The Steelers SG Ball campaign came to an end on Saturday afternoon falling to the Knights 44-16 at Leichhardt Oval.
Hit with numerous injuries across the backend of the year and throughout the match, Shaun Timmins’ squad showed enormous grit against a strong Knights side looking to keep their dream of qualifying for back-to-back Grand Finals alive.
The Knights were buoyed by a hat-trick to winger Sosaia Latu along with a double to lock Jack Hilliar.
Match: Knights v Steelers
Finals Week 1 -
home Team
Knights
away Team
Steelers
Venue: Leichhardt Oval, Sydney
Steelers winger Toby Rumble was on the end of a left side shift - a play which has worked wonders for the Steelers throughout the season - to draw first blood with No.1 Lucas Borg throwing the final pass.
Unfortunately, momentum shifted the way of the Knights soon after with Latu snagging an early double as the Steelers found themselves staring down a 26-4 halftime deficit.
Front rower Brock Thomas, second rower Jermaine McEwen, and captain Malachi Smith were the others to cross for the Knights.
Interchange forward Tyrone Amone and returning five-eighth Lyhkan King-Togia both crossed in the second half for the Steelers who, true to character, refused to yield.
Amone stormed his way over running a textbook line off halfback Kade Reed whilst King-Togia finished off another clinical left side shift with Hayden Buchanan sending Rumble into space who found his No.6 back on the inside.
Any hopes of a Steelers comeback were dashed with Hilliar's late double before Latu secured his triple late to claim a decisive win.
The Knights are back at Leichhardt Oval next Saturday for a Grand Final qualifier against a Dragons outfit who earnt the luxury of sitting out the opening week of the postseason.
