A hat-trick on debut to 18th player Keighley Simpson saw the nib Newcastle Knights defeat the St George Illawarra Dragons 30-22 at McDonald Jones Stadium in Yasmin Clydsdale's 50th NRLW appearance.
After trailing by as much as 16-4 at one point of the game, the Knights surged into finals football with 22 unanswered points to lock in a highly anticipated re-match with the Gold Coast Titans at home next weekend.
How it played out:
With the sun out and shining down on McDonald Jones Stadium, it was clear from the outset this was a special occasion.
Headlined by Captain Clydsdale's 50th game, the Knights launched into the contest and managed to take control early.
The kicking game of Jesse Southwell was always a factor, with an early 40-30 setting the tone for the Knights' general.
Southwell was again involved in some early razzle-dazzle footy, which saw Mercedez Taulelei-Siala storm over in the corner to open the scoring in her debut NRLW game.
Taulelei-Siala on debut!
Despite completing at a high of 85% and giving away just a handful of penalties, the game slowly started to shift in favour of the visiting outfit.
The Dragons clawed their way back into the game, and soon had their first of the afternoon when Bronte Wilson crossed from short range.
Just five minutes later, Maria Paseka extended her side's advantage before a breathtaking run from Teagan Berry put the away team ahead 16-4.
A Dragons error on the stroke of half time gave the Knights one last chance to hit back, with Sheridan Gallagher doing just that by crossing in the corner as the half time siren sounded in the background.
With work to do after the break and a home final on the line, the Knights sprung into gear, with a remarkable sequence of events resulting in a memorable moment for an unexpected debutant.
After being activated as 18th person as a result of HIA's to Taulelei-Siala and Simone Karpani, Keighley Simpson entered the contest as Knight #66.
With her first touch of the football, Simpson crossed in the corner to get the Knights right back into the contest.
Just mere moments later, Clydsdale sent Georgia Roche storming through to put the home side in front.
Simpson with her first touch!
Simpson, scoring her second of the afternoon, appeared to seal the result, before the Dragons ensured there'd be a grandstand finish with a try of their own.
What followed was simply remarkable.
With a Roche grubber seemingly going dead, Simpson surged onto the ball late to ground it just inside the in goal area, becoming the first player in NRL and NRLW history to score a hat-trick after starting the game as 18th player.
What's next:
After locking in third place, the Knights will now host the Gold Coast Titans at McDonald Jones Stadium next weekend.
