Racing
League
Rugby
Football
Cricket
Golf
Sport Nation
Motorsport
Netball
Basketball
Combat Sports
Olympics
Other Sports
Live sport on SN this weekendEat their words: How Knights are repeating history
Scott Bailey, AAP •  September 26th, 2026 5:34 pm
Sandon Smith has stood up since a season-ending injury to halfback Dylan Brown | Photo: Mark Evans/AAP
Newcastle have vowed to defy the critics and become the first team in nine years to reach an NRL grand final without their first-choice halfback.
The Knights will enter Sunday's preliminary final against Penrith on a wave of emotion, with Newcastle fans expected to dominate a crowd of more than 50,000 at Accor Stadium.
Part of that emotion will include playing with a chip on their shoulder and a point to prove, after being written off by most through the season and in the finals.
The Knights have averaged 23 points per game since Dylan Brown went down in round 21 | Photo: Darren Pateman/AAP
A win on Sunday would make the Knights the first team since the Sydney Roosters in 2010 to reach a grand final just 12 months after a wooden spoon.
No side has reached a grand final from outside the top four since 2017, when North Queensland also did so without their first-choice halfback Johnathan Thurston.
There are other similarities to that effort too, beyond Kalyn Ponga's presence in both squads and Knights CEO Peter Parr being the Cowboys football boss.
Where North Queensland were without Matt Scott and Patrick Kaufusi, the Knights are missing starting props Jacob Saifiti and Trey Mooney.
There are many similarities between the current Knights and Johnathan Thurston's Cowboys | Photo: Dave Hunt/AAP
"It was Michael Morgan that killed it for us then, and Te Maire Martin," said Ponga, who also missed the Cowboys' finals run with a shoulder injury.
"But here, I think (coach) Justin (Holbrook) has done a good job at not finding excuses to lose, just keep finding excuses to win.
"We've got 20-year-olds playing, and boys that haven't even played 15 games, doing such a good job because of the environment.
"And then you look at what Sandon (Smith)'s done for us this year, he's a first grader through and through. He's really owned that No. 7 role."
Smith's work at halfback since the NRL's richest recruit Dylan Brown ruptured his ACL in round 21 has been crucial.
Even without Brown, Newcastle have averaged 23 points per game since then with Ponga and five-eighth Fletcher Sharpe playing with complete freedom.
The Knights are also reaping the rewards of a summer of uncertainty, where even Holbrook fluffed his lines when unveiling their halves the day before the Las Vegas season-opener.
"I remember that video it was pretty funny," Sharpe said, referring to Holbrook naming the wrong players at No. 6 and No. 7.
"Going back to the start of the year Justin and the coaching staff showed us a style of footy we wanted to play and really stripped it back.
"That just allowed for whoever come in through the year to really know their role, whatever position it's the same role no matter who comes in."
Kalyn Ponga's career-best form has been key to Newcastle's rise from wooden spoon status | Photo: Dan Himbrechts/AAP
Only four Knights have preliminary-final experience, with even Tyson Frizell playing his first in his 16th NRL season.
Not that it worries them.
"Everyone has written us off all year," fit-again second-rower Dylan Lucas said.
"A fair few people had us tipped to get the spoon. It's nice to see them eat their words now.
"I enjoy playing footy with a chip on my shoulder and a point to prove. I feel like that's the way I play my footy."
Tune into Sport Nation for live commentary of the NRL Finals - download the app today on Google Play and the App Store.
