Check out the match preview and prediction for the round 1 clash between the Knights and Raiders.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
Newcastle Knights Vs Canberra Raiders
Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
Date: Thursday March 7, 8pm
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Knights: 1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Enari Tuala 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. Dylan Lucas 13. Adam Elliott 14. Jack Cogger 15. Daniel Saifiti 16. Jack Hetherington 17. Kai Pearce-Paul 18. Jed Cartwright 19. Thomas Jenkins 20. Will Pryce 21. Brodie Jones 22. Thomas Cant
Raiders: 1. Jordan Rapana 2. Nick Cotric 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Albert Hopoate 5. Xavier Savage 6. Ethan Strange 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papali’i 9. Danny Levi 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Zac Hosking 13. Morgan Smithies 14. Tom Starling 15. Emre Guler 16. Ata Mariota 17. Pasami Saulo 18. Kaeo Weekes 19. Simi Sasagi 20. Zac Woolford 21. James Schiller 22. Trey Mooney
Referee: Todd Smith
Embed from Getty ImagesMATCHDAY PREVIEW
These sides met only a few months ago in a thrilling elimination final, the Knights edging out the Raiders thanks to an 89th-minute penalty goal. Both teams will have to manage some key losses from last season, including the likes of Jack Wighton for the Raiders and Dominic Young and Lachlan Fitzgibbon for the Knights.
Jayden Brailey is out with a hamstring injury for Newcastle, so Phoenix Crossland will start at hooker in a role he thrived in through the second half of last year. New recruit Jack Cogger will start on the bench, with Adam O’Brien opting to stick with the incumbent halves pairing of Tyson Gamble and Jackson Hastings.
Youngster Ethan Strange will get first crack at the vacant No. 6 jersey for the Raiders, while Jordan Rapana will start at fullback. Morgan Smithies will make his NRL debut at lock after coming over from Wigan and former Panther Zac Hosking will start in the second row with Elliott Whitehead sidelined with a calf injury. Zac Woolford has been left out of the 17 as Ricky Stuart elects to go with Danny Levi and Tom Starling as his dummy half combination.
There is plenty of intrigue in both sides, but pressure will be on Canberra’s new recruits to deliver right away to claim an unlikely victory in Newcastle. The Knights have a strong record at home, winning their past six games at McDonald Jones Stadium.
It is Round 1 though and anything can happen. The Raiders’ front row pairing of Joseph Tapine and Josh Papali’i will be key. If that duo can dominate early and win the battle through the middle, the Raiders will be in with a chance.
Head-to-head stats can be found at Round 1 Number Crunch.
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Knights by 10 points.
Follow Nothing But Rugby League on Facebook
