Match Centre

FULL TIME - The Knights confirm their spot in the top four with a hard-fought 20-12 win over Souths. Full wrap to come. Thanks for joining us tonight.

Kurt Mann kicks through, it hits the legs of Adam Doueihi. Mitchell Pearce races towards the ball but can't handle it.

Knights 20 out with a chance to make one final statement.

Thomas Burgess kicks out at Connor Watson who doesn't kick but instead draws a penalty from Burgess for the illegal contact.

John Sutton pulled up for a forward pass to Liam Knight and that should be it now. 3 minutes 22 seconds left.

Poor guy. Sam goes from hero to zero as he takes the kick-off dead. Quick dropout and Newcastle watch as it goes over the sideline and Souths get it back. Nathan Brown will be fuming with this end from the Knights who just keep giving the Rabbits chances to win.

Adam Doueihi chips ahead but Kurt Mann covers it well and we will have a dropout.

Cameron Murray slices through off a lovely short ball and is held down too long by Mitchell Barnett. Penalty and another set for Souths.

Penalty Souths now. They are 30 out.

Another error from Newcastle and coach Nathan Brown will be concerned by the end to this one even if they go on to win.

James Roberts! He beats Hymel Hunt and sprints down the touchline, kicks ahead but it goes out on the full. Knights ball on the 40.

Newcastle drag Corey Allen into touch and celebrate but call a penalty. Will need to see a replay again but in wet conditions, it looked like momentum dragged him over.

James Gavet with an error shortly after the restart and the Knights just can't put them away. Meanwhile, Damien Cook is off with Billy Brittain on.

Kurt Mann with a well-weighted grubber, forcing the dropout. The kicking games tonight, particularly close to the line, have been strong from both sides in tough conditions.

Mitchell Barnett with a one-on-one strip and then Shaun Kenny-Dowall surges over halfway and Newcastle are just 30 out now. Barnett with another run, they're 10 shy of the line now. A converted try here will seal it.

Mitchell Pearce clears it on the last from inside his own half for Campbell Graham who is under it. Souths now seem to be finding metres out of their half more comfortably but need to turn it into points. They're 30 out on the last. Very nice kick on the last from Corey Allen and Shaun Kenny-Dowall is forced to bat it dead.

George Burgess being taken off for a H.I.A after a head clash and that'll be it for him you'd think.

Corey Allen quick hands to Campbell Graham who slides towards the corner but Jesse Ramien scrambles well to take him into touch. Great play.

Thomas Burgess held down too long. Souths with a full set 10 out.

Damien Cook with a small dabbing kick towards the in-goal area and he forces the dropout.

Damien Cook draws a penalty and Souths have it on halfway.

Herman Ese'ese with an error bringing it up and Souths survive. They get the scrum fee on their own 10.

Mason Lino with a lovely grubber that forces a dropout. He's been strong tonight. Along with Pearce, the pair have been the difference, much more classy and composed than their opposites.

Mitchell Pearce clears it on the last. The ball bounces around awkwardly for Campbell Graham but Souths have it back. They shift it left to John Sutton and he takes it up towards the 40. They go down the short side now and Cameron Murray overruns it, dropping the ball. Knights scrum fee on halfway.

Souths penalised right in front of the posts and Mason Lino will kick Newcastle ahead by 14.

Daniel Saifiti now forces an error from Thomas Burgess. Knights with it back close to the line. One more try may do it.

Mitchell Pearce to Lachlan Fitzgibbon right at the line. Tough ball under pressure in wet conditions and he fumbles it.

They are struggling for metres early in this set. Liam Knight with a great run but he then tries to be the saviour and offload to create space but instead drops it. Knights 30 out.

Knights just 10 out on the last. Mitchell Pearce with the grubber. It bounces right near the line and Corey Allen bravely dives on it and regains possession for Souths.

They are back on as Newcastle nab a relieving penalty.

Damien Cook trapped on the last play and Newcastle survive. All four men expected to return from the bin at any moment.

Dane Gagai smacks Herman Ese'ese off the restart and forces an error. Big play!

Connor Watson sprays through and is held just five short of the line before drawing the penalty. He takes the quick tap. Pressure right back on Souths.

ALMOST! James Roberts finds space and bursts straight through the tackle of Mitchell Pearce and grubbers ahead for Mawene Hiroti who scores if he holds onto it but it spills out.

Back at ANZ, keeping in mind it is 11 on 11 for another nine minutes or so.

HALF TIME - A tense ending as the Knights go into the break leading 12-6.

Penalty goes to Souths and they will shoot for two.

Things have erupted and punches may have been thrown!

Daniel Saifiti with an error bringing it up. Souths 30 out with another chance to go over late.

In fact, no offload there. It was a pure drop from Burgess.

Penalty for offside against Mitchell Barnett. Full set Souths who are 10 out. Sam Burgess crashes up towards the line, offloads for Corey Allen who goes over. Ref rules it went forward.

Mitchell Pearce with a clearing kick on the last for Mawene Hiroti who takes it under little pressure. Damien Cook quick, short pass to Sam Burgess who surges over halfway. They go left now to Dane Gagai who is wrapped up 40 out. Liam Knight then with the hit-up. 30 out on the last, John Sutton grubbers and Kurt Mann is trapped in-goal. Big chance to strike right before the break.

Crossfield kick on the last, great pressure sees it skew sideways towards Campbell Graham who drops it. Newcastle ball on their own 10.

Adam Doueihi with the bomb on the last to Shaun Kenny-Dowall. It's a good one, floating in the air before falling right near the line but the chase isn't as strong with no-one contesting SKD. Knights working it out of their own end now but Hymel Hunt comes up with an error. Rabbitohs 40 out.

Nice let-off for Souths. They get a late-tackle penalty and start the new set on their own 40 after struggling for metres.

Mitchell Pearce with a nice grubber that finds touch 15 out from the Souths line. Newcastle looking far more organised in attack. Everyone knows their role. The Rabbitohs, however, are struggling without starting halves Walker and Reynolds.

Mitchell Pearce continues to impress. His grubber sneaks through a compressed South Sydney defensive line and he forces the dropout.

Penalty straight away to Newcastle. They find touch 45 out from the Souths line.

Damien Cook rushes a kick on the last and it goes dead.

Corey Allen - what a take! The Mitchell Pearce bomb dips late but somehow Allan scoops it up before it hits the ground and Souths have it.

Second effort on Lachlan Fitzgibbon. Penalty Knights 10 out. They will shoot for two.

Connor Watson with a massive play, a one-on-one strip and he breaks away over halfway. Suddenly the Knights are on the attack 30 out.

James Gavet penalised for an unnecessary slap on the head of Dane Gagai. Their new set starts over halfway.

Knights 40 out on the last. Mitchell Pearce to the air and Campbell Graham, the towering winger, easily handles it.

The ball is spread left to Connor Tracey who takes on the line and then looks to offload but drops it. Relief for the Knights.

Kurt Mann with a great take under pressure. He later takes the ball up though and drops the ball in a strong tackle from Sam Burgess. Souths ball 40 out from the Newcastle line.

Newcastle undo their hard work in that set by conceding an early penalty, gifting Souths easy passage out of their own end.

Damien Cook with a nice kick from dummy-half. Edrick Lee eventually gets to it and takes the ball up to the 20 as Newcastle work it out of their own half. Great run from Jesse Ramien - picks up just under 20 metres. Just shy of halfway. James Gavet over it, then they go left to Kurt Mann who is tackled 25 out. Mitchell Pearce to the air but Corey Allen has it.

Mitchell Barnett penalised for staying in the ruck too long. Thomas Burgess with the quick tap and then George brings it up towards the 30.

John Sutton with a strong run over the 40. Damien Cook then runs and spreads it left to Campbell Graham who offloads inside for Sutton. He grubbers ahead and Mitchell Pearce takes it before being manhandled in-goal.

Newcastle over again through Mitchell Barnett - a clear knock on though as Shaun Kenny-Dowall fielded the Mitchell Pearce bomb but still danger signs early for the home side. Turnover, Souths fee on their own 10.

Mitchell Pearce with the early grubber for the corner and Campbell Graham grounds it in-goal. More pressure coming for Souths.

Great first set from Newcastle as Mitchell Pearce completes it with a bomb 40 out from the Rabbitohs line. And now they force an error from Souths - Campbell Graham the man with the mistake. Knights 10 out with a big chance to strike.

Kick-off at ANZ Stadium. Newcastle with first use of the ball.

First game for James Roberts in South Sydney colours this season.

Rain falling at ANZ Stadium. Kick-off expected in just under 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, Kalyn Ponga (rested) is out for the Knights. Kurt Mann reverts to fullback with Mason Lino rewarded with a recall at five-eighth. James Gavet starts for David Klemmer (wrist) while Pasami Saulo comes onto the bench.

Plenty of changes across the board. For Souths, Cody Walker (rested) and Adam Reynolds (back) are replaced by Connor Tracey and Adam Doueihi while Billy Brittain is a late inclusion on the bench.

Good evening and welcome to tonight's blockbuster clash between the Rabbitohs and Knights.