Ultimate Guide: Reynolds out injured, Walker rested

Author: Newcastle Knights
Timestamp: Thu 6 Jun 2019, 08:01 AM

BREAKING: Rabbitohs halfback Adam Reynolds has been sidelined indefinitely with a back fracture ahead of Friday's match with the nib Newcastle Knights at ANZ Stadium.

Wayne Bennett confirmed Reynolds would miss the match after suffering the injury against Parramatta last week.

"He won't be playing - he's got a small fracture in his back from last weekend's game," Bennett said.

"It's serious enough that he can't play but it's not something that will be two or three months, it's just when his pain-free he'll be able to play again because he's not pain free at the moment."

100 games: The best of Sione Mata'utia

Meanwhile, Bennett also confirmed Cody Walker miss the game.

"Cody Walker won't play but the others will," he said.

"He's got a couple of niggles so it's better making sure he can play next week."

Coming into the match following a bye, coach Nathan Brown has named an extended squad as cover for Origin representatives David Klemmer and Kalyn Ponga.

Jacob Saifiti has joined the extended squad for the first time in 2019.

Sione Mata’utia will play his 100th game for the club.

NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS v SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS

Date: Friday, June 7

Kick-off: 6.00pm

Venue: ANZ Stadium

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Played: 41

Knights: 25

Rabbitohs: 16

'Gotta win em' all!

TEAMS

Newcastle

1. Kalyn Ponga, 2. Edrick Lee, 3. Hymel Hunt, 4. Jesse Ramien, 5. Shaun Kenny-Dowall, 6. Kurt Mann, 7. Mitchell Pearce, 8. David Klemmer, 9. Connor Watson, 10. Daniel Saifiti, 11. Lachlan Fitzgibbon, 12. Mitch Barnett, 13. Tim Glasby. Interchange: 14. Jamie Buhrer, 15. Herman Ese'ese, 16. James Gavet, 17. Sione Mata'utia, 18. Josh King, 19. Pasami Saulo, 20. Tautau Moga, 21. Mason Lino, 22. Jacob Saifiti

South Sydney

1. Corey Allan 2. Mawene Hiroti 3. James Roberts 4. Dane Gagai 5. Campbell Graham 6. Cody Walker 7. Adam Reynolds 8. George Burgess 9. Damien Cook 10. Thomas Burgess 11. John Sutton 12. Sam Burgess 13. Cameron Murray. Interchange: 14. Junior Tatola 15. Ethan Lowe 16. Liam Knight 17. Mark Nicholls 18. Bayley Sironen 19. Connor Tracey 20. Adam Doueihi 21. Dean Britt 22. Billy Brittain 23. Rhys Kennedy

NEWCASTLE’S RABBIT-WOES

'It's a sign of respect from the Rabbitohs'

Boasting an imposing record over the Rabbitohs with 24 wins from 30 clashes prior to the 2010’s, South Sydney have reversed history to dominate Newcastle in recent years.

Currently on a nine-match losing streak dating back seven years, the Knights’ last win over the Rabbitohs came in the final round of 2011 where a four-try haul from Akuila Uate saw the side clinch victory in a showdown for eighth position.

Facing off against the competition leaders boosted by the inclusion of mid-season signing James Roberts, the Knights will need to be at their best if they hope to overcome their worst strike rate against any team this decade (9 per cent) in order to record a sixth straight win.

THE YOUNGEST CENTURION

As someone who has made a career out of breaking records, Sione Mata’utia will add a few more notches to his belt by joining elite company in his 100th first grade appearance for the club.

Debuting just weeks after turning 18 alongside his older brother, Chanel, in 2014, the youngest of the Mata’utia clan will become the 35th player to reach a century of games for Newcastle - becoming the youngest to do so at age 22.

Holding the distinction as the youngest Kangaroos debutant - 18 years and 129 days old - following just seven appearances in first grade, Mata’utia has provided strong service at NRL level across stints at fullback, wing, centre, second row and in the halves, while gaining plaudits for his leadership as the Knights youngest fulltime captain in 2017 just months after turning 20.

nib Inspiring Moment of the Month: May

Representing Samoa and the World All Stars along the way, look for the versatile forward to continue his development in pursuit of winning a premiership and seeing out his career in the red and blue.