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'We're not done': Ponga, Knights plot Penrith upset for NRL prelim
George Clarke, AAP • September 21st, 2026 6:13 am
Newcastle's stunning win in Auckland is not the end of their 2026 story, Kalyn Ponga says | Photo: Andrew Cornaga/Photosport
Kalyn Ponga insists now is not the time for nostalgia as Newcastle's captain aims to move a step closer to completing one of the great NRL revivals by taking the Knights to the grand final.
After Sunday's drama-charged 12-10 win over the Warriors in Auckland, Newcastle's Cinderella finals run will extend into another week with Justin Holbrook's set to face Penrith in a preliminary final at Accor Stadium.
Fullback Ponga will feature after he passed the head injury assessment which left him watching the dying stages of the win over the Warriors from the dressing room.
Kalyn Ponga soared as Newcastle turned in a stellar performance to upset the Warriors | Photo: Brett Phibbs/Photosport
Victory over the Panthers this Sunday would count as the Knights' biggest scalp to date and would cap the club's remarkable turnaround from wooden spooners to grand finalists in the space of 12 months.
The Roosters were the last side to finish last (2009) and reach the decider the following year.
But captain Ponga claims he has no desire to look back on the Knights' rapid progress under first-year Newcastle coach Holbrook as he believes there are more chapters to write.
"It's kind of hard right now because you're obviously grateful for the win but then you don't want to sit in that for too long," Ponga said.
"You want to get your mind to the next game, and that's been our strength this year.
"I think when it's all said and done, when we're sitting at home in the off season, I'll look back and be pretty proud of this season.
"But it's kind of hard right now because we're not done.
"All I do know is I'm really proud of this group for the efforts that they've put in throughout the whole year. I don't want to reflect too much just yet."
Fletcher Sharpe scored the Knights' first before both teams ended with two tries apiece in Auckland | Photo: Brett Phibbs/Photosport
The Knights had the luxury of giving representative forward Dylan Lucas a cameo in the final 20 minutes of the win in Auckland and his return from injury will be a major boost for a side that has stumbled into September without a handful of big hitters.
Newcastle have survived into week three without their first-choice front-row duo of Jacob Saifiti and Trey Mooney and have thrived in attack despite the absence of injured star playmaker Dylan Brown.
"The belief sort of comes from the year. You go into these games relying on what you've done throughout the year," Ponga said.
"So many times we've had injuries, had to overcome adversity and challenges, and as a playing group, we've handled that pretty well. No doubt it'll be the same next week."
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