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Knights’ finals warm-up soured by Broncos

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A growing injury list has not been able to stop Brisbane souring Newcastle’s NRL finals preparation with a 35-22 victory at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday.

The seventh-placed Knights have plenty to ponder ahead of next week’s elimination semi against Parramatta after losing prop David Klemmer (rib) before an injury-hit, lowly Broncos outfit snapped their five-game winning run.

Second-last Brisbane provided a fond farewell to retiring captain Alex Glenn, defying first-half injuries to inspirational forward Payne Haas and hooker Jake Turpin to notch just their seventh victory of the year.

Haas went down with a suspected syndesmosis injury in a 24th-minute tackle and will undergo scans on Monday while Turpin suffered a broken jaw.

But, Brisbane ensured former players had plenty to cheer about on Old Boys Day with the six tries to four win that also brought the curtain down on the Broncos career of South Sydney-bound Anthony Milford and Melbourne signing Xavier Coates.

In contrast, Knights coach Adam O’Brien has some headaches after his side were outclassed in a less than ideal warm-up to their knockout finals clash with the Eels.

Newcastle will be sweating on the fitness of Klemmer who came off in the 47th minute with a suspected rib cartilage complaint after copping a hit from third man in Albert Kelly.

At least the Knights showed some late fight after trailing 34-10 in the 60th minute.

Fullback Kalyn Ponga and playmaker Mitchell Pearce were placed in cotton wool on the bench after Milford crossed in the 43rd minute to make it 24-4.

Moments later Klemmer was helped off the field, and suddenly all seemed lost for Newcastle who rested Tyson Frizell, Jacob Saifiti, Jayden Brailey and Mitchell Barnett on Saturday.

But, the Knights cut the deficit to 34-22 with tries to Jack Johns (63rd) and Chris Randall (66th) before Milford ensured a rare Broncos win with a 74th-minute field goal.

Newcastle still has plenty of homework to do before the finals, after becoming just the fourth side in the NRL era to make the play-offs ranked in the bottom two in attack.

However, O’Brien isn’t too perturbed about the situation.

“I think we fly into finals,” he said.

“Our guys who were rested will be really proud of our young blokes.

“Our best footy is still waiting to happen.

“We haven’t peaked yet and hopefully that happens next week.”

Brisbane led 18-4 at half-time, scoring three tries to one.

It took some brilliance from Ponga for Newcastle to finally get on the board, with the fullback throwing a sublime cut out pass for Ernari Tuala in the 29th minute.

However, Tuala bombed two more chances running off Ponga cut out passes before the star No.1 was rested.

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