'Can't believe it': Kalyn Ponga brilliance locks in unlikely finals berth for Newcastle Knights
Newcastle have booked a spot in the NRL finals off the back of some brilliance from star fullback Kalyn Ponga in a hard-fought win over the Dolphins.
The 26-year-old was at his scintillating best in the 14-6 triumph at McDonald Jones Stadium, helping his side surge into eighth spot in the final game of the regular season.
Ponga laid on two tries, including a trademark moment where he beat half a dozen defenders before putting Brodie Jones over in a freakish individual play.
FOLLOW LIVE: NRL round 27 Sunday coverage
READ MORE: 'Humiliating': Wallabies try to make sense of record mauling
READ MORE: Fascinating dilemma facing Bennett over 'problem child'
"You can't believe it, Ponga was going backwards," Mat Thompson said on Nine.
Kalyn Ponga in action for the Knights against the Dolphins in round 27. NRL Photos
Phil Gould likened the piece of play to one of the Knights' all-time greats.
"That looked like Matt Gidley … I just got deja vu," he said.
"If you take the ball away from them and come filtering back in-field with footwork or short passes, you will find them out."
Watch the 2024 NRL premiership live and free on Nine and 9Now.
Any chance of a late comeback for the Dolphins was hindered when Jesse Bromwich was sin binned for a high shot on Ponga that sparked an all-in melee.
A try for Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow with 10 minutes remaining set up an exciting final period, but it wasn't enough to spur the visitors towards victory.
The win sees Newcastle jump ahead of the Raiders on points differential, while the Dragons and Dolphins finished two points behind after losing in round 27.
The clash didn't come without controversy, with a costly Bunker call in the first half leaving Gould and Andrew Johns scratching their heads.
Dolphins fullback Trai Fuller had seemingly opened the scoring, but the on-field decision was overturned after two Knights players were ruled to have been obstructed.
The Dolphins were denied the first points of the afternoon. Nine
"That is so wrong," Johns said.
"You know who I'm going for, (Newcastle) means everything to me, but that is wrong."
In the end, the call didn't have a major impact on the game as Ponga and company proved too strong for the Dolphins, ending Wayne Bennett's tenure as coach.
Newcastle will head to Townsville to take on the Cowboys in the first week of the finals.
