12-man Newcastle stun Penrith 22–14 after Cleary’s broken leg
Newcastle Knights reached the NRL grand final with a 22–14 preliminary-final win over Penrith Panthers at Accor Stadium (Stadium Australia), in a Sydney Morning Herald match report dated Sunday, 27 September 2026. Newcastle finished with 12 men after hooker Phoenix Crossland was sent off.
Panthers halfback Nathan Cleary suffered a suspected compound fracture of his left leg in the 35th minute after Crossland’s hip-drop tackle. Referee Gerard Sutton told captains the action carried “extreme risk of serious injury” (SMH). Crowd: 57,102.
How the boilover happened
Cleary started on the bench with stress-fracture concerns in his right foot before the left-leg injury ended his night — and, SMH reported, his home World Cup hopes. Penrith’s injury list also included Blaize Talagi (Achilles) and Dylan Edwards (PCL), with Isaah Yeo managing a pec issue.
Sandon Smith scored after a tap-and-go when Penrith’s Billy Phillips was penalised for a high tackle on Fletcher Sharpe, then sealed it with a long-range intercept. Penrith protested the quick tap; Sutton said foul play had been cleared and the Panthers had time to reload. Captain Kalyn Ponga produced late defensive stands, including a shot on Moses Leota.
What comes next
| Club | Outcome | Grand final |
|---|---|---|
| Newcastle | Won 22–14 (12 men) | vs Roosters, 4 Oct |
| Penrith | Eliminated; Cleary injured | — |
| Sydney Roosters | Await GF | Face Newcastle |
Bottom line
Newcastle are grand-finalists the hard way: a send-off, a 12-man defensive stand, and a 22–14 win that also darkened Penrith’s season — and Cleary’s — in one sickening tackle.