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Ultimate Guide: Cowboys confirm team

The nib Newcastle Knights will hit the road this week in pursuit of an important two points against the in-form North Queensland Cowboys this Saturday.

The Knights have slipped down the ladder on the back of recent results and will aim to change their trajectory with a performance against the Cows.

The side went down to the Melbourne Storm last start and will spend an extended time in Queensland due to back-to-back games in the Sunshine State.

The Cowboys have won their last three games and will pose a threat on their home turf.

This is your Ultimate Guide to the Newcastle Knights Round 9 fixture with the North Queensland Cowboys.

NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS v nib NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS

Date: Saturday, May 7, 2022

Kick-off: 7:35pm

Venue: Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville

AOB: Welcome inclusions and team standards

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Since: 1995

Played: 42

Cowboys: 20

Knights: 22

TEAMS

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Cowboys is number 1 Scott Drinkwater
    Fullback for Knights is number 1 Kalyn Ponga
  • Winger for Cowboys is number 2 Kyle Feldt
    Winger for Knights is number 2 Edrick Lee
  • Centre for Cowboys is number 3 Valentine Holmes
    Centre for Knights is number 3 Enari Tuala
  • Centre for Cowboys is number 4 Peta Hiku
    Centre for Knights is number 4 Bradman Best
  • Winger for Cowboys is number 5 Murray Taulagi
    Winger for Knights is number 5 Dominic Young
  • Five-Eighth for Cowboys is number 6 Tom Dearden
    Five-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Tex Hoy
  • Halfback for Cowboys is number 7 Chad Townsend
    Halfback for Knights is number 7 Phoenix Crossland

Forwards

  • Prop for Cowboys is number 8 Jordan McLean
    Prop for Knights is number 8 David Klemmer
  • Hooker for Cowboys is number 9 Reece Robson
    Hooker for Knights is number 9 Chris Randall
  • Prop for Cowboys is number 10 Reuben Cotter
    Prop for Knights is number 10 Daniel Saifiti
  • 2nd Row for Cowboys is number 11 Tom Gilbert
    2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Lachlan Fitzgibbon
  • 2nd Row for Cowboys is number 12 Jeremiah Nanai
    2nd Row for Knights is number 14 Jack Johns
  • Lock for Cowboys is number 13 Jason Taumalolo
    Lock for Knights is number 13 Leo Thompson

Interchange

  • Interchange for Cowboys is number 14 Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
    Interchange for Knights is number 15 Jacob Saifiti
  • Interchange for Cowboys is number 15 Heilum Luki
    Interchange for Knights is number 16 Mat Croker
  • Interchange for Cowboys is number 16 Coen Hess
    Interchange for Knights is number 17 Pasami Saulo
  • Interchange for Cowboys is number 17 Griffin Neame
    Interchange for Knights is number 18 Simi Sasagi

Reserves

  • Replacement for Cowboys is number 19 Jake Granville
    Replacement for Knights is number 21 Brayden Musgrove

Match Officials

  • Referee: Liam Kennedy
  • Touch Judge: Jon Stone
  • Senior Review Official: Gerard Sutton

Last updated:

TEAM NEWS

LATE MAIL: Tyson Frizell is a late withdrawal from the team with illness.

Jack Johns moves into the second-row while Simi Sasagi moves onto the bench.

Brayden Musgrove will be 18th man.

The Cowboys are 1-17 as named.

Knights Head Coach, Adam O'Brien, named his 24-man squad on Tuesday.

Back from injury lay-offs, Dom Young, Lachlan Fitzgibbon and Mat Croker are welcome inclusions into the team.

Tex Hoy and Phoenix Crossland will line-up in the halves while Jack Johns and Pasami Saulo have been named on the bench.

For the Cowboys, the team is unchanged from their Round 8 win over the Eels.

FORM GUIDE

The Knights will be out to end a six-game losing run when they face the Cowboys.

The side suffered a 50-2 loss to the Melbourne Storm last start at home.

On the other side of the line, the Cowboys sit in third spot after a 35-4 win over Parramatta last round.

The two teams played twice against each other last season, coming away with a victory each.

The Knights defeated the Cowboys 38-0 in the most recent encounter.

KEY MATCH-UP

Enari Tuala v Valentine Holmes: Two electric outside backs will do battle on Saturday night posing an intriguing match-up.

The ever-reliable Tuala hasn't missed a game since Round 6, 2020 and was one of the Knights best in a beaten side last round.

At home on the wing or in the centres, Tuala has three tries this season and has averaged 99 running metres per game.

Tuala will lock horns with Queensland Origin centre, Valentine Holmes, who plays an important role in the Cowboys attack.

Holmes also has three tries, 29 tackle breaks and five line breaks in 2022.

STAT ATTACK

Newcastle will look to end a seven-year trot having last won in Townsville back in 2015.

Knights stars, Kalyn Ponga and Enari Tuala, will return to play their former side where they began their careers.

Dom Young returns to the line-up while he scored two tries against the Cowboys in the previous game between the two clubs last season.