Check out the match preview and prediction for the round 23 clash between The Dolphins and Knights
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
Dolphins Vs Newcastle Knights
Venue: Perth Stadium
Date: Saturday 5th August, 3.30pm AWST 5:30pm AEST
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Dolphins: 1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Kodi Nikorima 4. Valynce Te Whare 5. Tesi Niu 6. Anthony Milford 7. Sean O’Sullivan 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Mark Nicholls 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Connelly Lemuelu 13. Kenny Bromwich 14. Herman Ese’ese 15. Josh Kerr 16. Isaiya Katoa 17. Jarrod Wallace 18. Max Plath 19. Trai Fuller 20. Poasa Faamausili 21. Ray Stone 22. Jack Bostock
Knights: 1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Dominic Young 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Tyson Gamble 7. Jackson Hastings 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Leo Thompson 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Lachlan Fitzgibbon 13. Adam Elliott 14. Kurt Mann 15. Brodie Jones 16. Jack Hetherington 17. Mathew Croker 18. Dylan Lucas 19. Enari Tuala 20. Simi Sasagi 21. Dane Aukafolau 22. Jack Johns
Referee: Grant Atkins
Embed from Getty ImagesMATCHDAY PREVIEW
The city of Perth will be treated to the unfamiliar game of rugby league this weekend as the Dolphins take on the Newcastle Knights at Perth Stadium on Saturday night.
The Dolphins have had a tumultuous season, showing that they can give as good as they get, as demonstrated in their last match against the Bulldogs.
They fought hard but lost their battle, going down by one point in what was a captivating match. The final score was 23-22.
This weekend, the Dolphins will be given another chance at domination. They are hoping to maintain a strong fight in order to secure a victory.
The last time the Dolphins faced the Knights was in round 3. They showed no mercy, pounding the Knights at McDonald Stadium, resulting in a 36-20 victory.
The Dolphins will be without Euan Aitken due to a knee injury. As a result, Kodi Nikorima will move to the centres and Anthony Milford will move into five-eighth. Connelly Lemuelu suffered a head knock in the last match, but is named to play. Meanwhile, Isaiya Katoa will start on the bench.
The Dolphins will come out firing with Nikorima teaming up with Milford, Jamayne Isaako, and Valynce Te Whare in the backlines.
This combination of players could pose a real concern for the Knights, with Isaako having scored 16 tries, made 21 line breaks, and recorded 78 tackle breaks and an average of 160 running metres just this season alone. Nikorima, on the other hand, has provided 13 try assists and 18 line break assists, while Milford has an average of 252.8 kicking metres and Te Whare has accumulated 31 tackle breaks and an average of 119 running metres.
The Knights will also face a full-strength forward pack, with Jesse Bromwich teaming up with Jeremy Marshall-King and Felise Kaufusi.
They have certainly put up a fight this season. Their last four matches, with a bye in between, have seen such intensity in their play. They are going from strength to strength on a mission to push up to a position in the top 8.
Their last match saw them take down a struggling Raiders side on their home turf of GIO Stadium in Canberra, galloping to a 28-6 victory to make it four wins in a row.
The Knights will field a full strength team, the same one that conquered the Raiders.
The only change will be Daniel Saifiti, who is out due to a quad injury suffered in the match against the Raiders.
The Dolphin’s will need to keep a close eye on the Knights’ backline with star players Dominic Young, who needs one more try to equal the club record for the most tries in a season.
Combining with winger Greg Marzhew, who leads the NRL with 130 tackles breaks.
They are fielding a solid forward pack with Jacob Saifiti and Tyson Frizell, which could prove to be an unstoppable combination for the Dolphins.
Saifiti boasts 11 tackle breaks, 551.1 tackles, and an average of 111 running metres. Tyson Frizell averages 108 running metres.
This weekend could see these two teams in a head-to-head battle, combining strength and endurance to the very end to take home a victory.
LAST TEN MATCHES
Dolphins 1, Knights 0
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Knights by 6 points.
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