Newcastle Knights Beat South Sydney to keep their 2026 season alive.
They knocked the Rabbitohs out of the finals with a 20–10 win at Allianz Stadium.
Newcastle came out firing and never looked intimidated.
Jermaine McEwen scored twice and Kalyn Ponga starred in the Knights’ win, Newcastle Knights Beat South Sydney.
But the biggest talking point after the match was not just the Knights’ win. It was Wayne Bennett’s furious reaction to the Bunker.
With Souths trailing 10–6, Alex Johnston appeared to lose the ball under pressure before the Rabbitohs regathered and Jayden Sullivan crossed for what referee Ashley Klein initially awarded as a try.
The Bunker overturned the decision, ruling Johnston had knocked the ball on rather than having it stripped by Knights winger Jermaine McEwen.
Bennett was livid.
“I want to know who’s refereeing the game.”
The veteran coach questioned why the on field referee’s decision could be overturned, particularly when he believed the Bunker had later backed the referee’s call when Newcastle’s Dom Young appeared to come close to the sideline before scoring.
Bennett’s frustration goes beyond Friday night’s game. He has been a long time critic of the video review system and argued that if referees make mistakes during the game, he can accept that but he expects the Bunker to be virtually perfect given its role in determining crucial decisions.
For Newcastle, though, there was no controversy about the result.
The Knights absorbed Souths’ pressure, took their opportunities and finished strongly to march into Week Two of the finals.
And while Bennett will continue the Bunker debate, Newcastle will continue dreaming of an unlikely premiership run after finishing last in 2025.
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