Check out the match preview and prediction for the round 23 clash between the Knights and the Tigers.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
Newcastle Knights Vs Wests Tigers
Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
Date: Sunday, August 11, 4:05 pm
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Knights: 1. Kalyn Ponga, 2. Fletcher Sharpe, 3. Dane Gagai, 4. Dylan Lucas, 5. Greg Marzhew, 6. Tyson Gamble, 7. Phoenix Crossland, 8. Daniel Saifiti, 9. Jayden Brailey, 10. Leo Thompson, 11. Tyson Frizell, 12. Kai Pearce-Paul, 13. Adam Elliott, 14. Jack Cogger, 15. Mathew Croker, 16. Jack Hetherington, 17. Brodie Jones, 18. Thomas Cant, 19. Sebastian Su’a, 20. Jackson Hastings, 21. Will Pryce, 22. Krystian Mapapalangi
Tigers: 1. Jahream Bula, 2. Solomon Alaimalo, 3. Solomona Faataape, 4. Adam Doueihi, 5. Charlie Staines, 6. Lachlan Galvin, 7. Aidan Sezer, 8. Stefano Utoikamanu, 9. Apisai Koroisau, 10. David Klemmer, 11. Reuben Porter, 12. Samuela Fainu, 13. Isaiah Papali’i, 14. Tallyn Da Silva, 15. Alex Seyfarth, 16. Fonua Pole, 17. Alex Twal, 18. Heath Mason, 19. Tim Johannssen, 20. Josh Feledy, 21. Declan Casey, 22. Tony Sukkar
Referee: Belinda Sharpe
Embed from Getty ImagesMATCHDAY PREVIEW
Taking on a red-hot Panthers side at their home ground is a hard task for visiting teams, but the Knights showed plenty of fight even if they didn’t get the win. If it wasn’t for some individual brilliance from Panthers players, then the Knights would have pulled off an upset. While they sit four points out of the eight, the loss against the reigning premiers could have been just enough for them not to make it.
There is only one change to the team that lost to the Panthers: Brodie Jones comes onto the bench for Thomas Cant, who is the 18th Man. Jacob Saifiti, who injured himself in the warm up last week, is still out along with centre Bradman Best, who has a hamstring injury.
The Tigers were giving their fans something to cheer about as they kept pace with the Cowboys. Unfortunately, the Tigers lost centre Justin Olam after he was sent off for a high tackle. Lachlan Galvin, Jahream Bula, and Samuela Fainu showed why they can be considered the future of the club with some great touches, as long as other sides don’t poach them.
Adam Doueihi has been named in the centres. The Tigers decided not to contest Olam’s grading charge from the head high as the centre is out anyway due to injury (he will have surgery on both knees). Aiden Sezer returns at halfback, and Latu Fainu is out due to concussion protocols. Tim Johannssen makes way for Fonua Pole, who is returning from a rib injury.
Pressure will be on Knights halves Phoenix Crossland and Tyson Gamble this week. They played well against the Panthers, but a loss here to the Tigers and Adam O’Brien, who has shown he’s not afraid to change his halves from one week to the next, will drop someone. They will need to be on their game, especially with Galvin at the top of his.
The battle of the fullbacks is an intriguing one. Both Kalyn Ponga and Bula are both excitement machines who can break open a game. There is no doubt that Bula will be an instrumental figure for the Tigers in the future.
Two men, one from both the Tigers and Knights, have scored 20 points in a game. No, one of them isn’t named Andrew Johns. Ponga scored 20 points against the Tigers in 2020 with two tries and six goals. Doueihi is the Tiger who scored 20 points also through two tries and six goals in 2021.
Head-to-head stats can be found at Number Crunch Stats.
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Check out all the NRL Predictions here.
Knights by 2 points.
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