Knights advance to NRL grand final after overcoming Panthers
Zero Tackle NRL • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 27, 2026, 8:42 AM
Last updated Sep 27, 2026

The Newcastle Knights have secured a spot in the NRL grand final against the Sydney Roosters after a decisive performance against the Penrith Panthers in the preliminary finals. Despite a controversial send-off for Phoenix Crossland, the Knights dominated the second half of the match to overpower the Panthers, who have now been eliminated in consecutive years at this stage. In addition, Nathan Cleary's injury raised concerns for the Panthers heading into the offseason, while the Knights' Liam Martin delivered an impactful display, contributing significantly despite not always highlighting on the stats sheet. The Knights will look to build on this momentum as they prepare for the grand final next weekend.
- •Knights defeat the Panthers to reach the NRL grand final
- •Phoenix Crossland sent off before halftime for a controversial hip drop
- •Liam Martin excels in critical moments for the Knights
- •Nathan Cleary's injury could impact his recovery for next season
- •Grand final matchup between Knights and Sydney Roosters set for next weekend
- 8:42 AMZero Tackle NRL — Crossland’s send off, Smith’s 2027 role, Liam Martin books World Cup spot: NRL Finals talking points, Panthers vs Knights
"A controversial send off, a brave performance, and a look ahead.
Sources
External linksOriginal reporting and copyright belong to the linked sources. SportsNewsReport.com aggregates and links — it does not republish full articles.
Related Stories
Last 14 days
NRL•Sep 27, 2026, 8:17 AMNRL Finals player ratings: Every Panthers and Knights player ranked 1-34
NRL•Sep 27, 2026, 7:51 AMPenrith’s Nathan Cleary suffers compound fracture in NRL preliminary final against Newcastle
NRL•Sep 27, 2026, 6:52 AMNathan Cleary suffers horrific leg injury
NRL•Sep 27, 2026, 6:50 AMWe had an absolute ball - Peters' farewell to Hull
NRL•Sep 27, 2026, 5:33 AMTom Dearden’s agent addresses Cowboys exit rumours
NRL•Sep 27, 2026, 4:45 AMNathan Cleary named in surprise role for Panthers prelim final
