Round 16 squad: Troops return for Dogs clash

The nib Newcastle Knights have named a 22-man squad including representative trio Kalyn Ponga, Slade Griffin and Herman Ese'ese to face Canterbury-Bankstown at McDonald Jones Stadium on Saturday.

Ponga made his State of Origin debut for Queensland last Sunday but Knights coach Nathan Brown has named the fullback to take the field this weekend.

The same goes for New Zealand internationals, Griffin and Ese'ese, who debuted for the Kiwis in Denver last weekend.

The Knights have named an additional player to their squad as a result of having three players involved in the representative weekend. 

Jacob Lillyman is poised to return from injury after missing Round 15 due to an abdominal strain and in a further boost to the team, Jamie Buhrer and Nathan Ross have been named on the extended bench.

Ross has been sidelined with a groin complaint, while Buhrer is pushing for an early return from a knee injury.

Sam Stone has replaced the suspended Lachlan Fitzgibbon in the starting side.

TEAM

1. Kalyn Ponga
2. Ken Sio
3. Sione Mata'utia
4. Cory Denniss
5. Shaun Kenny-Dowall
6. Connor Watson
7. Jack Cogger
8. Herman Ese'ese
9. Slade Griffin
10. Josh King
11. Sam Stone
12. Mitch Barnett
13. Aidan Guerra ©

14. Danny Levi
15. Chris Heighington
16. Luke Yates
17. Jacob Lillyman

18. Jamie Buhrer ©
19. Nathan Ross
20. Brock Lamb
21. Pasami Saulo
22. Nick Meaney

Saturday June 30 – Round 16
Kick-off: 5.30pm
Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium