Cleary breaks his leg, then 12-man Newcastle break Penrith’s heart
- Posted on September 27, 2026
- By The Sydney Morning Herald
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- 1 min read
In brief
In a stunning playoff upset, Newcastle secured their first grand final appearance in 25 years, defeating heavily favored Penrith in a dramatic September clash. The match took a pivotal turn when Penrith's key player suffered a leg injury, shifting momentum dramatically. Playing with numerical disadvantage for a crucial period, Newcastle's resilience and tactical execution proved decisive, delivering one of rugby league's most memorable comebacks and ending decades of grand final drought for the club.
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Cleary breaks his leg, then 12-man Newcastle break Penrith’s heart
Newcastle are through to their first grand final in 25 years after causing one of the great September boilovers,
