THE Hunter Region is gripped by grand final fever with the Newcastle Knights rugby league team on the cusp of a fairytale premiership in the National Rugby League.
In one of their bravest performances on record, the stout-hearted Knights upset the Penrith Panthers 22-14 in a classic preliminary final last Sunday at Accor Stadium to advance to their first NRL grand final since 2001.
The Newcastle club will attempt to rewrite history when it faces the Sydney Roosters in this Sunday’s trophy decider.
After finishing with last season’s wooden spoon, the resilient Knights are only 80 minutes away from securing the club’s third NRL premiership as they continue to ride a wave of success in a memorable finals series.
Newcastle won their first NRL title back in 1997 with a gripping victory over favourites Manly before toppling Parramatta to snare their second in 2001.
Urged on by their vocal band of diehard supporters, the Newcastle warriors refused to budge and fought like Trojans to pull off a massive upset.
There was no stopping the spirited Knights, who were forced to play the entire second half a man down after Kiwi international hooker Phoenix Crossland was sent from the field for his hip-drop tackle on champion Penrith halfback Nathan Cleary.
A shattered Cleary suffered a broken leg and was taken to hospital in an ambulance after going down in the tackle of Crossland and forward Francis Manuleleua late in the first half.
In a savage blow, the crafty Crossland is now expected to miss the grand final.
Justin Holbrook’s courageous Knights have captured the imagination of the rugby league public with gallant victories over South Sydney, New Zealand Warriors and the Panthers during this year’s finals series.
Knights halfback Sandon Smith produced the best match of his career to spearhead last Sunday’s stunning win and set up a tantalising showdown with his former Roosters teammates.
Smith crossed for two crucial tries in the second half as the Knights stormed home on the back of gritty defence and enterprising attack to send the Panthers tumbling out of the title race.
A rejuvenated Kalyn Ponga lifted the Knights with jarring tackles in the dying moments as the Novocastrians staved off a fierce challenge from the rampant Panthers.
The Knights skipper was ably supported by in-form backs Smith, Dominic Young, Bradman Best, Dane Gagai, Greg Marzhew and Fletcher Sharpe and rampaging forwards Manuleleua, Tyson Frizell, Cody Hopwood, Jermaine McEwen, Mat Croker and Dylan Lucas.
Ponga’s clash with champion Roosters’ fullback James Tedesco is worth the admission price alone, with both skippers tipped to make a huge impact in the decider.
By Chris KARAS
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