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Bulldogs v Knights: Rajab to start; Gagai out, Fitzgibbon in

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pan66.com
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Wins have been hard to come by for the Bulldogs and Knights with both sides losing four of their past five matches.

The finals already look to have slipped away for 2023 but finishing the year strong will be a priority for Cameron Ciraldo at the Bulldogs and Adam O'Brien in Newcastle.

The Knights had a golden opportunity to knock off a Panthers side missing five Origin stars in Round 17 but were unable to get the job done and now find themselves five points outside the top eight with games against the Storm, Raiders, Rabbitohs and Sharks still to come.

The Bulldogs face an extremely tough month ahead with games against the Rabbitohs, Broncos and Panthers after this week's home clash against the Knights.

That home ground advantage at Accor Stadium could be worth its weight in gold given the Knights have won just one away game all season, a 14-12 win over Wests Tigers at Leichhardt Oval back in Round 2.

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Team News 

Bulldogs: Veteran forward Raymond Faitala-Mariner has been added to the squad on game day and will play his first game since Round 11. Franklin Pele drops out and will play NSW Cup. Youngster Harrison Edwards returns from concussion to take his place on the bench. Young gun Khaled Rajab gets his first run-on appearance, taking over at five-eighth from Karl Oloapu. 

Knights: A late switch an hour before kick-off with Jacob Saifiti coming into the starting side and brother Daniel going to the bench. Dane Gagai has succumbed to an injured foot he has been managing for several weeks and he is replaced in the centres by Enari Tuala. Back-rower Lachlan Fitzgibbon returns from concussion and is good to go.

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Bulldogs is number 1 Hayze Perham
    Fullback for Knights is number 1 Kalyn Ponga
  • Winger for Bulldogs is number 2 Jacob Kiraz
    Winger for Knights is number 2 Dominic Young
  • Centre for Bulldogs is number 3 Jake Averillo
    Centre for Knights is number 3 Enari Tuala
  • Centre for Bulldogs is number 4 Paul Alamoti
    Centre for Knights is number 4 Bradman Best
  • Winger for Bulldogs is number 5 Josh Addo-Carr
    Winger for Knights is number 5 Greg Marzhew
  • Five-Eighth for Bulldogs is number 6 Khaled Rajab
    Five-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Tyson Gamble
  • Halfback for Bulldogs is number 7 Matt Burton
    Halfback for Knights is number 7 Jackson Hastings

Forwards

  • Prop for Bulldogs is number 8 Max King
    Prop for Knights is number 10 Leo Thompson
  • Hooker for Bulldogs is number 9 Reed Mahoney
    Hooker for Knights is number 9 Phoenix Crossland
  • Prop for Bulldogs is number 10 Tevita Pangai Junior
    Prop for Knights is number 15 Jacob Saifiti
  • 2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 11 Jayden Okunbor
    2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Tyson Frizell
  • 2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 12 Jacob Preston
    2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Lachlan  Fitzgibbon 
  • Lock for Bulldogs is number 13 Kurtis Morrin
    Lock for Knights is number 13 Adam Elliott

Interchange

  • Interchange for Bulldogs is number 14 Harrison Edwards
    Interchange for Knights is number 8 Daniel Saifiti
  • Interchange for Bulldogs is number 15 Ryan Sutton
    Interchange for Knights is number 14 Kurt Mann
  • Interchange for Bulldogs is number 17 Jackson Topine
    Interchange for Knights is number 16 Jack Hetherington 
  • Interchange for Bulldogs is number 23 Raymond Faitala-Mariner
    Interchange for Knights is number 17 Mat Croker

Reserves

  • Replacement for Bulldogs is number 19 Reece Hoffman
    Replacement for Knights is number 18 Dylan Lucas

Match Officials

  • Referee: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
  • Touch Judge: Darian Furner
  • Touch Judge: Chris Sutton
  • Senior Review Official: Matt Noyen

Last updated:

Stat Attack

  • Knights wingers Dom Young (16) and Greg Marzhew (10) have scored 26 tries between them this season compared to 12 for Bulldogs wingers Josh Addo-Carr (8) and Jacob Kiraz (4).
  • No team has conceded more penalties this year than the Bulldogs, who on average are pinged 6.7 times per game.
  • Led by Greg Marzhew and Dane Gagai, who have 184 tackle breaks between them, the Knights have been excellent at forcing missed tackles this year, averaging 38.8 tackle busts a game.
  • The Bulldogs have won only one of their past five games at Accor Stadium.
  • The Knights have won three of their past four games against the Bulldogs.
  • The Bulldogs have conceded 107 points in their past three games.
  • Knights centre Bradman Best has scored a try in his past three games against the Bulldogs.
  • Bulldogs winger Josh Addo-Carr has scored eight tries in 10 games against the Knights.

Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the 

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Acknowledgement of Country

National Rugby League respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.