Newcastle secured a decisive victory over Gold Coast, winning 36-14, thanks to an outstanding performance by Kalyn Ponga. This win sets up a thrilling final-round showdown with the Dolphins, with the winner clinching the eighth spot in the NRL finals. Needing a victory to keep their finals hopes alive, Newcastle overcame an early 4-0 deficit, sparked by two quick tries from Ponga, to surge to a commanding 30-4 lead at McDonald Jones Stadium.
The result creates an ideal scenario for the NRL, as the last match of the regular season between the Knights and Dolphins will determine who advances to the finals. However, Newcastle’s triumph also dashed the hopes of other teams, officially eliminating Brisbane from finals contention and virtually ending the seasons of St George Illawarra and Canberra. Only a draw in the upcoming Knights-Dolphins clash could offer these teams a glimmer of hope.
Newcastle will enter the decisive match with confidence, knowing that Ponga is in peak form. Despite a season marred by injuries, which had limited him to just one try before this match, Ponga displayed flashes of his best form against South Sydney the previous week and continued to shine against Gold Coast. He set the tone early with a linebreak in the sixth minute, and although Newcastle initially failed to capitalize, Ponga soon lifted his team by scoring through a gap between David Fifita and Jayden Campbell.
Ponga’s influence was evident again before halftime when he created the Knights’ second try. After earning a penalty deep in Newcastle’s territory, he orchestrated a move that saw Dylan Lucas offload to Bradman Best, who then set up Ponga to score his second try of the match.
In the second half, with the game still in the balance, Ponga once again provided the spark Newcastle needed. He broke through the left edge, setting up Dane Gagai, who in turn assisted Fletcher Sharpe for a try. Sharpe went on to complete a hat-trick, scoring three tries in eight minutes, while Bradman Best, returning from a hamstring injury, contributed over 200 running meters and an assist for Phoenix Crossland’s try.
