Knights beat Warriors in thriller at Eden Park
The Warriors have seen their season ended at Eden Park at the hands of Newcastle who took another step on their giant killing run towards the NRL premiership.
The Knights beat the Warriors 12-10 in a thrilling contest and will now face Penrith in a blockbuster preliminary final at Accor Stadium next Sunday afternoon.
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The largest crowd ever assembled for a rugby league game in New Zealand turned out for the semi-final, with 48,511 packing into Eden Park and the contest lived up to the occasion.
There was drama from the opening minute, Newcastle almost scoring after Kalyn Ponga sliced straight through the Warriors defensive line.
However it was the hosts who opened the scoring through Leka Halasima before Fletcher Sharpe levelled the scores before half-time following up on a Bradman Best break.
The scores were locked at 6-6 at the break.
Using all of his pace Dom Young put Newcastle on top soon after the start of the second half the Novocastrians defended their way to victory for the remaining 36 minutes.
Halasima who still looked slightly injured set up a tight finish when he crossed in the corner but Warriors fullback Taine Tuaupiki was unable to level the scores with his sideline conversion.
Tuaupiki had an otherwise good game gaining metres whenever he had the ball in hand including setting up centre Ali Leiataua to score from a behind-the-back pass only to have it disallowed for interference in the build-up.
There was more drama in the final 10 minutes, the hosts coming close to scoring on multiple occasions and Ponga leaving the field for an HIA after a bone-cruncher from Halasima.
Referee Ashley Klein and his officials were booed off the park, after two contentious late decisions went against the home side.
