NRL finals 2026 LIVE updates: Knights ahead at half-time after Cody Walker leaves field injured

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 Winter

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 Siegwalt

It 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.

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.

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.