Newcastle Knights defeat Canterbury Bulldogs 22-6 in NRL elimination final at ANZ Stadium IT was the end of Ben Barba at Belmore and the end of Canterbury for 2013. This time last year, Barba won the Dally M Medal winner for being rugby league's best player. How times have changed. For the worse. Barba was driven off ANZ Stadium on a medicab on Sunday after re-injuring an ankle as Canterbury crashed out of the NRL premiership race with a 22-6 loss to Newcastle. Bulldog's Ben Barba on the bench during 2nd half of the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs vs Newcastle Knights game at ANZ Stadium . Picture Gregg Porteous Picture: Porteous Gregg Five minutes into the second half, Brisbane-bound Barba slumped to the ground in agony - his career at Belmore now officially over. Match centre: Game details and stats Gallery: Finals week one in pics He returned to the Bulldogs bench in a moonboot to watch the remaining ten minutes. It was an unfortunate way to end what had been an electric era at Belmore. "It's very hard especially for myself and Ben," said Bulldogs five-eighth Josh Reynolds. We have been together for a while. We have a culture here at the Bulldogs and Benny was a big part of it. He is going to be missed and I wish him and his family all the best. He is a mate and you love hanging around with his mates. Reynolds was choking backs tears when talking about Barba. The Bulldogs never seemed to get going against Newcastle - mirroring their entire season. Canterbury's Ben Barba with his daughters Bodie and Bronte after finishing his career at the Bulldogs with an injury. Canterbury just couldn't equal or better the magic deeds of last year when the club reached a grand final. They were a disappointment. The Bulldogs led 6-0 after a ninth minute try yesterday but couldn't score again over the remaining 71 minutes. The Knights celebrate a try to Darius Boyd. Newcastle grew in confidence throughout the match and ended up give Canterbury a semi-final whacking. "I thought we were in control and building pressure early," said Bulldogs skipper Michael Ennis. I'm shattered to be honest. Newcastle fullback Darius Boyd scores. Canterbury coach Des Hasler was left to explain why his side crashed out of the title race in week one of the semi-finals. ""It (his side's errors and completion rates) just wasn't good enough at this level and you don't give yourselves a chance," he said. We have been pretty inconsistent and we have an off-season to review it. Asked did the review start last night, Hasler daid: "It certainly will. We will go back over reasons why. A series of off-field distractions - primarily regarding Barba's alleged assault allegations - damaged the club's season. Newcastle's win was more meritorious given forward Chris Houston was sin-binned early in the second half. Sam Perrett of the Bulldogs takes a high ball to score. Two penalty goals in the second half pushed Newcastle's lead to ten points before forward Jeremy Smith bustled his way through the Canterbury ruck to score a bullocking try and seal Wayne Bennett's 28th semi-final win. "They were great all day today across the park," said Bennett. We could have scored another four or five tries. The effort and intensity was there today and was there for the 80 minutes. Canterbury's Ben Barba leaves the field with an injury finishing his career at the Bulldogs. Newcastle is a tough side. They have a lovely blend of size, power, skills and speed. They are side others would want to avoid. "We just kept growing in confidence today," said Knights skipper Jarrod Mullen. They are a quality side so to keep them to six points - with a player in the sin-bin - was a tremendous effort. We didn't want to be here to make up the numbers. Newcastle now take on Melbourne and will fancy their chances. "It's not about making promises - it's about commitment," said Newcastle hooker Danny Buderus. That is what our team is all about. We don't fear anyone. You have to be brave or you will get run off the park. NEWCASTLE 22 (D Boyd J Smith A Uate tries T Roberts 5 goals) bt BULLDOGS 6 (S Perrett try T Hodkinson goal) at ANZ Stadium. Referee: Gavin Badger, Ashley Klein. Crowd: 23,086. Live NRL finals coverage. 80th minute - Knights notch commanding win THE Knights will have the Storm looking over their shoulder after disposing of the Bulldogs. 73rd minute - Barba cleared of broken leg BEN Barba's injury has been confirmed as ankle syndesmosis. He is sitting on the bench in a moon boot. 65th minute - Smith charges over as Knights surge ahead THE Knights have taken a commanding 22-6 lead courtesy of a barnstorming try to finals specialist Jeremy Smith. With nothing on, Smith charged through some poor defence from 10m out. 59th minute - Roberts slots third penalty THE Knights have taken a 16-6 lead following Tyrone Roberts' third penalty goal of the game. Michael Ennis was penalised for interfering with the dummy half with his foot. 47th minute - Knights kick clear by eight NEWCASTLE lead the Bulldogs 14-6 following a Tyrone Roberts penalty goal. Aidan Tolman was pinged for interfering with the play the ball. Ben Barba before his injury. 45th minute - Bulldog blow as Barba injured FULLBACK superstar Ben Barba may have played his last game for Canterbury after being taken from the field with a suspected broken leg. 43rd minute - Houston binned for professional foul CHRIS Houston has been sent for 10 minutes on the sidleine for a professional foul. The Newcastle forward interfered with Canterbury dummy half Michael Ennis immediately following a 70m intercept by Josh Reynolds. 40th minute - Hilder on report for stiff arm THE Knights lead the Bulldogs 12-6 at half time. Matt Hilder was placed on report just before the siren for a stiff arm on Mitch Brown. Willie Mason of the Knights is tackled by Josh Jackson of the Bulldogs. 30th minute - Penalty extends Newcastle lead THE Knights have taken a 12-6 lead courtesy of a Tyrone Roberts penalty goal. Sam Kasiano was penalised for holding down, with Roberts slotting the goal from 15m out, right in front. 27th minute - Knights take lead through Uate NEWCASTLE have kicked clear 10-6 after Akuila Uate steamed onto a Jarrod Mullen bomb to score next to the posts. Inexplicably, the Bulldogs did not contest the bomb, with Uate charging onto the ball and crossing untouched. 23rd minute - Knights claw back through Boyd NEWCASTLE hit back to 6-4 against the Bulldogs courtesy of a try to Queensland star Darius Boyd. The star fullback benefited from great inside ball by classy young back rower Robbie Rochow. Tyrone Roberts missed the conversion from 10m inside the sideline. 19th minute - Knights repel four sets in row NEWCASTLE showed their finals mettle by holding out the Bulldogs for four sets in a row on their own line. The score remains 6-0. Sam Perrett of the Bulldogs beats James McManus of the Knights to a high ball to score. 9th minute - Perrett opens scoring for Bulldogs CANTERBURY lead the Knights 6-0 after winger Sam Perrett climbed high off a Josh Reynolds cross-field bomb to cross out wide. Perrett rose over James McManus, who may still have been suffering from a concussion sustained in the first set of the game. Trent Hodkinson nailed the conversion. 1st minute - McManus groggy after high shot NEWCASTLE winger James McManus is a passenger after copping a high shot from Michael Ennis, which went unpenalised. James McManus struggling with concussion early. 3.20pm - Pritchard, Eastwood back for Dogs FRANK Pritchard (suspension) and Greg Eastwood (hand) return for the Bulldogs, despite not being named. The New Zealand pair start in the back row, with Tony Williams and Dale Finucane relegated to the bench and Tim Browne dropping out of the side. Ben Barba starts at fullback, with Josh Morris reverting to centre and Krisnan Inu out. BULLDOGS: Ben Barba, Mitch Brown, Tim Lafai, Josh Morris, Sam Perrett, Josh Reynolds, Trent Hodkinson, Aiden Tolman, Michael Ennis (capt), James Graham, Josh Jackson, Frank Pritchard, Greg Eastwood. Interchange: Tony Williams, Dale Finucane, Dean Halatau, Sam Kasiano 3.10pm - Knights unchanged for sudden death clash THE Knights are 1-17 for this afternoon's finals clash against the Bulldogs, with Craig Gower (neck) failing in his bid to make an early return. Veteran Craig Gower is battling a neck injury. 12.26pm - Punters back Dogs despite stats CANTERBURY ($1.62) go into the match as heavy favourites over the Knights ($2.35), despite an avalanche of stats against them. The Bulldogs are coming off a loss against the 12th-placed Brisbane last week and have lost both their clashes against the Knights this year. Conversely, Newcastle have won their last two on the trot, albeit against poor opposition in the Broncos and Eels. The Knights are expected to be 1-17, with Craig Gower (neck) failing in his bid to make an early return. Meanwhile, big changes are expected for the Bulldogs. Ben Barba will start at fullback, with Josh Morris moving to centre and Tim Lafai dropping out of the side. Frank Pritchard and Greg Eastwood (hand) weren't named, but are possible late inclusions.