South Sydney had waited four years for Friday night, and the prospect of running onto Allianz Stadium as their home ground with a full-strength starting side.

And in the space of 80 minutes that long-awaited dream slowly wilted away, going the way of their season in a 20-10 elimination final loss to Newcastle.

In the years since Souths’ last finals appearance in 2022, the Rabbitohs have been struck down by almost every imaginable injury.

The toll has been so bad that talk of a curse at the club’s new Heffron Park headquarters had become part of rugby league discourse.

Finally on Friday that appeared set to become ancient history. That was until Cody Walker’s problematic calf went pop in the 31st minute.

Cody Walker’s night and season ended early after he hobbled off the field in the first half. Photo: AAP

At age 36, Walker had only missed one game this year through a suspension. But when it mattered most, his dreaded calf problems re-emerged.

That left the Bunnies with Jayden Sullivan and Jamie Humphreys in the halves, needing to chase the game from 10-0 down.

And when Alex Johnston threatened to break into space 10-6 down midway through the second half, his groin went and he too found himself sidelined.

In truth, the damage was done when South Sydney missed the jump.

The alarm bells should have sounded when Jermaine McEwen scored early for Newcastle after a Sandon Smith kick and Dom Young catch and pass.

McEwen ended up having his best game yet for the Knights, but this was a try Souths should not have let in.

Brandon Smith pulled out of the kick pressure on Smith, Latrell Mitchell found himself under a bomb he didn’t contest, Johnston sprinted up in defence and Walker didn’t pursue McEwen.

Moments later, captain Cameron Murray spilled a ball coming out of his own end.

And while it didn’t amount to Newcastle points, it was telling that this was only the second handling error Murray had made since round 10.

The Knights were too good for South Sydney and Dominic Young scored an impressive sealer. Photo: AAP

In the first 20 minutes alone, Newcastle had almost two-thirds of the ball and all the running.

South Sydney did well to hold on and only trail 10-6 at halftime.

Jack Wighton and Campbell Graham managed to deny Greg Marzhew multiple times, while Johnston and David Fifita also had try-savers in the second half.

They even appeared to draw level with 21 minutes to play, when Sullivan chased through on a loose ball after a Johnston break to go over in the corner.

But when the bunker ruled Johnston knocked the ball on in the lead up under pressure from McEwen, and it had not been stripped, the fightback died off.

Within moments all that early ball began to tell as Newcastle scored twice more late.

Souths had been the smart tip to make a run from outside the top four in this finals series, off the back of Mitchell’s return and their late form.

But ultimately Mitchell’s biggest play was an early scuffle with Dane Gagai and late try assist for Jye Gray, as the Rabbitohs’ finals ended on night one.