Newcastle Knights reach NRL prelim after epic Warriors upset
Newcastle beat the Warriors 12-10 in the semi-final, advancing to face Penrith.
Newcastle won a thrilling 12-10 victory over the Warriors in the semi-final in Auckland. Newcastle will face Penrith in the preliminary final at Accor Stadium.
The turnaround is remarkable for the club. The Knights ended 2025 in last place after losing 66-10 to Parramatta.
Cody Hopgood was only seven years old when Newcastle last played in a preliminary final in 2013. He is now part of this team.
Experts have counted them out, but the Knights keep winning against the odds. Captain Kalyn Ponga and a mix of hungry young players and experienced recruits lead the team.
Danny Buderus, who captained the club's last preliminary final side, will be watching from the sideline. Penrith remain heavy favourites, but Newcastle's unexpected run has energised the Hunter region.
- 12-10 over Warriors
- Semi-final score
- 66-10 to Parramatta
- Round 27 loss
- Accor Stadium
- Preliminary final venue
- 7 years old
- Hopgood age in 2013
Why it mattersA team finished last place only weeks ago. Now they are one win from a grand final.
AustraliaNewcastle fans face their best chance at finals success in 13 years, while the Knights' run offers hope to other struggling NRL clubs for next season.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 9 h ago
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