FT: Knights 36 def Souths 16
Ponga gets bundled into touch.
No good.
Cogger put the icing on the Newcastle cake with a brilliant short ball to Gagai who found his second try of the night to keep the Knights' finals chances alive.
Sharpe doing some Travolta footwork, still going, finds Croker, brought down 10 out from the line.
Tiny bit of bru haha out there. Tyrone Munro puts it down. Sean Keppie is placed on report.
Wighton puts it down
PENALTY SOUTHS: Inside 10m.
Peter Gough is doing Chris Butler's job for him. Su'A goes to the bin for a shoulder to the head on Davvy Moale. It is consistent with what we've seen tonight but once again, the Bunker is doing the on-field referee's job for him as that shouldn't be missed. We've seen that twice already this season post try, the Bunker find something the referee should've seen.
Myers kick comes off the upright. Gap remains 16 points
Souths ended with a consolation try with a brilliant grubber kick from Wighton. The ball sat up perfectly for Tallis Duncan and the young back-rower dived on the ball to get the gap back to 16.
Adam Elliott puts this one down.
Myers... that wasn't good from the young winger.
Munro goes through - an ankle tap stops him inside Knights territory.
Challenge successful - even more shocking is we had a correct play the ball in 2024.
CHALLENGE KNIGHTS: On field decision was a knock on.
Newcastle have the Titans and Phins to finish the season. They will have an outside chance of a finals birth. Need results to go their way tho.
Will Pryce now onto the paddock for the home side.
Souths just need to keep digging for this second half. If they give up and let the Knights run amuck, it will be a disappointing end to the season for the cardinal and myrtle.
Souths - just hasn't been their night.
Newcastle make a mistake coming out of their own end.
Welcome to the NRL Sebastian Su'A.
Ponga converts.
That might be the dagger for the Knights. Cogger threw a dummy and had the Rabbitohs defence asleep. Cogger has a double and the Knights score 30 for just the fourth time this season.
Six again for the Knights - could this be the hammer blow!
Challenge is unsuccessful
CHALLENGE TIME: Souths are challenging the ruling of a disruptor.
Crossland competes on the bomb but Keaon Koloamatangi has the defensive cleanup and wins possession for Souths.
Greggy boy... nearly has a nightmare at the back. But he saves a disaster for the Knights and they work out of their own end.
Cook getting assessed by the Souths doctor but is given the all clear.
Ponga converts
Despite managing the sin-bin period efficiently. Ponga split them after Murray returned to give the Knights quality field position. On the ensuing plays, Ponga again got his hands on the football and went straight through, he found Jack Cogger in support and the Knights cross for the first of the second half.
Ponga on a kick return ! Puts the Knights in a great attacking spot.
Ty Munro has been impressive in his return to the NRL. Not afraid under the high ball and certainly rolling up his sleeves.
Munro leaps high, takes possession on the 98 and gets tackle turnover'ed into touch by the Knights right edg.e
Jack Wighton getting his shoulder looked at.
HT notes: Ben Hornby not happy with his side's end of the first half. Adam O'Brien wants the middle third to be tidied up - giving too much space to guys like Cam Murray.
Chris Butler's booming voices says Souths knock on and Newcastle will work it out of their own end as Cam Murray returns.
Great take from Munro. Really efficient sin-bin kill by Souths.
Good kick from Hawkins, Koloamatangi chasing through and Crossland has to bat it dead.
Newcastle trying to hang on - Souths forcing them to scramble well.
Newcastle have to force the kick in their own in-goal. The visitors go short, Gagai cannot recover the football.
Shaq Mitchell will be denied metres from the line.
Newcastle come up with a mistake coming out of their own end.
We're underway for the second half and a reminder that Cameron Murray still has time to serve in the sin-bin.
HT: Newcastle 20 lead Souths 12
Frizell won't return which allows Seb Su'A to be activated as 18th man which will also be his NRL debut.
Ponga nails it
This will send Warriors fans ropable after last night. Murray eventually goes to the sin-bin.
Newcastle going for goal. Kai Pearce-Paul won't return and will be headed for hospital. Meanwhile Tyson Frizell is coming for a HIA. Cam Murray is placed on report.
Frizell was a bit ginger getting to ground and I think Cam Murray might have a case to answer from Chris Butler.
Souths have done it twice in a row... KICKED IT OFF OUT ON THE FULL
Ponga converts - Knights lead by 6.
Gagai steps his way past the defenders and the Knights retake the lead.
PENALTY KNIGHTS: Kick off goes out on the full
Ponga converts
The rest of the first half left a lot to be desired as both sides traded errors in good attacking chances. Ponga lacked the ball in this period, when he got it, he had a half break and put the Knights on the front foot. On the ensuing play, Dylan Lucas got some early ball, beat some poor first contact and scored for the Knights.
Wighton was hit as he kicked and it was an awful kick - goes out on the full and might've landed in Row Z.
What a great grab from Jye Gray - did well to slide and catch that one. Brilliant work from the youngster.
South Sydney cough up the ball. Keaon Koloamatangi puts that one down. These sides really struggling to find any rhythm in this game so far. Really stop/start sort of affair through the opening 29 minutes.
Marzhew coughs it up out of yardage. Really disappointing from the Knights so far.
WIGHTON CRUNCHES FRIZELL!
PENALTY KNIGHTS: Flop is the ruling that time as Tallis Duncan has ditched the headgear - we now look for the flying mullet.
Sean Keppie has had a rough start - conceded a few penalties and has made a mistake in golden attacking field position.
on Murray excuse me - Jack Hetherington is guilty
PENALTY SOUTHS: High tackle by Cam Murray.
Hawkins kicks on tackle three, Greg Marzhew takes zero chances and bats it dead.
PENALTY SOUTHS: High tackle - Leo Thompson
Myers converts
Jack Wighton with intent. Wighton takes on three defenders and muscles his way to the try line to put Souths in front.
Myers converts
Souths hit back almost immediately after Newcastle conceded a cheap yardage penalty. Jye Gray was able to get Taane Milne on the outside of Dane Gagai who Milne trucked along with Sharpe to get to the line.
PENALTY SOUTHS: Slow peel - looks like Jayden Brailey was guilty of the slow peel.
Newcastle trying to force Souths to play it from deep in their own end
Ponga bends it like Beckham
Newcastle looked the better in attacking field position. An offload from Daniel Saifiti put Jayden Brailey within metres of the line. From the ensuing set, Kalyn Ponga and Dane Gagai combined to send Fletcher Sharpe away down the right sideline to touch down for the visitors' opening try.
SIX AGAIN KNIGHTS: Inside 10m
Jayden Brailey going close! Denied by the middle.
Damien Cook caused all sorts of problems, zigging and zagging his way through the Knights attack and the ball comes spewing out of the arm.
Ponga's kick caused some issues but well fielded by Jack Wighton and he was able to get his side out of trouble. Followed up by a good carry from Munro.
PENALTY KNIGHTS: Slow peel and then Sean Keppie wants to give Chris Butler a bit of a spray and gets marched 10m.
Souths going from sideline to sideline and Ty Munro gets bundled over the sideline. Great work from Dane Gagai and Sharpe to throw him over the sideline.
SIX MORE SOUTHS: Ruck infringement.
Ball was touched in flight. Referee Butler was going to let it go. But the touch judge on this near side gives the correct call to the man in the middle. Souths will get it back.
Leo Thompson sets Adam Elliott up with a hospital ball. The camera pans to Adam O'Brien who looks far from impressed looking on.
PENALTY KNIGHTS: Slow peel
Wighton kicks bizarrely on tackle 2. Gagai collects it and runs out of the in-goal.
A mistake in the contest from young flyer Fletcher Sharpe. Strong work from Ty Munro causing some headaches for Sharpe. Souths will have the first opportunity !
Souths are wearing their members jersey tonight. Both sides have started strong through the opening exchanges.
We are underway for the last match of the day in Australia. Souths v Newcastle from HomeBush.
Referee tonight is Chris Butler in NRL match number 150 in the middle. Damian Brady and Jon Stone are the touch judges. Peter Gough is in the bunker.
Souths play Newcastle in our Saturday nightcap for Round 25. The two teams have plenty to play for today - Souths have pride to play for while Newcastle have a lot on the line for their slim, slim finals chances. For the home side, Ty Munro who comes in for Richie Kennar who is in reserve grade today. Otherwise, the side remains as per our Front Row program. For Newcastle, the Knights are 1-17.
Referees & scorers:
Referee: Chris Butler
Touch Judges: Damian Brady, Jon Stone
Video Referee: Peter Gough
SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS (16)
Tries: Taane Milne, Jack Wighton, Tallis Duncan
Conversions: Fletcher Myers (2/3)
NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS (36)
Tries: Fletcher Sharpe, Dylan Lucas, Dane Gagai (2), Jack Cogger (2)
Conversions: Kalyn Ponga (5/6)
Penalty Goals: Kalyn Ponga (1/1)