Newcastle have stunned Penrith 22-14 with 12 men to reach the NRL grand final, in a preliminary final overshadowed by Nathan Cleary being stretchered from Accor Stadium with what Panthers medical staff identified as a compound fracture of his left ankle. Knights hooker Phoenix Crossland was sent off by referee Gerard Sutton for a hip-drop tackle on Cleary late in the first half, and Newcastle will now face the Sydney Roosters in the grand final on Sunday 4 October.
Penrith officials identified the compound fracture as Cleary lay on the ground with the scores locked at 6-6 and about five minutes remaining in the first half, according to 7NEWS. Panthers medical staff also confirmed the diagnosis with Nine’s broadcast, Zero Tackle reported.
How the Knights won
Penrith led 14-6 at half-time, but Newcastle scored the only 16 points of the second half, according to the NRL.com match centre.
Winger Dominic Young crossed in the corner soon after the break before halfback Sandon Smith took a quick tap from a penalty near halfway and raced 50 metres to score under the posts, Nine reported. Smith converted to give the Knights a 16-14 lead with about 20 minutes to play.
Penrith pressed for the lead in the closing stages, but Newcastle’s goal-line defence held. Smith then sealed the win with an intercept try on the final play of the match, ending what Nine described as a 25-year grand final drought for the Knights.
Penrith also lost centre Blaize Talagi in the second half with what Nine reported was a suspected Achilles injury.
Try scorers: Knights — Francis Manuleleua, Dominic Young, Sandon Smith (2); goals: Smith 3. Panthers — Blaize Talagi, Lindsay Smith; goals: Talagi 2 (one penalty), Dylan Edwards 1. Source: NRL.com.
How the incident unfolded
Cleary had started on the interchange after coach Ivan Cleary’s game-day call to bench the star halfback, with Jack Cogger named to start, a late change covered live by The Sporting Base. Cleary entered the match in the 25th minute, 7NEWS reported.
Near the try-line late in the first half, Cleary took a tackle and did not get up. Knights second-rower Francis Manuleleua called for help as medical staff raced on. Cleary was given the green whistle for pain relief and stretchered off with his left leg held in the air.
Cogger returned to the halves. “It’s never good to see one of your good mates go down injured like that, especially such an influential player in our team,” Cogger told Nine at the break, Nine reported.
Crossland sent off by Gerard Sutton
Once Cleary was cleared from the field, Sutton sent Crossland from the game, reducing Newcastle to 12 players. Penrith took an 8-6 lead from the resulting penalty, 7NEWS reported.
Sutton told Crossland and Knights captain Kalyn Ponga: “Initially he’s up high, he makes a definite action to twist. He comes down on the leg with weight. There’s extreme risk of serious injury. You’re off.”
7NEWS reported the send-off made Crossland the first player marched for a hip-drop tackle in the NRL. No charge or grading from the NRL match review committee had been announced at the time of writing, so Crossland’s availability for the grand final is yet to be determined.
What it means for Penrith, Cleary and the grand final
The loss ends Penrith’s season. Penrith had not issued a formal update on Cleary’s hospital treatment or any surgery at the time of writing. The injury also casts major doubt over his availability for Australia’s Rugby League World Cup campaign, which starts in under three weeks. Cleary had already been managing bone damage in his right foot before Sunday’s match.
Newcastle will meet the Roosters, who beat the Dolphins 36-20 in Friday’s preliminary final, in the grand final at Accor Stadium on Sunday 4 October at 7:30pm AEST.
