Check out the match preview and prediction for the final round clash between the Newcastle Knights and the Dolphins.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
Newcastle Knights vs The Dolphins
Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
Date: Sunday, 8 September 2024, 4:05pm
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Knights: 1. Kalyn Ponga, 2. Fletcher Sharpe, 3. Dane Gagai, 4. Bradman Best, 5. Greg Marzhew, 6. Jack Cogger, 7. Phoenix Crossland, 8. Daniel Saifiti, 9. Jayden Brailey, 10. Leo Thompson, 11. Tyson Frizell, 12. Dylan Lucas, 13. Adam Elliott, 14. Tyson Gamble, 15. Mathew Croker, 16. Jack Hetherington, 17. Brodie Jones, 18. Thomas Cant, 19. Will Pryce, 20. Jackson Hastings, 21. Sebastian Su’a, 22. Kai Pearce-Paul
Players cut from final squad:
Dolphins: 1. Trai Fuller, 2. Jamayne Isaako, 3. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, 4. Herbie Farnworth, 5. Jack Bostock, 6. Jake Averillo, 7. Sean O’Sullivan, 8. Jesse Bromwich, 9. Max Plath, 10. Tevita Pangai Junior, 11. Felise Kaufusi, 12. Connelly Lemuelu, 13. Kenny Bromwich, 14. Jeremy Marshall-King, 15. Ray Stone, 16. Mark Nicholls, 17. Kodi Nikorima, 18. Lachlan Hubner, 19. Isaiya Katoa, 20. Oryn Keeley, 21. Kurt Donoghoe, 22. Tesi Niu
Players cut from final squad:
Referee: Ashley Klein
Embed from Getty ImagesMATCHDAY PREVIEW
And so it has come to this, this final game of the regular 2024 NRL season is a shoot out for eighth place and the last ticket to the 2024 finals series.
For the Dolphins it would be some kind of effort in only their second season, with a comparatively thin squad to most NRL sides, and some key injuries during a 2024 season which saw them in the top eight for all but four rounds. A finals appearance would also be a great effort for Newcastle, as they have only spent two weeks in the top eight this season and have scored the third lowest total of points in 2024.
Newcastle welcome back some big names, with Tyson Frizzell starting at second row after missing a week due to concussion, and Kai Pearce-Paul returning from his horrible cut is named as part of the reserves but you would expect him to play in such a big game. Tyson Gamble also returns after a hand injury and is named at number 14, while lurking among the reserves is Jackson Hastings, who could also feature given the fluid nature of Newcastle’s halves in 2024. Those inclusions give Newcastle an advantage in the forwards against an aging Dolphins forward pack that occasionally struggles to get the upper hand, especially in the second half of the season. Although Tevita Pangai Junior has been a welcome inclusion.
That Dolphins forward pack does include Felise Kaufusi, who escaped punishment for the crime which saw him sin binned against the Broncos, plus captain Jesse Bromwich returns after a concussion in round 25. After shocking most, and especially the Broncos, with a massively changed backline for last weekend’s successful Battle of Brisbane thumping, coach Wayne Bennett hasn’t shied away from making some more big calls for this weekend too. Out is the unlucky Isaiya Katoa, who has gone from starting halfback and one of their best players this season to the reserves, his place on the bench taken by his usual 2024 halves partner Kodi Nikorima as the Dolphins continue with the new halves pairing of Jake Averillo and Sean O’Sullivan. The return of Jesse Bromwich pushed Mark Nicholls to the bench, which includes Jeremy Marshall-King, and even Bennett wouldn’t dare take Ray Stone out of the 17.
One great battle heading into this finals shootout will be in the centres, with both sides naming players with either Origin or International experience. Newcastle’s Dane Gagai continues to be compared to fine wines and Bradman Best has the power to cause the Dolphins some real headaches on the edges – and Best seems to enjoy playing Queensland sides. On the other side of the field Herbie Farnworth has become one of the Dolphins’ most consistent performers after a slow start to the season, and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow’s recent move into the centres gives the Dolphins even more attacking firepower. The Dolphins have outscored Newcastle by more than 100 points going into this contest.
But the key player is Kalyn Ponga. He was responsible for Newcastle’s brilliant second half of 2023 which led the Knights all the way into the finals, and one of those games was a masterclass against the Dolphins in Perth. His rival at the back Trai Fuller is some kind of player, and it is great to see him back in the Dolphins side, but Kalyn Ponga is one of the best paid players in the NRL and the stage is set for him to prove his worth and lead the Knights into a second consecutive final series.
The stats favour Newcastle to a degree, as Newcastle have won 12 of their last 13 home games on a Sunday, and that one loss was against Penrith earlier this season. Their previous lost before that was almost exactly two years ago. The Dolphins come into this game having lost their last four away games and last three on a Sunday. But the glimmer of hope stats-wise is the Dolphins have a 100% record in Newcastle. From one game.
Head-to-head stats can be found at Number Crunch Stats.
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Check out all the NRL Predictions here.
Dolphins by 2 points.
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