Billie EderUpdated September 11, 2026 — 7:48pm,first published 7:20pmHave your say: who wins tonight? By Latest Posts7.48pmJoey’s verdict on the matchBy These sides are attack-minded, which as an old playmaker makes me very, very happy. South Sydney against Newcastle on a dry track at Allianz Stadium should equate to points, points and more points.And for both teams, it’s all about one man more than any other: Kalyn Ponga.Kalyn Ponga will need his best game of the year if the Knights are going to win tonight.Getty ImagesFor South Sydney, it’s how they keep a lid on him. For Newcastle, it’s how they get him one-on-one with Rabbitohs defenders.7.47pmHow Newcastle sparked one of the game’s great revivalsBy Dan WalshExactly one year ago, the numbers were just as ugly as Newcastle’s attack. Not to mention Fletcher Sharpe’s ruptured kidneys.The Knights’ 14.1 points per game last season cost Adam O’Brien his job as they picked up the wooden spoon.Talking about a revolution: How the Knights turned around one of the worst seasons in the club’s history.Matt WillisTheir woeful offence often hurt to watch and made for the second-worst return in club history since 1991. That was a time when defensive lines only had to stand five metres back from the play-the-ball.Now? They’re a bit busted, and facing a star-studded South Sydney tonight without key men Dylan Brown, Dylan Lucas, Jacob Saifiti and Trey Mooney.7.42pmWatch: this week on the 40/20 podcastBy 7.36pmHave a crack at our Friday night footy quizBy 7.30pmKnights team list: no changes for HolbrookBy Newcastle coach Justin Holbrook has stood by the 19 he named on Tuesday. Here’s what his team looks like tonight. 1. Kalyn Ponga, 2. Dominic Young, 3. Dane Gagai, 4. Bradman Best, 5. Greg Marzhew, 6. Fletcher Sharpe, 7. Sandon Smith, 8. Tyson Frizell, 9. Phoenix Crossland, 10. Cody Hopwood, 11. Jermain McEwen, 12. Francis Manulelua, 13. Mat Croker Interchange: 14. Harrison Graham, 15. Lachlan Crouch, 16. Pasami Saulo, 17. Thomas Cant, 18. Fletcher Hunt, 19. Toby WinterNewcastle’s flying mullet: Fletcher Sharpe.Getty Images7.24pmRabbitohs team list: Wayne sticks with named 19By There are no changes to the team Wayne Bennett named on Tuesday. Here’s how they line up. 1. Matthew Dufty, 2. Alex Johnston, 3. Latrell Mitchell, 4. Jack Wighton, 6. Cody Walker, 7. Jayden Sullivan, 8. Tevita Tatola, 9. Brandon Smith, 10, Keaon Koloamatangi, 11. David Fifita, 12. Tallis Duncan, 13. Cameron Murray (c) Interchange: 14. Jye Gray, 15. Lachlan Hubner, 16. Sea Keppie, 17. Jamie Humphreys, 18. Adam Elliott, 19. Latrell SiegwaltLatrell Mitchell speaking to media at Heffron Park on Tuesday.James Brickwood7.19pmThe roads to the NRL grand finalBy 7.16pmHow three coaches living together conjured the NRL’s biggest turnaroundBy Adrian ProszenkoIt has all the ingredients for a hit reality television show.Three rugby league coaches, living together for more than two months, in a three-bedroom Airbnb on Newcastle’s Bar Beach last summer.Newcastle Knights coach Justin Holbrook lived with his assistants, Brett White and Steve Hales, during the NRL pre-season.It is here, in a share house in Merewether, that the Knights took the first steps in ridding themselves of the wooden spoon and commencing a storied run that has taken them into the finals. The first big call Newcastle coach Justin Holbrook made after succeeding Adam O’Brien was arranging accommodation and inviting assistant Brett White and Steve Hales to live with him.It resulted in a trio who had never worked together before spending every waking moment together from the start of pre-season last October until the Christmas break. In doing so, they formed a strong bond that helped them identify their coaching philosophy and the culture they wanted to instil into a side that became the NRL’s biggest improver in 2026.Read the full story here. Pinned post from 7.15pmHave your say: who wins tonight? By 7.12pmWelcomeBy Strap in folks, it’s finals time. We’ve known our top eight for a while now, so isn’t it nice for the moment to finally arrive where we say ‘better luck next year’ to some, while others march on to possible glory in 2026? First up, it’s South Sydney and Newcastle going head-to-head tonight at Allianz Stadium, with the winner to take on the loser of tomorrow night’s match between the Warriors and Dolphins. Kick-off is 7.50pm, news and team lists to come. Enjoy The Rabbitohs and Knights game-breakers.NRL Images1 of 1