After a Cinderella season that took them from wooden spooners to a grand final, Newcastle went within a whisker of one of the greatest upsets in rugby league history, falling 19-18 to a dominant Sydney Roosters in the NRL decider in Sydney. Outclassed all day but never outgunned, the Knights scored with minutes to play to set up a thrilling finish, only for the men from Bondi to deny them at the death.
Led by their inspirational captain, James Tedesco – a worthy Clive Churchill winner – the Roosters squeezed the life out of Newcastle’s rags to riches story, farewelling their rugby union-bound stars Angus Crichton and Mark Nawaqanitawase in style, the dynamic winger crossing for two spectacular tries as the Roosters’ kicking game nailed the Newcastle underdogs in their own half and didn’t let them out.
