The Newcastle Knights have defeated the Gold Coast Titans in a thrilling encounter to clinch the 2023 NRLW premiership.
In gruelling conditions of 36-degree heat and a gusty wind across Accor Stadium, the Knights scored two late tries to overcome a Titans side that was leading the contest going into the last 10 minutes, with Dally M star Tamika Upton the difference maker in a 24-18 win.
Upton capped her stunning season with consecutive Karyn Murphy medals after being judged the best player afield.
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In strange scenes, Jillaroos legend and Titans coach Murphy presented the medal named in her honour to the fullback.
Speaking afterwards, Upton acknowledged the unseen efforts by Newcastle's staff and her teammates.
"A lot of your work goes unnoticed but not within our walls," she said.
"You girls are incredible and I wouldn't want to do this with anyone else."
Following several close attempts from the Titans to break the deadlock, winger Jaime Chapman sliced through for the first try of the decider in the 14th minute.
Zara Canfield followed up with the conversion to give the Titans an early 6-0 advantage.
Newcastle captain Hannah Southwell was penalised and placed on report in the 19th minute after tugging on opposing skipper Georgia Hale's hair in a tackle.
With the Titans awarded a penalty shot directly in front of the sticks, Canfield made no mistake to extend Newcastle's lead.
Then came an avalanche of tries from the Knights as Jasmin Strange, Sheridan Gallagher and Shanice Parker all went over within the space of seven minutes to flip their side's fortune.
But with the Knights unable to capitalise on their conversion attempts, Newcastle took a 12-8 lead into the half-time break.
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With a feeling of déjà vu, Chapman went over for her second try before sealing a grand final hat-trick five minutes later.
The winger barged through on the left edge, spinning out of a tackle to ground the ball. Lauren Brown kicked truly as the Titans' lead surged to 18-12.
Tensions teetered on breaking point as Strange and Niall Williams-Guthrie went toe-to-toe after the Knights' centre was thumped as she collected a bomb.
The pair pushed and shoved before Williams-Guthrie took things a step further, pushing Strange in the face.
The Knights looked to be coming undone after they were denied possession for an accidental offside call that fortuitously fell to the Titans, with the incident missed by the referee, allowing the Titans to keep the ball and surge up the field in what looked to be a crucial moment of the second half.
However, there was time for one last twist, with Upton taking over to score a try, before Jesse Southwell kicked her first conversion of the match to tie the contest with less than eight minutes left to play.
Stepping up again exactly when her team needed her, a moment of individual brilliance sealed the grand final for the Knights, with Upton kicking through for herself to score the match-winner.
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