NRL finals 2026 LIVE updates: Newcastle strike first in elimination final after South Sydney caught sleeping

Billie EderUpdated September 11, 2026 — 8:02pm,first published 7:20pmKey PostsHave your say: who wins tonight? By Latest Posts8.02pmMurray error gifts Newcastle field positionBy South Sydney are the favourites tonight, but it’s Newcastle who have come out firing. After that early try for Jermaine McEwan, Rabbitohs skipper Cameron Murray drops the ball cold on their own 40-metre line. Alarm Bells for Rabbitohs fans. Knights 4, Rabbitohs 0 after 11 minutes7.58pmKnights strike first in elimination finalBy Wow. South Sydney are caught sleeping, and it’s the Knights who strike first in this contest. On the final tackle, Sandon Smith puts up a kick that lacks depth, but Dom Young gets high above Latrell Mitchell and makes something from nothing. Mitchell makes the tackle on Young, but the tall Newcastle winger easily offloads to Jermaine McEwan and, with Cody Walker stuck in no-man’s land and no other Rabbitoh to be seen, he crosses to score first tonight.Knights 4, Rabbitohs 0 after seven minutes7.54pmMarzhew taken into touchBy Newcastle try to go down the short side with Kalyn Ponga, Bradman Best and Gewg Marzhew, but South Sydney know it’s coming. With the Rabbitohs stripped for space, Campbell Graham takes Marzhew across the touch line and we have a changeover at about the Rabbitohs 40-metre line. Rabbitohs 0, Knights 0 after four minutes. 7.51pmKick-off: the finals are officially under wayBy Referee Ashley Klein blows his whistle and, with that, the 2026 finals are officially under way. It’s Latrell Mitchell who gets things started with the kick-off and Tyson Frizell takes the first carry for Newcastle. I’m not going to lie, I’m a little underwhelmed by the turnout at Allianz Stadium tonight. Plenty of Newcastle fans here, though, and although they don’t outnumber the South Sydney faithful, they sure do make just as much noise. Already, “Newcastle, Newcastle, Newcastle” chants are echoing throughout Allianz Stadium. Rabbitohs 0, Knights 0 with 80 minutes to go 7.48pmJoey’s verdict on the matchBy These sides are attack-minded, which as an old playmaker makes me very, very happy. South Sydney against Newcastle on a dry track at Allianz Stadium should equate to points, points and more points.And for both teams, it’s all about one man more than any other: Kalyn Ponga.Kalyn Ponga will need his best game of the year if the Knights are going to win tonight.Getty ImagesFor South Sydney, it’s how they keep a lid on him. For Newcastle, it’s how they get him one-on-one with Rabbitohs defenders.7.47pmHow Newcastle sparked one of the game’s great revivalsBy Dan WalshExactly one year ago, the numbers were just as ugly as Newcastle’s attack. Not to mention Fletcher Sharpe’s ruptured kidneys.The Knights’ 14.1 points per game last season cost Adam O’Brien his job as they picked up the wooden spoon.Talking about a revolution: How the Knights turned around one of the worst seasons in the club’s history.Matt WillisTheir woeful offence often hurt to watch and made for the second-worst return in club history since 1991. That was a time when defensive lines only had to stand five metres back from the play-the-ball.Now? They’re a bit busted, and facing a star-studded South Sydney tonight without key men Dylan Brown, Dylan Lucas, Jacob Saifiti and Trey Mooney.7.42pmWatch: this week on the 40/20 podcastBy 7.36pmHave a crack at our Friday night footy quizBy 7.30pmKnights team list: no changes for HolbrookBy Newcastle coach Justin Holbrook has stood by the 19 he named on Tuesday. Here’s what his team looks like tonight. 1. Kalyn Ponga, 2. Dominic Young, 3. Dane Gagai, 4. Bradman Best, 5. Greg Marzhew, 6. Fletcher Sharpe, 7. Sandon Smith, 8. Tyson Frizell, 9. Phoenix Crossland, 10. Cody Hopwood, 11. Jermain McEwen, 12. Francis Manulelua, 13. Mat Croker Interchange: 14. Harrison Graham, 15. Lachlan Crouch, 16. Pasami Saulo, 17. Thomas Cant, 18. Fletcher Hunt, 19. Toby WinterNewcastle’s flying mullet: Fletcher Sharpe.Getty Images7.24pmRabbitohs team list: Wayne sticks with named 19By There are no changes to the team Wayne Bennett named on Tuesday. Here’s how they line up. 1. Matthew Dufty, 2. Alex Johnston, 3. Latrell Mitchell, 4. Jack Wighton, 6. Cody Walker, 7. Jayden Sullivan, 8. Tevita Tatola, 9. Brandon Smith, 10, Keaon Koloamatangi, 11. David Fifita, 12. Tallis Duncan, 13. Cameron Murray (c) Interchange: 14. Jye Gray, 15. Lachlan Hubner, 16. Sea Keppie, 17. Jamie Humphreys, 18. Adam Elliott, 19. Latrell SiegwaltLatrell Mitchell speaking to media at Heffron Park on Tuesday.James Brickwood1 of 2