McDonald Jones Stadium has been renamed Beanie for Brain Cancer Stadium for the Sunday afternoon clash between the Knights and the Sharks.
TEAM FORM GUIDE
The Newcastle Knights have won just five from eleven matches so far this season. Their last victory was against the Manly Sea Eagles at Lottoland in round eight, winning 18 points to 12. Their last match was against the Gold Coast Titans at Cbus Super Stadium on Saturday night, where they lost 33 points to 26. The match was back and forth until the Titans took control from the 64th minute where they scored two tries and a field goal, leaving the Knights winless for the third week in a row.
Cronulla Sharks
The Cronulla Sharks are on a victory streak, winning their last five consecutive matches. Their win last weekend was at Southern Cross Group Stadium against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, winning 22 points to 16. The Sharks welcomed back a few of their big players such as Paul Gallen and Josh Dugan. Paul Gallen was named in the starting side, while Dugan was moved up from the extended bench the day of the match.
SQUAD NEWS
Newcastle Knights
Brock Lamb is being replaced in the starting side by Jack Cogger at halfback. Daniel Saifiti has been moved into the starting side to replace Josh King who is now on the interchange bench. Jamie Buhrer and Josh King have also been named on the bench.
Cronulla Sharks
The Sharks have moved Kurt Capewell and Joseph Paulo from the starting side to welcome back Luke Lewis and Wade Graham into the starting side. Jayson Bukuya and Jack Williams have been named on the interchange bench.
PREVIEW
The Newcastle Knights will host the Cronulla Sharks in Newcastle on Sunday afternoon in the Mark Hughes Foundation Beanies for Brain Cancer round. The Knights’ home ground, normally called McDonald Jones Stadium has been renamed ‘Beanie for Brain Cancer Stadium’ in honour of the round.
The Sharks have been on a roll recently, winning five from five of their last matches. In the last two weeks, they have regained their full strength side, with Paul Gallen returning last week, and Wade Graham set for his return against the Knights.
The Newcastle Knights have won five of their matches so far this season and will be looking for their next victory at home when they host the Sharks. They came close last weekend, keeping themselves in the match against the Gold Coast, until the Titans came back towards the end, defeating the Knights by seven points.
The last time these two sides met was in round 26 of last season, where the Sharks defeated the Knights 26 points to 18 at McDonald Jones Group Stadium.
KEY STAT
The Sharks have won the last six matches that these two sides have played, however, the Knights are dominant in the overall history of these clubs, winning 27 from 50.
SQUADS
Newcastle Knights
1. Kalyn Ponga, 2. Ken Sio, 3. Sione Mata’utia, 4. Nathan Ross, 5. Shaun Kenny-Dowall, 6. Connor Watson, 7. Jack Cogger, 8. Herman Ese’ese, 9. Slade Griffin, 10. Daniel Saifiti, 11. Lachlan Fitzgibbon, 12. Mitch Barnett, 13. Aidan Guerra. Interchange: 14. Danny Levi, 15. Chris Heighington, 16. Jamie Buhrer 17. Josh King.
Cronulla Sharks
1. Josh Dugan, 2. Edrick Lee, 3. Jesse Ramien, 4. Ricky Leutele, 5. Valentine Holmes, 6. Matt Moylan, 7. Chad Townsend, 8. Andrew Fifita, 9. Jayden Brailey, 10. Matt Prior, 11. Luke Lewis, 12. Wade Graham, 13. Paul Gallen. Interchange: 14. Joseph Paulo, 15. James Segeyaro, 16. Ava Seumanufagai, 17. Jayson Bukuya
THE IMPORTANT DETAILS
Date: Sunday, May 27
Venue: Beanie for Brain Cancer Stadium
Time: 2:00 PM
WHO WILL WIN?
The Knights have a lot to play for, and considering how close they came last week, they may win against the Sharks. However, the Sharks are on a winning streak and are now a full-strength side with their big players coming back from injury. It should be a close and entertaining match as part of the Beanies for Brain Cancer round. Sharks by 2.
