The next chapter of the nib Newcastle Knights and Manly Sea Eagles rivalry will be written this Thursday night.
In a Throwback Thursday celebrating the Knights grand final win over Manly, the side will look to put in another strong performance in front of the Hunter faithful.
Newcastle were handed a second consecutive defeat last start against the Sharks on the road while Manly returned to form with a dominant win over Canberra.
The teams both sit on two wins to start the season and will be chasing a valuable two points on Thursday night.
This is your Ultimate Guide to the Newcastle Knights Round 5 clash with the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles.
nib NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS v MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Date: Thursday, April 7, 2022
Kick-off: 7:50pm
Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium
GAME DAY INFORMATION
Gates open: 5:15pm
Jersey Flegg: 5:30pm
Tickets: Purchase here
50/50 Charity Raffle: Variety - The Children's Charity
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Since: 1988
Played: 55
Knights: 22
Sea Eagles: 33
Recovery Report: Ponga and Frizell updates
TEAMS
Match: Knights v Sea Eagles
Round 5 -
home Team
Knights
away Team
Sea Eagles
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Knights is number 1 Kalyn PongaFullback for Sea Eagles is number 5 Reuben Garrick
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Winger for Knights is number 2 Dominic YoungWinger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Jason Saab
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Centre for Knights is number 3 Dane GagaiCentre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Morgan Harper
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Centre for Knights is number 4 Bradman BestCentre for Sea Eagles is number 20 Brad Parker
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Winger for Knights is number 5 Enari TualaWinger for Sea Eagles is number 3 Christian Tuipulotu
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Five-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Jake CliffordFive-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Kieran Foran
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Halfback for Knights is number 7 Adam CluneHalfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Daly Cherry-Evans
Forwards
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Prop for Knights is number 8 Jacob SaifitiProp for Sea Eagles is number 8 Josh Aloiai
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Hooker for Knights is number 9 Chris RandallHooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Lachlan Croker
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Prop for Knights is number 10 Daniel SaifitiProp for Sea Eagles is number 10 Martin Taupau
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2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Tyson Frizell2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Haumole Olakau'atu
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2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Brodie Jones2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Andrew Davey
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Lock for Knights is number 13 Kurt MannLock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Jake Trbojevic
Interchange
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Interchange for Knights is number 14 Phoenix CrosslandInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Dylan Walker
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Interchange for Knights is number 15 Jirah MomoiseaInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Karl Lawton
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Interchange for Knights is number 16 Leo ThompsonInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Sean Keppie
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Interchange for Knights is number 17 Sauaso SueInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 17 Taniela Paseka
Reserves
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Replacement for Knights is number 18 Simi SasagiReplacement for Sea Eagles is number 24 Ben Trbojevic
Match Officials
- Referee: Ashley Klein
- Touch Judge: Chris Sutton
- Touch Judge: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
- Senior Review Official: Grant Atkins
Last updated:
TEAM NEWS
UPDATE: The Knights are 1-17 at the 24 hour squad update.
For the Sea Eagles, Tolutau Koula, who was himself set to replace the injured Tom Trbojevic, has been ruled out with injury. Brad Parker returns to take his place in the centres with Christian Tuipulotu shifting to the wing. Reuben Garrick moves to fullback.
Tolutau Koula, who was himself set to replace the injured Tom Trbojevic, has been ruled out with injury. Brad Parker returns to take his place in the centres with Christian Tuipulotu shifting to the wing.
TEAM LIST TUESDAY: Knights Head Coach, Adam O'Brien, has named an unchanged line-up from the team that went down to Cronulla.
Enari Tuala will play his 50th Knights game on the wing.
For the Sea Eagles, Tolutau Koula takes over at fullback for the injured Tom Trbojevic (knee, 4-6 weeks) while Christian Tuipulotu comes in at centre. Brad Parker has been named among the reserves after missing last week due to COVID.
FORM GUIDE
After two wins to start the season, the Knights have endured two consecutive defeats on the road.
An 18-0 defeat at the hands of the Sharks last round at PointsBet Stadium gave the red and blue their second defeat of the campaign.
The Knights will enjoy returning home following a 26-4 triumph over the Wests Tigers in Round 2 at McDonald Jones Stadium.
Manly also have two wins to their name, but started their season in opposite fashion to the Knights.
After two losses to the start the year, the Sea Eagles have won their last two games including a 25-6 victory over the Canberra Raiders last start.
Clune: Focus switch and returning home
MAL REILLY TROPHY
In the first encounter between the two Clubs each season, the Knights and Sea Eagles battle it out for the Malcolm Reilly Trophy in tribute to the legendary former player and coach.
As the trophy's namesake suggests, Malcolm 'Mal' Reilly played a monumental role at both Clubs.
As a player, Reilly played a key part in Manly's back-to-back premiership years of 1972 and 1973.
In 1995, Reilly made his way to Newcastle to take up the head coaching position at the Knights.
Reilly became the first coach to lead the Club to a premiership after the 22-16 win over Manly in the 1997 Grand Final.
KEY MATCH-UP
Daniel Saifiti v Martin Taupau: Two enforcers for their respective teams will lock horns on Thursday night.
Saifiti returned from an injury in Round 3 and has averaged 139 running metres across his two games.
D-Saf will welcome the challenge against Taupau who has averaged 119 running metres and provided three offloads.
STAT ATTACK
The Knights have won the last three fixtures against Manly including the last two in Newcastle.
Jake Clifford leads the NRL for kick metres with just over 1,880 meters so far this season while Sea Eagles halfback, Daly Cherry Evans, sits just behind in second.
After the opening four rounds, the Knights sit second for set completion percentage with 81 per cent.
