Newcastle Knights produced a stunning comeback to edge out the South Sydney Rabbitohs 28-26 in a dramatic NRL encounter at McDonald Jones Stadium on Friday night. The match was decided in the final moments when Trey Mooney crossed for a try that sealed the victory for the home side.
First Half Action
The Rabbitohs started strongly, with fullback Latrell Mitchell scoring an early try after a clever kick through from Cody Walker. South Sydney extended their lead through Campbell Graham, who finished off a slick backline movement. The Knights responded through Dane Gagai, who touched down in the corner after a brilliant pass from Kalyn Ponga. Bradman Best added another try for Newcastle, but the Rabbitohs took a 20-12 lead into halftime following a try from Alex Johnston.
Second Half Comeback
The Knights came out firing in the second half, with Ponga orchestrating a try for Dominic Young to reduce the deficit. Newcastle then took the lead for the first time when Tyson Frizell barged over from close range. However, the Rabbitohs hit back through a try from Damien Cook, setting up a tense finish.
With the score at 26-22 in favor of South Sydney, the Knights mounted one final attack. Ponga produced a brilliant run, drawing defenders and offloading to Mooney, who crashed over with just seconds remaining. The conversion from Adam Clune sealed the 28-26 victory, sparking wild celebrations among the home fans.
Key Performances
Kalyn Ponga was instrumental for the Knights, providing two try assists and constantly threatening the Rabbitohs' defense. Trey Mooney's match-winning try capped off a strong performance from the forward. For the Rabbitohs, Latrell Mitchell scored a try and set up another, while Cody Walker's kicking game kept Newcastle under pressure.
Post-Match Reactions
Knights coach Adam O'Brien praised his team's resilience: "To come back from eight points down and win it at the death shows the character of this group. Trey's try was special." Rabbitohs coach Jason Demetriou lamented missed opportunities: "We had chances to put the game away but let them back in. We need to be better in those moments."
Match Statistics
- Possession: Newcastle 48%, South Sydney 52%
- Completions: Newcastle 29/34, South Sydney 31/36
- Line Breaks: Newcastle 5, South Sydney 4
- Tackles: Newcastle 352, South Sydney 328
- Offloads: Newcastle 12, South Sydney 9
The win moves Newcastle into the top eight, while South Sydney remain in contention but will rue this missed opportunity. Next week, the Knights face the Brisbane Broncos, while the Rabbitohs take on the Penrith Panthers.
