The Cowboys came from behind to beat the Knights 28-16 in a hard-fought elimination final victory on Saturday night.
The Knights’ heavy reliance on superstar Kalyn Ponga came to a head in Townsville, the fullback was at his brilliant best but couldn’t do it all himself.
North Queensland veteran Kyle Feldt wound back the clock while co-captains Reuben Cotter and Tom Dearden scored the winning tries.
Watch the best coverage of the 2024 NRL finals, with expert analysis and every game until the Grand Final LIVE with no ad-breaks during play, on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today >
IMAGINE WHAT YOU COULD BE BUYING INSTEAD. For Free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.
Here are the player ratings for both teams in the elimination final between the Cowboys and Knights.
COWBOYS
1. Scott Drinkwater – 7
Stayed busy early but coughed up a routine bomb that cost his side a try in the first half. Dusted himself off to set up the second try of the second half to put his side ahead.
2. Kyle Feldt – 8.5
The veteran winger wound back the clock when he intercepted Kai Pearce-Paul and raced 85 metres to score the opener. It was his 23rd of the year which broke Matt Bowen’s club record for the most tries in a season. Finished as strong as he started when he batted back the ball that led to Cotter’s match-winning try.
3. Valentine Holmes 7.5
Pulled off a beautiful 10-metre bat-on pass to put Murray Taulagi over for the first try of the second half. Kicked the ball dead that led to a Knights seven-tackle set and try but was solid overall.
4. Viliami Vailea – 6.5
Got done all ends up by a filthy-good Kalyn Ponga step early in the game and made two errors. But responded well to finish with 147 run metres from 19 carries.
5. Murray Taulagi – 7.5
Scored to get his side back in the contest early in the second half and ran for 176 metres from 18 carries.
6. Tom Dearden – 8.5
Once again showed he’s a big-game player. Made two try-saving tackles and threw passes without fear all night, including his last one which was a dummy that saw him score the sealer.
7. Jake Clifford – 5
Set up a try but gave away a stripping penalty and missed eight tackles. Not his best night.
8. Jordan McLean – 8
Scored a rare try after running a nice line and crashing onto a short ball to score almost untouched. Ran for 109 metres from 11 carries that produced five tackle busts.
9. Reece Robson – 7.5
Missed a tackle on Ponga which allowed the Knights to score their first try and made two errors while missing seven tackles. But he opened up the Knights in the second half with some strong runs out of dummyhalf and made the break that set up the match-winning try.
Thompson Sin Bin IGNITES finals scuffle | 00:50
MORE NRL NEWS
HAT-TRICK HARRY: Storm star stuns with career first as Sharks finals curse continues
‘DON’T THINK I SAID THAT’: Fitzy bristles at ‘respect’ question after demolition
RATINGS: Nicho’s nightmare; Dally M favourite makes statement in thrashing
‘WASN’T CALM BEFORE I GOT THERE’: Why Bellamy ‘checked’ himself from spray
‘WHAT’S THE POINT?’: Sharks’ stadium plea to NRL amid code clash
10. Jason Taumalolo – 8
Early in the game he ran off the back fence like it was 2015 and then in the second half laid out Leo Thompson with one of the hits of the season. One of his best games of the season.
11. Heilum Luki – 6
Ran a really poor line that led to a turnover in the first half and then did it again in the second with his side attacking the line. The big occasion got to the young fella a few times but still ran for 126 metres and will learn plenty from this game ahead of next week.
12. Jeremiah Nanai – 5.5
Looked dangerous with the ball in hand early but also dropped one cold while trying to burst through a gap. Came out of the defensive line in the 65th minute when he didn’t need to and it allowed the Knights to draw level.
13. Reuben Cotter – 8.5
Scored the most important try of his NRL career when he accidentally kneed the ball ahead in the 73rd minute then chased down the ball to beat Ponga to the ball and score. Made 37 tackles and missed just three.
14. Sam McIntyre – 7.5
Big performance off the bench to finish with 132 metres from 14 carries that produced four tackles busts. Also made 28 tackles while missing just one.
15. Harrison Edwards – 7
Set up a try in his 21 minutes and made 13 tackles without missing one.
16. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki – 6
Only played 14 minutes which produced three runs and three tackles.
17. Griffin Neame – 7
Did his job. Made 95 metres from nine carries and made 17 tackles in a solid hit-out.
“They need another threat besides Ponga” | 04:01
KNIGHTS
1. Kalyn Ponga – 9
It’s simply ridiculous how much better he is than everybody on his team. Set the tone early by bamboozling Viliami Vailea with a wild right-foot step and then set up the Knights’ first try when he threw a dummy to slice through before hitting Jayden Brailey with a bullet. Hit the post with a conversion that would have put his side ahead in the 65th minute and then could have just about won the game by hitting Dane Gagai on the chest in the 70th minute but his pass was low. But the reality is Newcastle would have been nowhere near playing finals, let alone winning this game, without Ponga.
2. Fletcher Sharpe – 7
The young gun was Johnny-on-the-spot to scoop up a loose ball and score the Knights’ second try. Finished with 102 metres from 12 carries that produced eight tackle busts.
3. Dane Gagai – 6
Had some nice moments but couldn’t take a low pass from Ponga to score a certain go-ahead try in the 70th minute. Forced an offload early to cough up the ball with his side on the attack and missed five tackles.
12. Dylan Lucas – 7.5
Finished a well-worked team try on the back of a seven-tackle set to pull his side level in the 65th minute. Ran for 142 metres from 16 carries and made 21 tackles. Impressive from a backrower being thrown in the centres late.
5. Greg Marzhew – 8
Huge shift from the winger. Ran for 194 metres from 17 carries that produced eight tackles busts.
6. Jack Cogger – 5.5
Not his best night. Put a few players through holes but couldn’t stamp his mark on the contest and was kept quiet for most of the night.
7. Phoenix Crossland – 6
Gave away a costly knock on after failing to defuse a kick in the 55th minute but it didn’t lead to points after he made a try-saving tackle in the ensuing set. Toiled hard all night but missed five tackles.
O’Brien not ‘content’ with early exits | 05:38
PERFECT: Panthers cook Chooks to book fifth straight prelim berth after historic half
ROOSTERS RATINGS: Playmaker’s horror night as key men go missing in ugly rout
PANTHERS RATINGS: ‘Top shelf’ superstar’s timely return as Penrith pack stuns
‘GET OVER IT’: Cleary lifts lid on ‘frustrating’ season after masterclass return
8. Daniel Saifiti – 7
Ran hard and finished with 118 metres from 13 runs. Made 24 tackles and missed four.
9. Jayden Brailey – 7.5
Another tireless performance. Backed up Ponga well to score his side’s first try in the 22nd minute and made 41 tackles without a miss.
10. Leo Thompson – 5
Got absolutely creamed by Jason Taumalolo in the second half but to his credit bounced back to his feet instead of trying to milk a penalty. Took out Kyle Feldt with a reckless high shot in the dying minutes which started a melee and he got binned for his efforts.
11. Tyson Frizell – 6.5
Ran for 103 metres from 10 carries and made 26 tackles while missing just one.
22. Kai Pearce-Paul – 5.5
Another rocks and diamonds night from the Englishman. Threw the intercept that allowed the Cowboys to score the opening try against the run of play. Did some nice things and set up a try but missed six tackles.
13. Adam Elliott – 7
Did his job without standing out. Made 36 tackles and missed three.
14. Tyson Gamble – 6
Only played 15 minutes and couldn’t leave his mark on the contest.
15. Mathew Croker 6.5
Made a decent 18 tackles while missing just one in a short shift.
16. Jack Hetherington – 6.5
Coughed up a ball on halfway just after halftime that led to a Cowboys try but made 17 tackles without a miss.
17. Brodie Jones – 7.5
Played 53 minutes off the bench and finished with 129 metres from 13 carries and made 31 tackles. One of the Knights’ best.
Discussion about this post