NEWCASTLE have all but sealed a berth in the finals for the first time in seven years after a 38-10 win against Cronulla at McDonald Jones Stadium on Friday night.
The result lifted Newcastle to sixth on the ladder, with 21 points.
If third-placed Parramatta can beat the ninth-placed Warriors (14 points) on Sunday, the Knights are guaranteed to finish in the final eight for the first time since 2013.
Newcastle's performance was the perfect responsive to last week's insipid 36-6 loss to the Warriors in Tamworth.
Fullback Kalyn Ponga and winger Starford To's each scored two tries in the first half to give the Knights a 22-4 lead at the interval.
Ponga crossed for his first-ever career hat-trick late in the second half.
Cronulla forwards Wade Graham and Toby Rudolf were placed on report in the 21st minute for a dangerous lifting tackle on Knights five-eighth Mitchell Pearce.
The Sharks did their best to put Ponga off by targeting him in the second half.
At one stage he needed treatment for a badly bleeding nose, then in attempting to take a quick tap in the 53rd minute he was hit late by a Chad Townsend shoulder charge.
That sparked a melee before referee Ben Cummins sent Townsend off.
Despite being a man short, Cronulla hit back with a try by substitute Connor Tracey.
Back-rower Lachlan Fitzgibbon and bench prop Josh King then both scored to shore up Newcastle's advantage.
