Knights bow out of 2020 finals

FINAL SCORE: Knights 20-46 Rabbitohs

The finals have arrived!

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Sunday 7:50pm: Well, that's all from us here at newcastleknights.com.au. Thank you to all of you for tuning into the blog throughout 2020, it's been very special bringing all the action to you! See you in 2021 for another big season. Signing off, Knights Media.

D-SAF | The big man reflects on Guerra's legacy.

BEST | Bradman chats to us post-match:

PRESSER | O'Brien's final breakdown of 2020:

NUMBERS | Errors costly in Rabbitohs rout

HIGHLIGHTS | Tough viewing, but here they are:

FANTASY | Randall top scores despite finals loss. Click here.

GALLERY | All the best shots from our final game of the season. Click here if you're on the app.

FULL-TIME | We bow out in Sydney.

80' | Guerra kicks the conversion from touch. A nice way to bow out. Knights 20-46 Rabbitohs

80' | Hymel Hunt goes over for a consolation try. Knights 18-46 Rabbitohs

78' | Gagai takes the kicking reins and knocks it over. Knights 14-46 Rabbitohs

76' | Souths go in again through Damien Cook. That kind of day. Knights 14-44 Rabbitohs

75' | We get the ball back from the short kick off.

75' | Reynolds knocks over the conversion. Knights 14-40 Rabbitohs

74' | Another try for Souths, this time it's Tevita Tatola scoring his second. Knights 14-38 Rabbitohs

73' | PENALTY Souths.

72' | The short kick off attempt from the Knights almost comes off, but Souths will retrieve the footy.

71' | No mistake from Reynolds. Knights 14-34 Rabbitohs 

70' | South Sydney's lethal left edge strikes again, with Alex Johnston scoring in the corner. Knights 14-32 Rabbitohs

69' | Mann has left the field for a HIA, as Souths receive a penalty for a crusher tackle.

68' | The Knights get it back on their 20, and will have to mount some kind of fightback if their to save their season today

66' | ERROR, with Edrick Lee ruled to have lost the ball in the act of playing. Very tough call, with Rabbitohs players failing to clear the ruck

65' | MANN MAKES A HUGE BREAK, and the Knights are on the attack

64' | Reynolds opts to find touch, and Souths bury some huge defence into the Knights

63' | Reynolds converts from in front. Knights 14-28 Rabbitohs

62' | It's green lights, with Tevita Tatola crashing over. Knights 14-26 Rabbitohs

62' | Souths have gone over, and it appears we have a try. Bunker will confirm shortly

61' | ERROR. Kalyn Ponga bobbles the footy at dummy half, and Souths will have a full set on the Knights line. This is our most important defensive set of our season.

61' | Lee again is forced to do well to get out of his in goal after a clever Reynolds kick

59' | Edrick Lee flies high to spectacularly take a Souths bomb. Momentum is starting to slow for the Knights, who really need a boost heading into the final quarter.

56' | A good set from the Knights. They are starting to win the arm wrestle and are easily working the ball into Souths territory.

55' | A really poor fifth tackle option from the Knights, with Aidan Guerra getting a hurried kick away.

54' | Souths respond with a similar error, as Damien Cook goes down clutching at a knee

53' | Just as the Knights were beginning to find some kind of ascendency, a poor pass from Ponga sees Best make an error. Chance here for Souths

52' | Tex Hoy has entered the fray at five-eighth. Randall coming off, Mann shifting back to hooker

52' | The arm wrestle is becoming a true battle of attrition here after the frantic first half. Souths with it now.

51' | A good set from Souths sees Ponga trapped in his corner. The Knights need a massive lift here.

50' | A Pearce bomb rolls dead and Souths will get the bonus tackle.

49' | A good set from Souths sees Newcastle needing to get to their kick here.

48' | Reynolds knocks over the two points. Knights 14-22 Rabbitohs

46' | PENALTY Souths. They'll get another set, however Enari Tuala must be applauded for a try saver on Alex Johnston, who looked certain to score! Souths will take a shot at goal.

45' | ERROR, with Kurt Mann spilling the ball. Massive chance here for Souths.

44' | A Reynolds kick finds touch, and the Knights will have a chance to work the ball out of trouble

CROWD | 17,212. Thankyou to everyone who made the journey down the M1!!

43' | ERROR, with Mitch Barnett putting one down. Chance here for Souths

42' | Ponga makes a half break off the kick return and puts Newcastle on the front foot.

41' | A solid opening set from the Knights, with Pearce kicking deep into Souths territory. Big set of defence coming up.

40' | We're back underway at ANZ Stadium! Knights 14-20 Rabbitohs

HALF-TIME | A frantic first half here at ANZ Stadium, with the Knights falling behind after racing to an early 14-0 lead. Plenty left in this one, and here's our two tries scored so far!

HALF-TIME | We go into the change of ends behind.

40' | ALLEN DROPS A PEARCE BOMB! One last chance here for Newcastle!

39' | Good set from the Bunnies after points, and the Knights will get one last use of the footy

38' | Reynolds converts from in front. Knights 14-20 Rabbitohs 

36' | Cam Murray goes over for the Rabbitohs, and they take the lead. Knights 14-18 Rabbitohs

35' | A poor set from the Knights ends with Ponga kicking the ball dead. Souths off the hook there.

34' | DROP OUT. Good work from Mann with a neat grubber to earn the repeat set.

33' | SET RESTART for the Knights.

32' | Reynolds finds the deadball line, and the Knights will get seven tackles from the restart.

32' | Edrick Lee takes a Pearce bomb on the full, but fails to find Best who would've scored for sure! Souths bringing it out of trouble now.

31' | SET RESTART for Newcastle

30' | Big defence here from Newcastle, with Souths struggling to make headway.

29' | Ponga does well to field a tricky Reynolds punt, and the Knights have it on their 30. The game is beginning to settle down after a frantic opening half hour.

29' | An early kick from Pearce goes pear-shaped, and Souths have got it back.

28' | Challenge successful. Another set coming here for the Knights.

27' | Newcastle are penalised, however we've got another challenge from Mitchell Pearce

27' | ERROR by Souths. Chance for the Knights to hit back here.

26' | Reynolds is waved away, and we're all locked up. Knights 14-14 Rabbitohs

24' | Johnston is awarded the try. Knights 14-14 Rabbitohs

24' | Souths are in again, but this time we're off to the bunker.

23' | PENALTY Rabbitohs. Another chance coming up here.

22' | And Reynolds finds touch off the drop out!! What is going on?!?!?!

22' | WALKER SPILLS THE KICK OFF!!! Line drop out here for Newcastle to hit straight back!

21' | Reynolds adds the extras. Knights 14-10 Rabbitohs

20' | Cody Walker scores for the Rabbitohs off a slick backline move. Knights 14-8 Rabbitohs

19' | Souths respond with their best of the game, and Ponga spills a Cody Walker bomb to gift Souths a big chance attacking their line.

18' | Adam Reynolds is waved away. Knights 14-4 Rabbitohs

16' | TRY SOUTHS. Corey Allen goes over for the Bunnies after they produced their best set of the game. Knights 14-4 Rabbitohs

15' | Tuala spills a Ponga pass to chalk up our first error of the contest. It's a shame, the Knights were looking likely again.

14' | Fitzgibbon charges down a Reynolds kick and regathers! Another chance here!

13' | The Knights again complete and race down for some big defence on South Sydney's struggling pack.

12' | Ponga makes no mistake and goes 3/3!! Knights 14-0 Rabbitohs

11' | PENALTY KNIGHTS, with Pearce electing to take the two points from right in front.

10' | The games been halted with a bit of bru-haha between Pearce and Walker

10' | Another positive set after points from Newcastle, and an ERROR from Souths on the first tackle!!!!! Another chance coming

9' | PONGA FROM THE OTHER SIDELINE!! Knights 12-0 Rabbitohs

7' | BRADMAN BEST YOU ARE A BEAST!!!! WE'RE IN AGAIN!!!! Knights 10-0 Rabbitohs

6' | REYNOLDS KICKS OUT ON THE FULL! Another chance for the Knights here!!

5' | Another positive set from Newcastle, trapping Souths in the corner. Mitch Barnett looks a man possessed in defence!

5' | Souths complete this time, and Hunt fields the bomb on his own 10. 

4' | Terrific set after points from Newcastle, with Alex Johnston forced back inside his own 20 off the kick.

3' | Who said this bloke couldn't kick? Ponga slots it from the sideline!! Knights 6-0 Rabbitohs

2' | IT'S GREEN LIGHTS AND FIRST BLOOD NEWCASTLE!!! YESSSSS!! Knights 4-0 Rabbitohs 

2' | BUNKER! HYMEL HUNT'S GONE OVER AND IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE A TRY!

1' | CHALLENGE SUCCESSFUL, AND THE KNIGHTS GET THE BALL! 30m out from the Souths line, with a full set in the can. Here we go!

1' | PENALTY to South Sydney on just the second tackle, given away by Lachlan Fitzgibbon. However, we already have a Captain's Challenge!

0' | We're underway at ANZ Stadium! Knights 0-0 Rabbitohs

Sunday 3:55pm: Warmed and ready. Let's go!!

Sunday 3:05pm: LATE MAIL | There's been some enormous changes to the team named on Tuesday.

Josh King and Mason Lino come out of the side, with Kurt Mann reverting to the five-eighth role.

Tex Hoy gets his chance in jersey No.20, and will start the game from the interchange.

Chris Randall and Herman Ese'ese have been promoted to the starting side, with Aidan Guerra reverting to the bench.

KNIGHTS: 1. Kalyn Ponga, 2. Edrick Lee, 3. Enari Tuala, 4. Bradman Best, 5. Hymel Hunt, 9. Kurt Mann, 7. Mitchell Pearce, 8. David Klemmer, 14. Chris Randall, 10. Daniel Saifiti, 11. Lachlan Fitzgibbon, 13. Mitch Barnett, 16. Herman Ese'ese. Interchange: 20. Tex Hoy, 15. Jacob Saifiti, 12. Aidan Guerra, 17. Sione Mata'utia.

Sunday 2:30pm: We've arrived!

Sunday 1:17pm: The seven year journey has finally led us here. Let's do this!

Sunday 9:20am: GAME-DAY | It’s been 2563 days, but we’re back in the finals.

Saturday 4:05pm: Coach Adam O'Brien has trimmed his extended bench with Gehamat Shibasaki and Brodie Jones omitted from the squad.

SQUAD: 1. Kalyn Ponga, 2. Edrick Lee, 3. Enari Tuala, 4. Bradman Best, 5. Hymel Hunt, 6. Mason Lino, 7. Mitchell Pearce, 8. David Klemmer, 9. Kurt Mann, 10. Daniel Saifiti, 11. Lachlan Fitzgibbon, 12. Aidan Guerra, 13. Mitch Barnett. Interchange: 14. Chris Randall, 15. Jacob Saifiti, 16. Herman Ese'ese, 17. Sione Mata'utia, 18. Josh King, 20. Tex Hoy.

Saturday 10:00am: Adam O'Brien has spoken ahead of tomorrow afternoon. Here's what he had to say:

"They can find points really quickly," O'Brien said of the Rabbitohs.

"If you want to rest on your laurels they'll hurt you."

Saturday 10:00am: It's been seven years. Seven LONG years...

Saturday 10:00am: The Great Man has previewed Sunday's clash.

Saturday 10:00am: We caught up with a few of the boys ahead of tomorrow afternoon!

Saturday 10:00am: The boys suited up for a Fox League finals shoot a few weeks ago, and the photos are FRAAAAAASH. View the gallery below or click here if you're on the app!

Saturday 10:00am: All the sounds and colour from our open training session earlier this week!

Saturday 10:00am: We've finally reached finals footy, and the boys are preparing accordingly. View the gallery below or click here if you're on the app!

Saturday 10:00am: With the regular season done and dusted, Andrew Johns has identified his Rookie of the Year, Best Buy, Most Improved and Player of the Season.

Saturday 10:00am: Adam O'Brien and Wayne Bennett named their 21-man squads for the do-or-die clash on Tuesday afternoon.

KNIGHTS: 1. Kalyn Ponga, 2. Edrick Lee, 3. Enari Tuala, 4. Bradman Best, 5. Hymel Hunt, 6. Mason Lino, 7. Mitchell Pearce, 8. David Klemmer, 9. Kurt Mann, 10. Daniel Saifiti, 11. Lachlan Fitzgibbon, 12. Aidan Guerra, 13. Mitch Barnett. Interchange: 14. Chris Randall, 15. Jacob Saifiti, 16. Herman Ese'ese, 17. Sione Mata'utia, 18. Josh King, 19. Gehamat Shibasaki, 20. Tex Hoy, 21. Brodie Jones. 

RABBITOHS: 1. Corey Allan, 2. Alex Johnston, 3. Campbell Graham, 4. Dane Gagai, 5. Jaxon Paulo, 6. Cody Walker, 7. Adam Reynolds (c), 8. Tevita Tatola, 9. Damien Cook, 10. Thomas Burgess, 11. Jaydn Su'A, 12. Bayley Sironen, 13. Cameron Murray. Interchange: 14. Mark Nicholls, 15. Liam Knight, 16. Jed Cartwright, 17. Keaon Koloamatangi, 18. Steven Marsters, 19. Hame Sele, 20. Troy Dargan, 21. Patrick Mago.

Saturday 10:00am: THE FINALS ARE HERE! Welcome to our official Game-Day Blog for our massive Elimination Final clash with the South Sydney Rabbitohs at ANZ Stadium. Check back here for all the latest both today and on game-day, including live scores, blow by blow updates, breaking news, squad reduction, late mail, behind the scenes clips, photos and more.