ENGLAND winger Dom Young enjoyed a career-best performance as his Newcastle Knights ended South Sydney’s season.
A menace throughout, the two-metre giant stepped an ailing Brandon Smith to score the match-sealing try in the 66th minute with the video referee clearing him of having put a foot into touch.
It was only the third win for the Knights in an away finals series match in 25 years.
Newcastle led 10-4 at the end of a dramatic and eventful first half.
The Knights scored after just four minutes when Young tapped a crossfield kick down to Jermaine McKewen who had no-one in front of him.
Then Souths’ Latrell Michell became involved in a dust-up with the Knights’ Dane Gagai, who scored the second try of the match in the 25th minute when he chased a kick and touched down just short of the dead ball line.
Rabbitoh Cody Walker was first placed on report for a high shot and then appeared to suffer ankle ligament damage changing direction in defence and was forced off.
Souths looked for much of the half as if they had stayed in the dressing room but despite the loss of Walker, they eventually found their nerve.
Just short of halftime Campbell Graham ignored a phalanx of defenders bearing down on him and crossed in the south-western corner for a try which Mitchell converted.
Young was beaten by Jye Gray for a late Rabbits consolation try.
NEWCASTLE 20 (McEwen 2 Gagai Young tries Smith 2 goals) beat SOUTH SYDNEY 10 (Graham Gray try Mitchell goal) at Allianz Stadium.
Teams:
SOUTHS: Matt Dufty; Alex Johnston, Latrell Mitchell, Jack Wighton, Campbell Graham; Cody Walker, Jayden Sullivan; Tevita Tatola, Brandon Smith, Keon Kaloamatangi, David Fifita, Tallis Duncan, Cameron Murray (c). Res: Jye Gray, Lachlan Hubner, Sean Keppie, Jamie Humphreys, Adam Elliott, Latrell Siegwalt.
NEWCASTLE: Kalyn Ponga (c); Dom Young, Dane Gagai, Bradman Best, Greg Marzhew; Fletcher Sharpe, Sandon Smith; Tyson Frizell, Phoenix Crossland, Cody Hopwood, Jermaine McEwen, Francis Manuleleua, Mat Croker. Res: Harrison Graham, Lachlan Crouch, Pasami Saulo, Thomas Cant, Fletcher Hunt, Toby Winter.
Referee: Ashley Klein.
