In the next instalment of the 2022 season, the Knights will travel down to PointsBet Stadium this Friday to take on the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks.
After two consecutive wins to start the campaign, Newcastle hit a slight hurdle last start going down to reigning premiers, the Panthers.
The Sharks have won their last two fixtures to set up a mouth-watering contest early in the season.
The red and blue will also be determined to break a nine year hoodoo having gone without a victory at Shark Park since 2014.
This is your Ultimate Guide to the Newcastle Knights Round 4 clash with the Cronulla Sharks.
CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS v nib NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Date: Friday, April 1, 2022
Kick-off: 6:00pm
Venue: PointsBet Stadium
Recovery Report: Ponga, Klemmer and Fitzgibbon Updates
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Since: 1988
Played: 56
Sharks: 24
Knights: 31
Draws: 1
TEAMS
Match: Sharks v Knights
Round 4 -
home Team
Sharks
away Team
Knights
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Sharks is number 1 William KennedyFullback for Knights is number 1 Kalyn Ponga
-
Winger for Sharks is number 2 Sione KatoaWinger for Knights is number 2 Dominic Young
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Centre for Sharks is number 3 Jesse RamienCentre for Knights is number 3 Dane Gagai
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Centre for Sharks is number 4 Siosifa TalakaiCentre for Knights is number 4 Bradman Best
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Winger for Sharks is number 5 Ronaldo MulitaloWinger for Knights is number 5 Enari Tuala
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Five-Eighth for Sharks is number 6 Matt MoylanFive-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Jake Clifford
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Halfback for Sharks is number 7 Nicholas HynesHalfback for Knights is number 7 Adam Clune
Forwards
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Prop for Sharks is number 8 Toby RudolfProp for Knights is number 10 Daniel Saifiti
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Hooker for Sharks is number 9 Blayke BraileyHooker for Knights is number 9 Chris Randall
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Prop for Sharks is number 10 Braden Hamlin-UeleProp for Knights is number 16 Leo Thompson
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2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Briton Nikora2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Tyson Frizell
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2nd Row for Sharks is number 12 Teig Wilton2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Brodie Jones
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Lock for Sharks is number 13 Dale FinucaneLock for Knights is number 13 Kurt Mann
Interchange
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Interchange for Sharks is number 14 Aiden TolmanInterchange for Knights is number 8 Jacob Saifiti
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Interchange for Sharks is number 15 Cameron McInnesInterchange for Knights is number 14 Phoenix Crossland
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Interchange for Sharks is number 16 Braydon TrindallInterchange for Knights is number 15 Jirah Momoisea
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Interchange for Sharks is number 17 Andrew FifitaInterchange for Knights is number 17 Sauaso Sue
Reserves
-
Replacement for Sharks is number 18 Luke MetcalfReplacement for Knights is number 18 Simi Sasagi
Match Officials
- Referee: Ben Cummins
- Touch Judge: Darian Furner
- Touch Judge: Nick Beashel
- Senior Review Official: Steve Chiddy
Last updated:
TEAM NEWS
LATE MAIL: In the one change, Leo Thompson comes into the run-on side with Jacob Saifiti moves to the interchange bench.
Simi Sasagi will be the 18th man.
For the Sharks, the home side will be 1-17.
TEAM LIST TUESDAY: Knights Head Coach, Adam O'Brien, named his 24-man squad on Tuesday.
Kalyn Ponga has been named to play at fullback after returning from a minor knee injury.
Brodie Jones has been named to make his first start of the season in the second-row after overcoming a thigh injury as well as COVID-19.
Sauaso Sue has been named on the interchange bench after making a successful return from off-season shoulder surgery in last weekend's NSW Cup fixture.
For the Sharks, Siosifa Talakai moves from second row to centre to replace Connor Tracey (groin). Teig Wilton returns from suspension in the second row. Aiden Tolman will come from the bench in his 300th NRL game.
FORM GUIDE
The two teams come into the contest sitting highly on the ladder after the first three rounds.
After an impressive start to the season, the Knights were hit with a setback going down 38-20 points to ladder leaders Penrith last round.
The Knights sit in fourth spot with two wins to their name.
Cronulla eased past the St George Illawarra Dragons last round winning 36-12 away from home.
The Sharks currently sit in third spot on the ladder.
FRIZELL'S 200TH
Tyson Frizell will run out for a major milestone this Friday against the Sharks.
The Test and NSW Origin representative will notch 200 games in the NRL.
The 30-year-old started his career with the Sharks back in 2011 and went onto make 12 appearances in blue, white and black before joining the Dragons in 2013.
Frizell made his name at the Red V playing 165 games across eight seasons before joining the red and blue in 2021.
The second-row forward has played 22 games for the Club and is one of the leaders within the team having been interim Captain for the past two games.
KEY MATCH-UP
Adam Clune v Nicho Hynes: It will be an intriguing battle in the No.7 positions on Friday night.
The two off-season signings have made an immediate impact for their teams and will steer their side around the park.
Clune has quickly built combinations and strong connections within the Knights ranks after arriving from the Dragons.
The halfback has three try-assists and two line break assists to start the season to form a lethal partnership with Jake Clifford in the halves.
On the other side of the park, Hynes has arrived to Cronulla from Melbourne and starred in the Sharks two consecutive wins with 18 points, two try-assists and two line breaks.
STAT ATTACK
The Knights have won the last four straight against the Sharks including two wins in the 2021 season.
Kalyn Ponga returns from injury and has a great recent record over Cronulla having scored five tries in his last three games against the team from the Shire.
The last time the Knights played the Sharks at PointsBet Stadium was back in 2018 while the red and blue haven't won on Sharks territory since 2014.
Dom Young leads the NRL stats in line breaks with four in the campaign so far.
The Knights will need to lock up Sharks centre, Jesse Ramien, who leads the NRL stats in offloads with nine.
