Newcastle into finals footy as Dolphins season sinks at final hurdle

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Newcastle Knights v Dolphins

A five-star performance by Kalyn Ponga has lifted the Knights into the final top 8 spot with a 14-6 win over the Dolphins.

Both teams were locked in an arm wrestle to start the game, before the Dolphins thought they struck first through Trai Fuller. But it was denied due to a controversial obstruction by Connelly Lemuelu saw Trai's try taken off the board. Not long after Newcastle scored when Kalyn Ponga pounced on a quick play the ball to setup Adam Elliott.

The rest of the first half was relatively uneventful, but the second half started perfectly for Newcastle when Ponga pulled off a moment of individual brilliance by skipping across seven Dolphins defenders before hitting Brodie Jones for the Knights' second. Around 10 minutes later Ponga added on a penalty goal to give the Knights an imposing 14-0 lead.

The Dolphins again got close to another try when Jeremy Marshall-King was taken out of a chase, but a knock on by Jack Bostock ruled out any chance of a penalty try. When Jesse Bromwich was sin binned in the 68th minute, any hope of a Dolphins miracle seemed lost, but a Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow try gave them a glimmer. However, their final phases could not deliver, and the Dolphins season fell at the final hurdle.

It's the first time Wayne Bennett has missed the finals in back-to-back seasons, and also an end to the career of the senior Bromwich brother after a 15-season career. The Knights meanwhile will head to Townsville to take on the Cowboys in the hopes of extending their campaign.