Why Jermaine McEwen will never forget Newcastle's finals win over Souths

Jermaine McEwen was one of Newcastle's best in its finals win over South Sydney. ( Getty Images: Cameron Spencer )

Link copied Share Share article Last Friday's semifinal win over South Sydney was one of the great nights in Newcastle's recent history, and nobody enjoyed it more than Jermaine McEwen.

In his first finals match, the 21-year-old had the game of his young life, inspiring the 20-10 upset victory that has the whole Hunter dreaming big ahead of Sunday's sudden-death clash with the Warriors.

McEwen scored the first double of his NRL career and ran for 187 metres, the best mark of his 37 first-grade matches, and set the tone for the Knights' right-edge defence with a physical brutality that would make a mafia kingpin proud.

Stars were born under the finals lights as Newcastle knockout finals win over South Sydney announced the dawn of a new tomorrow.