Knights Complete the Fairytale: Newcastle Storm into the NRL Grand Final

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From the wooden spoon to the grand final. The Newcastle Knights have completed one of the most extraordinary turnarounds in recent NRL history, stunning the Penrith Panthers to book their place in the 2026 NRL Grand Final.

Just 12 months after finishing last in the competition, Newcastle are now 80 minutes away from a premiership.

They did it by taking down the club that has dominated the NRL for much of the past decade with a man down for most of the game.

The Knights entered Accor Stadium as underdogs against a Penrith side chasing its sixth grand final appearance in seven seasons, but Justin Holbrook's men refused to be intimidated.

Instead, they played with the belief that has carried them through the finals. Newcastle had already knocked out South Sydney and stunned the Warriors in Auckland to reach the preliminary final. Penrith was supposed to be the ultimate test.

It became the next chapter in the fairytale. The Panthers had the experience, the home-ground advantage and the finals pedigree.

The Knights had momentum. Most importantly, they had belief.

Newcastle's defence repeatedly stood up when Penrith threatened to take control, while their attack continued to find ways through one of the competition's most experienced defensive systems.

Kalyn Ponga once again showed why he remains the centrepiece of this Newcastle side, while the Knights' forward pack refused to allow Penrith to dictate the contest.

The battle between Greg Marzhew and Brian To'o was another fascinating subplot, with two of the game's most powerful wingers constantly looking for opportunities to turn half-chances into something more.

But this wasn't about one player. It was about a Newcastle team that has spent an entire season proving that last year's wooden spoon was not a reflection of where this club was heading.

The scale of Newcastle's transformation is almost impossible to ignore. In 2025, the Knights finished with the wooden spoon. In 2026, they finished seventh before eliminating South Sydney and the Warriors to reach the preliminary final. Now, they are grand finalists.

Newcastle's last appearance in an NRL grand final came in 2001, when Andrew Johns led the club to its second premiership. Twenty-five years later, another generation of Knights has the chance to create its own history.

For veteran Dane Gagai, the moment is particularly significant. Gagai first joined Newcastle as a 21-year-old in 2012 and was part of the club's last preliminary-final side the following year. He subsequently spent time with South Sydney before returning to the Knights.

Now, as he prepares to leave for Brisbane at the end of the season, he has one final chance to bring a premiership back to Newcastle.

What a way it would be to finish the journey.

For Penrith, the defeat represents another painful preliminary-final exit. The Panthers have spent years setting the standard for consistency in the modern NRL, but their bid to return to the grand final has fallen short.

Nathan Cleary's fitness was always going to be a major storyline after the halfback suffered a foot injury in the opening week of the finals, and is an ever bigger story after he suffered a compound fracture resulting in the send off of Phoenix Crossland.

Cleary was named on the interchange bench rather than starting, with Jack Cogger coming into the starting side.

The Knights now have one game standing between them and immortality, going from the worst side to the winning side.

The Roosters are already waiting after defeating the Dolphins 36-20 in Friday night's preliminary final. But Newcastle won't care who stands in their way.

They have already knocked over South Sydney. They travelled to Auckland and eliminated the Warriors. Now they have conquered Penrith with 12 men.

One more victory would complete the greatest chapter in Newcastle's modern history. A club that finished last one year ago is now going to the grand final.

The Knights' fairytale isn't finished yet.