Newcastle Knights prepare for Dolphins showdown in last place in final

Only Ponga, who met Bennett in 2022 and subsequently turned down a multi-million dollar offer to become the Dolphins’ first star player, will have as much influence next Sunday.

After a nerve-wracking opening match against the Titans, it was Ponga who led the way for the Knights, scoring the first two tries, passing David Fifita for one and then following up with his own sharp play in support of the other.

The reigning Dally M Medallists maintained their lead after the break when winger Fletcher Sharpe scored a hat-trick as Newcastle climbed further up the table from 14th five weeks ago.

Further up the table, the Roosters, Panthers and Sharks will battle it out for positions 2-4 next weekend, while Melbourne will host the fourth-place team at AAMI Park in the first week of the finals.

If it’s Cronulla who pull off that unenviable road trip, then they’ll have a week one finals match on Saturday as they play Manly next Sunday. If it’s the Roosters, almost certainly without Sam Walker and Brandon Smith after their shock loss to Canberra, then they’ll have another 1v4 match on Friday night.

The winner of Friday’s Bulldogs-Cowboys game will clinch fifth place and play a home final in the first week.

Manly will most likely face the loser of that turn and will again have to rely on a draw to beat the above pair.

If the Sea Eagles can beat Cronulla next Sunday at Brookvale – where they are 9-2 this season – they will also host a final there in week one. If they lose, they will travel to ANZ Stadium or Townsville.

Whoever wins, Canterbury or North Queensland, the Dolphins or the Knights will face the club, and Bennett is set to secure a remarkable finals berth in the new franchise’s second season, and his last with the club.

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After that, the Hall of Fame coach will of course leave for South Sydney.

He accepted an offer he perhaps couldn’t refuse, and his loyalty was questioned in some quarters as the Dolphins fell down the ladder, only to rise again in the finals.

To paraphrase Corleone: Wayne is talking business now. Let’s do business.