Knights vow to return stronger after gutsy final loss

Annabelle Banfield | October 5, 2026

Kalyn Ponga says the evidence is there for Newcastle to again be title contenders in 2027, but he’s warned it won’t come easy despite this year’s fairytale finals run.

From wooden spooners last year to a grand final loss by the closest possible margin represents a remarkable turnaround for any team, and it’s why Ponga knows this year’s form won’t automatically translate to 2027.

“Nothing is given, we still have to earn everything we get next year,” the captain warned after the Knights’ 19-18 defeat to the Sydney Roosters on Sunday.

“The youth that is coming through, it gives us evidence we can do it.”

Halfback Sandon Smith also believes the result will only add fuel to the team’s pre-season preparation.

“I always say, if we’re going to lose one or win one, we’ll nurture this feeling and it can only help us,” the former Rooster said.

“It’s so disappointing because it’s hard to get here. It’s not going to happen every year, but we’ll use this feeling of motivation next year.”

The gutting one-point loss couldn’t diminish coach Justin Holbrook’s immense pride in the team’s performance.

“I’ve never watched a harder game of footy, I am so proud but you just felt for them,” Holbrook said.

“To still be in it at the end there was an enormous effort from the boys.”

“We were just holding on the whole game. We were on the back foot the whole game.

“The spirit in the playing group meant we were still in there with a couple of minutes to go.”

But in the end, the relentless Roosters’ defence was simply too much to overcome.

“We were coming off our own line facing baseball bats there,” said Holbrook.

“If you can win anything on heart and effort, then we definitely won that because it was the hardest game of footy I have ever coached.”

A busted rib to Tyson Frizell during the match added to the adversity the team had already experienced with several key players unavailable for the grand final, with Phoenix Crossland suspended and a mid-season injury to million-dollar man Dylan Brown.

“I’ve never seen a gutsier performance,” Holbrook said.

“I’ve got no doubt that if we had the fortunes during the year and we’d been lucky enough to be at full strength, I’m confident it would be a different result.

“We’ve got to start again next year and fight our way all year to get back here and have another shot at it.”