Match Preview: NRL Round 6 vs Knights

Author: Wests Tigers
Timestamp: Thu 10 Apr 2025, 01:45 PM

Wests Tigers make the trip to Newcastle in Round 6 and will be looking to score their third away victory of the season.

Round 6 - Round 6 - Sunday 13 Apr

6:05 am

Knights

Wests Tigers

Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle

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After a 10-8 Knights win at Campbelltown in Round 1, McDonald Jones Stadium is the venue this weekend as both teams look to score their third wins of the 2025 campaign.

In team news, Wests Tigers will be boosted by the return of three big names.

Jarome Luai (suspension), Jeral Skelton (hamstring) and Samuela Fainu (leg) all return to the lineup this week.

Jeral Skelton is one of three returnees to the Wests Tigers lineup in Round 6.

Luai and Skelton take the places of Latu Fainu and Luke Laulilii, respectively, while Jack Bird reverts to the interchange bench to accommodate the inclusion of Samuela Fainu.

Tony Sukkar has been named as the 18th player reserve.

The Knights have been forced to make a number of team changes due to several forced absences, as Adam Elliott (calf), Jack Cogger (finger), Jack Hetherington (shoulder), Jacob Saifiti (calf) and James Schiller (HIA) have all been ruled out.

Kai Pearce-Paul, Kyle McCarthy, Brodie Jones, Matthew Arthur, and Tyrone Thompson take their places in the lineup.

Newcastle have won the last seven matches between these two sides.

Wests Tigers’ last victory over the Knights came by way of a 36-18 win at Magic Round 2021.

Match Highlights: Wests Tigers vs Knights

Round 6 - Round 6 - Sunday 13 Apr

6:05 am

Knights

Wests Tigers

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Knights is number 1 Kalyn Ponga

Fullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Jahream Bula
Winger for Knights is number 2 Kyle McCarthy

Winger for Wests Tigers is number 2 Sunia Turuva
Centre for Knights is number 3 Dane Gagai

Centre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Adam Doueihi
Centre for Knights is number 4 Bradman Best

Centre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Starford To'a
Winger for Knights is number 5 Greg Marzhew

Winger for Wests Tigers is number 5 Jeral Skelton
Five-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Fletcher Sharpe

Five-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Lachlan Galvin
Halfback for Knights is number 7 Phoenix Crossland

Halfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Jarome Luai

Forwards

Prop for Knights is number 8 Brodie Jones

Prop for Wests Tigers is number 8 Terrell May
Hooker for Knights is number 9 Jayden Brailey

Hooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Apisai Koroisau
Prop for Knights is number 10 Leo Thompson

Prop for Wests Tigers is number 10 Fonua Pole
2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Thomas Cant

2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Samuela Fainu
2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Kai Pearce-Paul

2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Alex Seyfarth
Lock for Knights is number 13 Tyson Frizell

Lock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Alex Twal

Interchange

Interchange for Knights is number 14 Matthew Arthur

Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Tallyn Da Silva
Interchange for Knights is number 15 Tyrone Thompson

Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Royce Hunt
Interchange for Knights is number 16 Jermaine McEwen

Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Jack Bird
Interchange for Knights is number 17 Mat Croker

Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Sione Fainu

Reserves

Replacement for Knights is number 18 Paul Bryan

Replacement for Wests Tigers is number 19 Heath Mason
Reserve for Knights is number 19 Jackson Hastings

Reserve for Wests Tigers is number 21 Brent Naden

Jackson Hastings
Kai Pearce-Paul
Kyle McCarthy
Matthew Arthur
Paul Bryan
Tyrone Thompson

Brent Naden
Jarome Luai
Jeral Skelton
Samuela Fainu

Adam Elliott
Jack Cogger
Jack Hetherington
Jacob Saifiti
James Schiller

Latu Fainu
Luke Laulilii
Tony Sukkar

Match Officials

Referee: Gerard Sutton
Touch Judge: Matt Noyen
Touch Judge: Chris Sutton
Senior Review Official: Grant Atkins

Last updated: 4/12/2025 6:04:10 AM

Fast Facts:

The Knights have won their past seven games against the Tigers.
Wests Tigers have won only one of their past five games at McDonald Jones Stadium.
Knights five-eighth Fletcher Sharpe has scored five tries in two games against the Tigers.
Wests Tigers fullback Jahream Bula has scored three tries in three games against the Knights.
The Knights are ranked the second-best defensive side in 2025 but are 17th in attack.

Stats supplied by NRL historian/statistician David Middleton.