Sandon Smith will meet the Sydney Roosters in Sunday's Grand Final after helping Newcastle reach the decider with a two-try display in the preliminary final.
According to nine.com.au, Smith had wanted to remain at Bondi, but the Roosters strengthened their halves by signing Daly Cherry-Evans.
"Everyone pretty much knew that Daly [Cherry-Evans] was coming to the club and they already had Sam Walker and Hugo Savala," Smith's manager Gavin Orr told nine.com.au.
Orr said Smith was told he could explore other options, with the Knights and North Queensland Cowboys emerging as his choices.
"We got told we were free to look around, and it came down to the Knights or the Cowboys. He decided on the Knights because he thought there was more opportunity to make the team, but he knew it would be tough."
Smith joined Newcastle without certainty of a starting role. Dylan Brown's ACL injury opened a chance, and Smith has seized it as the Knights pursue the Grand Final.