The Toyota Forklift Raiders will host the red-hot Newcastle Knights in game two of this Saturday’s double-header at GIO Stadium Canberra.
The Green Machine will be looking to earn a spot in the top four this weekend as they currently sit fifth on the competition ladder, tied on points with the third-place Warriors.
The Raiders are coming off a narrow 21 – 20 defeat to the Warriors last Friday, despite a gutsy comeback performance.
Ricky Stuart has made no changes to the side ahead of this weekend’s clash.
The Knights are currently in top form as they have won their last three matchups in a push to make the top eight. They currently sit tenth on the ladder, one point behind the eighth-placed Eels.
Newcastle’s win streak is highlighted by last week’s 26 – 18 upset victory over the Melbourne Storm.
Knights coach Adam O’Brien has been forced to make changes to his squad as star prop Daniel Saifiti is out with a quad injury. Daniel’s brother Jacob Saifiti will take his spot in the starting side with Brodie Jones being recalled via the interchange.
Match: Raiders v Knights
Round 22 -
home Team
Raiders
away Team
Knights
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Raiders is number 1 Sebastian KrisFullback for Knights is number 1 Kalyn Ponga
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Winger for Raiders is number 2 Albert HopoateWinger for Knights is number 2 Dominic Young
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Centre for Raiders is number 3 Jarrod CrokerCentre for Knights is number 3 Dane Gagai
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Centre for Raiders is number 4 Matthew TimokoCentre for Knights is number 4 Bradman Best
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Winger for Raiders is number 5 Jordan RapanaWinger for Knights is number 5 Greg Marzhew
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Five-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Jack WightonFive-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Tyson Gamble
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Halfback for Raiders is number 7 Jamal FogartyHalfback for Knights is number 7 Jackson Hastings
Forwards
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Prop for Raiders is number 8 Josh PapaliiProp for Knights is number 8 Jacob Saifiti
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Hooker for Raiders is number 9 Zac WoolfordHooker for Knights is number 9 Phoenix Crossland
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Prop for Raiders is number 10 Joseph TapineProp for Knights is number 10 Leo Thompson
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2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 Hudson Young2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Tyson Frizell
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2nd Row for Raiders is number 12 Elliott Whitehead2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Lachlan Fitzgibbon
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Lock for Raiders is number 13 Corey HorsburghLock for Knights is number 13 Adam Elliott
Interchange
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Interchange for Raiders is number 14 Tom StarlingInterchange for Knights is number 14 Kurt Mann
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Interchange for Raiders is number 15 Emre GulerInterchange for Knights is number 15 Brodie Jones
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Interchange for Raiders is number 16 Pasami SauloInterchange for Knights is number 16 Jack Hetherington
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Interchange for Raiders is number 17 Ata MariotaInterchange for Knights is number 17 Mat Croker
Reserves
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Replacement for Raiders is number 19 Matt FrawleyReplacement for Knights is number 18 Dylan Lucas
Match Officials
- Referee: Adam Gee
- Touch Judge: Jon Stone
- Touch Judge: Belinda Sharpe
- Senior Review Official: Grant Atkins
Last updated:
Last time they met
The last time these two sides went head-to-head was in round four of this season with the Knights coming out on top with a 24 – 14 win.
Key Match-Ups
Sebastian Kris v Kalyn Ponga
The battle of the fullback will be an eye-drawing affair as both players enter this game in career-best form.
Kris has improved significantly on both sides of the ball since earning the fullback jersey.
He is averaging a career high 162 run metres per game and boasting a 91% tackle efficiency in the last three rounds.
Ponga is one of NRL’s top fullbacks and has been the Knights go-to playmaker during their win streak.
During the win streak, Ponga accumulated a massive 38 points along with seven try assists.
Both players will be looking for opportunities to display their skills with their performance potentially being the deciding factor.
Matt Timoko v Bradman Best
Two of the competition’s in-form centers will be going after each other in a battle of speed and strength.
Timoko has been a breakout player for the Raiders this year as he has proved himself invaluable.
Timoko has already reached a career-high in line-breaks and total running metres this season, in addition to scoring three tries in the past three games.
Best has been at his best this past month, scoring five tries for the Knights as well as making his NSW Blues debut.
Best has put up career-high numbers in all attacking-stats this year, highlighted by 12 try assists.
This will be tough matchup for both players as either player will be looking for any mistake to capitalize on.
Hudson Young v Tyson Frizell
This matchup will be a clash of the titans as the two Origin teammates face-off.
Young has had a strong campaign so far this season, posting a career-high in offloads and displaying an ability to score at any time.
So far this season Young has averaged 106 running metres and 89.7% tackle efficiency, continuing the form that earned him the NRL Coaches’ award last season.
Frizell has proved himself as a hard running second rower over his lengthy career and has showed no signs of slowing down.
Frizell has tied his career best linebreaks total this season while averaging over 50 post contact metres in the past three games.
Both players will be looking to put on a top-tier performance this Saturday to earn their side the two points.
Head to Head
The two sides have faced-off 44 times since 1998 with both sides winning 21 times with two draws.
