Check out the match preview and prediction for the 2025 National Rugby League round 7 clash between the Newcastle Knights and the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
Newcastle Knights Vs Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle.
Date: Sunday April 20, 4:05pm (ADST)
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Knights: 1. Kalyn Ponga 2. James Schiller 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Fletcher Sharpe 7. Tyson Gamble 8. Tyson Frizell 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Leo Thompson 11. Thomas Cant 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Mathew Croker 14. Jayden Brailey 15. Tyrone Thompson 16. Jermaine McEwen 17. Brodie Jones 18. Kyle McCarthy 19. Paul Bryan 20. Jack Cogger 21. Matthew Arthur 22. Jackson Hastings
Sharks: 1. William Kennedy 2. Samuel Stonestreet 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Mawene Hiroti 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Oregon Kaufusi 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Cameron McInnes 14. Daniel Atkinson 15. Siosifa Talakai 16. Toby Rudolf 17. Thomas Hazelton 18. Tuku Hau Tapuha 19. Jayden Berrell 20. Hohepa Puru 21. Billy Burns 22. Chris Veaila
Referee: Ashley Klein
Bunker: Liam Kennedy
MATCHDAY PREVIEW
When the Newcastle Knights face the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks this weekend in Round 7 of the Telstra Premiership at McDonald Jones Stadium on Sunday afternoon, they will need to do much more than just show up in order to maintain their reputation in front of their loyal red and blue supporters.
The last time these teams met at McDonald Stadium (round 26, 2023), the Knights blew the Sharks off the park 32-6. It’s been a long time between victories, though; the Knights have only won two of their last five games this season.
Last weekend they faced the West Tigers, who have had some unexpected results so far, but the Knights received more than they bargained for. They just couldn’t break through a stout Tigers defence, making it an almost impossible task for them to get any points on the board.
Plagued with ball-handling errors and what seemed to be a team that looked lost and unsure of themselves, their reputation of having the second-best defensive record in the competition wasn’t enough to save the day. The Knights suffered a devastating loss, 20-4. They will need to do better against the Sharks; otherwise, they will be bait in the water.
Relying heavily on players like Phoenix Crossland, Kalyn Ponga, and Bradman Best to take the lead in advancing up the field, they provided some impressive running metres and try-scoring abilities, but it was just not enough in the end.
With only 46 points in five games in the season, an area of particular concern for the Knights is their attack, having the worst attack in the NRL.
But could the return of key players Tyson Gamble in the backline and winger James Schiller, along with a reshuffle of the team, moving Phoenix Crossland back to hooker and Tyson Frizell at prop, be the winning combination the Knights will need against the Sharks?
Fletcher Sharpe could also be a secret weapon for the Knights with some great carries against the Tigers and a last-ditch effort to put points on the board in the final minute for the Knights. Sharpe has scored nine tries in seven games at McDonald Jones Stadium. He might just provide the Knights with the element of surprise they need to catch an aggressive Sharks off-guard.
It was a nail-biting performance by the Sharks when they took on the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles at Perth’s Optus Stadium last weekend, but they managed to get the job done.
The Sharks’ attack on the Sea Eagles appeared effortless thanks to William Kennedy’s amazing kicking skills, ball-handling abilities, speed, and athleticism. He had the Sea Eagles running around in circles.
While Nicho Hynes and Braydon Trindall’s quick-thinking kicking, combined with Samuel Stonestreet’s use of the field, was no match for a tiring Sea Eagles, who could only watch on as Stonestreet surged over the line not once, but twice.
It was a somewhat competitive game that was ultimately determined by the Sharks’ outstanding defence, with Cronulla winning 24-18.
They will still be holding their heads high, beaming with confidence after last weekend’s win, carrying this into their encounter against the Knights, determined to come out triumphant.
When these two teams last met at PointsBet Stadium back in round 24 of 2024, the Sharks just managed to scrape through with a win, going into Golden Point with a 19-18 victory against the Knights. They have also won four of their past five games against the Knights.
A team that is both strong in defence and attack, with a courageous backline of players like Kennedy, Hynes, Trindall, and Stonestreet and a solid forward pack lead by Hazelton, could pose some problems for the Knights
Coach Fitzgibbon remains optimistic heading into this match with an unchanged line-up, noting the inclusion of Addin Fonua-Blake named to play despite suffering a groin injury in Perth. Kayal Iro is still out for at least another two weeks due to a hamstring injury.
As two teams battle for supremacy, this weekend could have an outcome no one saw coming.
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Sharks by 14 points.
Check out all the NRL Predictions here.
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