THE Newcastle Knights are one win from a home final after outclassing St George Illawarra 42-18 at McDonald Jones Stadium on Sunday.
The result lifted Newcastle to sixth on the ladder, leapfrogging South Sydney.
Both Newcastle and Souths are guaranteed positions in the top eight, but if the Knights beat Gold Coast in their last regular-season game on Friday, they will clinch home-ground advantage in week one of the play-offs, and will host the Rabbitohs.
If Newcastle are beaten by the Titans and Souths win their game against Sydney Roosters, the two teams will swap positions and Souths will host Newcastle in an elimination final.
The Knights led 30-6 at half-time against the Dragons after in-form Kalyn Ponga got the ball rolling with a try just four minutes into proceedings.
Tries followed in quick succession from Gehamat Shibasaki, Aidan Guerra, Daniel Saifiti and Enari Tuala.
When Jacob Saifiti scored 12 minutes into the second half, it was 36-6 to the home team, then Tuala made it a double after a short ball from Ponga.
Second-half tries by Corey Norman and Zac Lomax added a touch of respectability to the scoreline for the Dragons.
IN THE NEWS:
