McLean denied by millimetres | 00:23
12 Francis Manuleleua 8
One of a long list of players who probably shouldn’t playing in the finals, or at least came back way before time. But what a weapon. Scored the opening try, never stopped moving in defence.
13 Mat Croker 8
Has to be one of the finds of the season. Put a target on Jack Cogger’s last tackle plays, dived on a loose Mitch Kenny kick when the easier option would have been to rest for a moment, then did the same again on an Isaah Yeo grubber late on. Epitomises everything Newcastle stands for.
14 Harrison Graham 7
Who would have thought he would be the starting hooker in a grand final? But after Phoenix Crossland’s hip-drop tackle, will likely get the nod. Super off the bench all season and helped hold the middle down in the best 40-minute performance from a team we’ve seen in an NRL final in the modern era.
Controversial Young try stands | 00:26
15 Lachlan Crouch 7
You could write a book about the one per cent plays which won the Knights the game. Crouch came up with his for a great cover tackle on Dylan Edwards. Another phenomenal find brought on by Justin Holbrook this year.
16 Pasami Saulo 7
Provided significant impact off the bench when his team needed it during the first half. Only got 25 minutes but made them count.
17 Dylan Lucas 5.5
Still shaking my head how he’s playing after his horrific injury a couple of months ago. All effort again in the middle of the park, but also dropped a crucial ball. It didn’t come back to haunt them.
18 Fletcher Hunt NA
Unused interchange.
19 Thomas Cant NA
Unused interchange.