The Newcastle Knights have beaten South Sydney at Allianz Stadium, advancing to the second week of the finals, sending the Rabbitohs crashing out of what was a promising season.
Here are three things we learned from the game:
Knights never stop fighting
Suspensions, injuries, away from home - don't worry about any of it. Very few gave Newcastle a shot in this one but right from the jump they were more physical, more enthusiastic and took their chances. It wasn't a typical Knights showing because while they did score a long-range try, they had a mountain of ball in territory and won this via attrition rather than dazzling football.
Both first half tries came off kicks, but it was being in good attacking positions to end their sets which allowed that to happen. All week, a lot of people, including me, thought if they'd win it would be by throwing a few counter punches and defending gamely. They didn't really need to.
They were meant to be the team on the back foot, with a forward pack devoid of stars They dominated in yardage, robbed Souths of good ball, and suffocated their way to victory. It's so against type for them it's hard to really believe, but as hard-earned a win as the Knights have got all year. Bring on week two.
Bennett's selection puzzlers finally catch up
The loudest cheer from the Souths fans at the Sydney Football Stadium didn't come at kick off, or even when Campbell Graham scored - rather, it was Jye Gray being subbed on to the field in the second half that got the punters up and about.
Gray is beloved by Rabbitohs supporters and with good reason; he was one of the few bright sparks in an awful 2025 season and has made stuff happen every time he's on the field in 2026.
However, a few weeks' ago, coach Wayne Bennett made the decision to bench Gray in favour of Matt Dufty, who's return to the NRL after several years in the wilderness has been a great story in its own right - but it's a decision that's puzzled plenty, including me. Dufty was poor in kick defence for each of the opening two tries and threw a late intercept to stop any hopes of a comeback. It was a selection misfire.
Similarly, after Ashton Ward was ruled out for the season it was assumed that Jamie Humphreys would be the halfback the rest of the way. Instead it was Bud Sullivan who Bennett went with, and his decision making on Friday night was pretty rough for the most part.
Still, both Sullivan and Dufty have had great moments at times. The other and much more puzzling situation has been the refusal to play hooker Peter Mamouzelos, the most creative nine at the club and best foil to Brandon Smith. Every single Souths fan I've spoken to is baffled as to why Mamouzelos can't get into the team, particularly when the players who are getting minutes at hooker instead of him aren't hookers by trade. It makes no sense.
All of this is largely moot though because without Cody Walker, Souths weren't going to make any real impact on the finals series, even if they had stolen this one late on. Maybe next year.
Back-row brilliance from Newcastle
Take a bow, Jermaine McEwen and Francis Manuleleua. McEwen especially was superb with his two tries, but it was the edge integrity that allowed the Knights to stay on top in this one. Souths are so deadly on both sides but particularly their left, but for the most part those sweeping raids to the flanks were shut down with ease and that begins with the backrowers.
Again, this wasn't a position where you looked at Newcastle as having an advantage, but they were just better on the night.
We all know about the stars that the Knights have in other areas of the field, many of whom were great tonight. But if they can get this level of production from less-heralded guys, who knows how far they can go?
