Joey stunned by ‘courageous’ Knights who had ‘no right’ to lose by one point
Updated . First published at
Sport is synonymous with heartbreak and pride.
In the aftermath of Newcastle’s 19-18 grand final loss to the Sydney Roosters, the Knights and their army of oh-so-loyal supporters are feeling both.
Knights captain Kalyn Ponga at full-time in the NRL grand final. NRL Imagery
Kalyn Ponga grappled with the two contrasting emotions as he was interviewed by Johnathan Thurston – a man who’s tasted both defeat and victory on the grand final stage – after Sunday night’s decider at Accor Stadium.
“It hurts so much,” Ponga said on Nine, his voice trembling.
In a show of deep appreciation for their beloved team, tens of thousands of Knights fans remained in the stands long after the full-time siren.
As Thurston announced Ponga’s name at the start of the interview, which was broadcast through the loud speakers, the Knights faithful let out a thunderous roar.
“I know we did them proud, but the ultimate goal is to win a comp,” the superstar fullback said.
“Can’t thank you (Knights fans) enough for your support.
“We’ll be back.”
It was well documented that the Knights had already defied ridiculous odds in clawing their way to the grand final.
They had managed to do so despite collecting the wooden spoon last year, despite finishing seventh this season, despite the loss of their halfback and boom $13 million recruit Dylan Brown, and despite the absence of their first-choice props and hooker.
They had played more than half of their preliminary final showdown against the mighty Panthers with only 12 men on the park because Phoenix Crossland, New Zealand’s Test hooker, was sent off.
In a valiant losing cause in the club’s first NRL grand final appearance in 25 years, they defied the odds some more, scoring a try and converting to cut the deficit to one point with three minutes to go despite having been decimated on the stats sheet.
“It’s astonishing, really,” Andrew Johns, the greatest and most iconic player in Knights history, said on Nine at full-time.
“If you look at the stats, they should have got rolled by 50. But they hung in, and got rolled by one point. I still can’t believe it.”
The Roosters had 57 per cent of possession. They also won the completion battle 90 per cent to 77, racked up 2092 run metres to the Knights’ 1427, made 61 tackle breaks to 22, and forced three goal-line dropouts to zero.
Johns remarked repeatedly throughout the second half that the Knights were out on their feet.
At one point, as the visibly exhausted Newcastle forwards flagged and the likes of James Tedesco, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Sam Walker and Daly Cherry-Evans licked their lips, Johns warned Knights fans that the night could get ugly.
But as they had done time and again throughout their unexpected 2026 charge, especially in three sudden-death finals matches, the Knights refused to lie down.
“They have no right to be anywhere near this game, the Knights,” Johns said, watching on stunned after Greg Marzhew crossed on the left wing in the 77th minute to make it a one-point game.
Kalyn Ponga and his Knights were out on their feet. Getty Images
If Newcastle had ended up plucking the game from the fire, Ponga’s darting run in the lead-up to Marzhew’s try and Francis Manuleleua’s flick pass would be the stuff of legend, much like the magic conjured by Johns and Darren Albert to win the 1997 ARL decider.
“Fans, you should be so proud of this team,” the eighth Immortal added.
The Roosters had 11 current or past State of Origin players on the park on Sunday night.
Newcastle didn’t have half as many.
“I know it’s disappointing for Knights fans, but this was one of the most courageous efforts I’ve seen,” Johns stressed.
“I’m definitely proud of this club, this community,” said Ponga.
“I’m super proud. (We got) the wooden spoon last year. If you had said we were playing in the grand final, I would have said you were kidding.”
Knights fans inside Accor Stadium on Sunday night. Getty Images
Johns, who steered Newcastle to premiership glory in 1997 and 2001, had more to say in the bowels of Accor Stadium.
“They just hung in and hung in and hung in. And then towards the end, they could have stolen it late. An incredible effort,” he said.
“Couldn’t be any more proud of the players and everyone at the club, and the way the fans have rallied the last couple of weeks, in particular this week.
“Kalyn said in his speech: ‘We’ll be back’. I have no doubt they’ll be back next year.”
In the meantime, the Knights and their staunch army of supporters will sit with heartbreak and pride.
