Phoenix rises as Holbrook looks to keep the dream alive

Justin Holbrook doesn’t want the dream year to end.

In his first season at the helm, Holbrook has transformed the Knights from wooden spooners into a finals contender, and with an elimination final against Souths looming on Friday night, he is adamant his side can keep their remarkable revival alive.

Newcastle finished seventh after winning 14 of their 24 games, earning their first finals appearance since 2023 after a season that has tested the depth and resilience of their squad.

Marquee signing Dylan Brown suffered an ACL injury in Round 21 while Dylan Lucas (ankle), Jacob Saifiti (suspended) and Trey Mooney (shoulder) are also gone for the season.

Skipper Kalyn Ponga has played just 15 matches and centre Bradman Best 14 but still the Knights hung tough to finish seventh.

“It’s a reward for being consistent during the year,” Holbrook said.

“We don’t want to be just happy to be there. We want to be winning games.

“I loved this year and I want it to continue.”

That belief has been there since Holbrook took charge of pre-season training last November.

The Knights entered 2026 determined to put last year’s wooden spoon behind them, but the prospect of September football was never seen as an unrealistic target with the addition of star playmaker Brown.

“Since November we were confident once we started pre-season training,” Holbrook said.

“When you think about finals and the teams that are in it versus the teams that aren’t in it, everyone should pat themselves on the back. It is hard to get into.”

Getting there, however, is only half the job.

The Knights now face a Rabbitohs side hitting its best form at the business end of the season, with the added motivation of doing it for their mate Jai Arrow.

Holbrook knows exactly where the danger lies.

“We have a big job to do,” he said.

“They are threats. They are playing this good right at the end of the season, so we need to do a job on their key guys.”

But there is no shortage of confidence in the Newcastle camp.

“I’m confident that if we play well, we will win,” Holbrook said.

And he has received the perfect boost at the perfect time.

Phoenix Crossland returns at hooker after undergoing keyhole knee surgery, with the 26-year-old coming back into the side after being crowned Newcastle’s player of the year with the Danny Buderus Medal.

“It’s great that he got to freshen up. He’s had a long, hard year for us, playing through a lot of pain and being uncomfortable in a lot of games,” Holbrook said.

“Phoenix has been terrific.

“We need him back and we’ve got him. We are a much better side with him in it.”