Match Preview: NRL Round 23 vs Knights
Wests Tigers travel to Newcastle on Sunday to face a Knights team that is desperate to keep its finals hopes alive.
Match: Knights v Wests Tigers
Round 23 -
home Team
Knights
11th Position
away Team
Wests Tigers
17th Position
Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
The Tigers also have plenty of motivation, needing to pick up a few wins in the final five rounds to avoid a third straight kitchen utensil.
The Knights are four points outside the top eight and aiming to avoid a fourth straight loss after being defeated 22-14 at Penrith last weekend.
The Tigers are on a 10-day back up after a 48-30 loss to the Cowboys at Leichhardt, a match which saw the home side reduced to 12 men for the final half hour.
The results over the past 25 seasons are pretty evenly split between these two sides, and in terms of ‘away wins’, it’s nine apiece.
Of the 20 matches played at McDonald Jones Stadium, the Knights have won 11, Wests Tigers nine.
In team news Wests Tigers will be without Justin Olam for the remainder of the season (knee surgery), with Adam Doueihi returning to the side in the centres. Aidan Sezer also returns to the team, after serving a two-week suspension, replacing Latu Fainu (HIA) at halfback, while Fonua Pole has shrugged off a rib injury to take his place on the bench.
The Knights are still without centre Bradman Best (hamstring) while prop Jacob Saifiti remains sidelined after injuring his calf in the warm-up on Sunday. Brodie Jones has been added to the bench.
The Round 23 NRL match is one of three fixtures at Newcastle on Sunday. Wests Magpies play the Knights in the NSW Cup, and following the NRL is the NRLW match between the Knights and Dragons.
Match: Knights v Wests Tigers
Round 23 -
home Team
Knights
away Team
Wests Tigers
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Knights is number 1 Kalyn PongaFullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Jahream Bula
-
Winger for Knights is number 2 Fletcher SharpeWinger for Wests Tigers is number 2 Solomon Alaimalo
-
Centre for Knights is number 3 Dane GagaiCentre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Solomona Faataape
-
Centre for Knights is number 22 Krystian MapapalangiCentre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Adam Doueihi
-
Winger for Knights is number 5 Greg MarzhewWinger for Wests Tigers is number 5 Charlie Staines
-
Five-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Tyson GambleFive-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Lachlan Galvin
-
Halfback for Knights is number 7 Phoenix CrosslandHalfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Aidan Sezer
Forwards
-
Prop for Knights is number 8 Daniel SaifitiProp for Wests Tigers is number 8 Stefano Utoikamanu
-
Hooker for Knights is number 9 Jayden BraileyHooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Apisai Koroisau
-
Prop for Knights is number 10 Leo ThompsonProp for Wests Tigers is number 10 David Klemmer
-
2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Tyson Frizell2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Reuben Porter
-
2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Kai Pearce-Paul2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Samuela Fainu
-
Lock for Knights is number 13 Adam ElliottLock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Isaiah Papali'i
Interchange
-
Interchange for Knights is number 14 Jack CoggerInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Tallyn Da Silva
-
Interchange for Knights is number 15 Mat CrokerInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Alex Seyfarth
-
Interchange for Knights is number 16 Jack HetheringtonInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Fonua Pole
-
Interchange for Knights is number 17 Brodie JonesInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Alex Twal
Reserves
-
Replacement for Knights is number 18 Thomas CantReplacement for Wests Tigers is number 18 Heath Mason
Match Officials
- Referee: Belinda Sharpe
- Touch Judge: Jon Stone
- Senior Review Official: Gerard Sutton
Last updated:
Fast Facts:
- The Knights have won their past five games against the Tigers.
- Wests Tigers have conceded 40 points or more in five of their past six games.
- The Knights have won only two of their past six games at McDonald Jones Stadium.
- Tigers halfback Aidan Sezer requires three points for 500 NRL points.
- Knights fullback Kalyn Ponga has scored six tries in his past seven games against the Tigers.
