NRL Semifinal: New Zealand Warriors vs Newcastle Knights

The New Zealand Warriors hosted the Newcastle Knights in a crucial NRL semifinal at Eden Park, with the winner set to face the Penrith Panthers in Sydney during next week's preliminary final weekend.

The match was a closely contested affair, with several key moments that could have swung the game in either direction. Here are some of the highlights:

Knights Come Close to Sealing the Game

In the 78th minute, Knights halfback Sandon Smith nearly sealed the game for his team. A kick from the Knights bounced several times, and winger Dom Young collected the ball. The ball was passed to Dane Gagai, who dropped it, before kicking it to the in-goal area, where Smith grounded the ball. The Knights were leading 12-10 at this point, with less than two minutes to play.

Warriors Lose Challenge

Earlier, in the 76th minute, the Warriors lost a challenge, which sparked controversy among the Eden Park crowd. The Knights were awarded a penalty for a strip against Warriors halfback Te Maire Martin, but the Warriors challenged, believing it was a loose carry by Knights winger Greg Marzhew. The Bunker sided with referee Ash Klein's decision, which was met with discontent from the crowd.

Kalyn Ponga Off the Field for HIA

In the 74th minute, Knights fullback Kalyn Ponga left the field for a Head Injury Assessment (HIA). His absence was a significant blow to his team.

Knights Win Another Challenge

The Knights won another challenge in the 73rd minute, which further frustrated the Warriors and their fans. A pass from Ponga to Bradman Best was ruled a knock-on by referee Ash Klein, but Ponga immediately challenged, believing the ball had flicked off the fingertips of a Warriors defender. The Bunker upheld the original decision, much to the dismay of the Eden Park crowd.

Leka Halasima Scores an 'Unbelievable' Try

In the 70th minute, Warriors winger Leka Halasima scored a remarkable try. He dived for the corner, contorting his body around the corner post to ground the ball. "That is unbelievable," said commentator Luke Lewis. The conversion attempt from Taine Tuaupiki was unsuccessful.

Warriors Win Crucial Penalty

In the 68th minute, the Warriors won a crucial penalty, which could have been a turning point in the game. Captain James Fisher-Harris dropped the ball in the play-the-ball, but challenged the call. The Bunker awarded a penalty to the Warriors for a crusher tackle against Dylan Lucas.

TRY: Dom Young Scores for the Knights

The Knights took the lead in the 45th minute when winger Dom Young scored in the corner. This try was set up by an error from Warriors winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, who threw a poor offload that was picked up by the Knights. Dane Gagai made a flick pass to Young, who ran 30 meters to score. Sandon Smith's conversion attempt was successful, putting the Knights ahead 12-6.