The Newcastle Knights have fallen short of an Australian title on NRL grand final day.
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The Knights reserve grade squad were beaten 26-12 by the Ipswich Jets at Sydney’s ANZ Stadium on Sunday.
The NSW Cup champions lost the main game curtain raiser to the Queensland Cup premiers despite finishing the interstate encounter strongly.
Trailing by eights points during the midway stages of the second half, Newcastle were held up, had repeat sets and had two tries disallowed.
The Jets then scored a late converted try to seal the trophy.
Earlier in the annual fixture former Kurri Kurri Bulldogs player-coach George Ndaira opened the Knights account by converting his own try on the half hour mark.
He landed his second goal shortly after half-time before leaving the field with a suspected wrist injury.
Newcastle trailed 20-6 at the break.
Michael Steele of Sawyers Gully played off the Knights’ bench.
Former Maitland district schoolboys representative and Greta Branxton premiership winning coach Matt Lantry was mentor of the Knights.
Lantry has been reportedly assured of a position at the Knights next season under new head coach Nathan Brown after a successful first year in his NSW Cup role.