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Raiders v Knights: Same 17 for Ricky; Jacob in for Daniel

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The Raiders will have taken plenty of heart from their fightback against the Warriors and return to familiar surroundings in Canberra to confront a confident Knights side riding a three-game winning streak.

Newcastle's impressive victory over the Storm moved them to within one point of the top eight, filling the Knights faithful with hope that a return to the finals is a very real possibility.

With Kalyn Ponga in supreme form and their forwards rumbling through the middle of the ruck, Newcastle have piled on 126 points in the past three games to take their points differential into positive territory at +42.

The Raiders sit inside the top four despite their golden point loss to the Warriors but their -55 differential needs a major boost in the run home, with games against Wests Tigers and Bulldogs providing an opportunity to rack up a big score.

When the sides clashed in Newcastle in Round 4 it was the Knights saluting 24-14 to square the ledger at 21 wins apiece in the NRL era.

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Team news

Raiders: The Green Machine will take the field as named mid-week, with no changes from the side who came close to producing a miraculous comeback against the Warriors in Round 21. Matthew Frawley is the replacement player. 

Knights: Daniel Saifiti will miss the game due to a thigh strain and is replaced in the front row by brother Jacob in the only change to the side that beat the Storm. Brodie Jones joins the bench. Adam Elliott was charged with a careless high tackle but received a fine and will take his place against his former club. There were no late changes an hour from kick-off. 

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Raiders is number 1 Sebastian Kris
    Fullback for Knights is number 1 Kalyn Ponga
  • Winger for Raiders is number 2 Albert Hopoate
    Winger for Knights is number 2 Dominic Young
  • Centre for Raiders is number 3 Jarrod Croker
    Centre for Knights is number 3 Dane Gagai
  • Centre for Raiders is number 4 Matthew Timoko
    Centre for Knights is number 4 Bradman Best
  • Winger for Raiders is number 5 Jordan Rapana
    Winger for Knights is number 5 Greg Marzhew
  • Five-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Jack Wighton
    Five-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Tyson Gamble
  • Halfback for Raiders is number 7 Jamal Fogarty
    Halfback for Knights is number 7 Jackson Hastings

Forwards

  • Prop for Raiders is number 8 Josh Papalii
    Prop for Knights is number 8 Jacob Saifiti
  • Hooker for Raiders is number 9 Zac Woolford
    Hooker for Knights is number 9 Phoenix Crossland
  • Prop for Raiders is number 10 Joseph Tapine
    Prop for Knights is number 10 Leo Thompson
  • 2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 Hudson Young
    2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Tyson Frizell
  • 2nd Row for Raiders is number 12 Elliott Whitehead
    2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Lachlan  Fitzgibbon
  • Lock for Raiders is number 13 Corey Horsburgh
    Lock for Knights is number 13 Adam Elliott

Interchange

  • Interchange for Raiders is number 14 Tom Starling
    Interchange for Knights is number 14 Kurt Mann
  • Interchange for Raiders is number 15 Emre Guler
    Interchange for Knights is number 15 Brodie Jones
  • Interchange for Raiders is number 16 Pasami Saulo
    Interchange for Knights is number 16 Jack  Hetherington
  • Interchange for Raiders is number 17 Ata Mariota
    Interchange for Knights is number 17 Mat Croker

Reserves

  • Replacement for Raiders is number 19 Matt Frawley
    Replacement for Knights is number 18 Dylan Lucas

Match Officials

  • Referee: Adam Gee
  • Touch Judge: Jon Stone
  • Touch Judge: Belinda Sharpe
  • Senior Review Official: Grant Atkins

Last updated:

Stat Attack

  • Knights halfback Jackson Hastings has come up with five try assists in 2023 while Canberra No.7 Jamal Fogarty has come up with 11.
  • The Knights have scored 75 tries this season, the Raiders 59.
  • The Raiders have conceded 100 points in their past three games at GIO Stadium.
  • The Knights have won only one of their past six games at GIO Stadium.
  • Raiders second-rower Hudson Young has scored a try in four consecutive games against the Knights.
  • Dominic Young requires two tries to equal the Knights’ record for most tries in a season, which stands at 21.
  • Raiders forward Elliott Whitehead has the chance to claim his 100th victory in the NRL.

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.