The nib Newcastle Knights will return home for a massive Friday night clash against the South Sydney Rabbitohs at McDonald Jones Stadium.
With both teams missing Origin stars, the two outfits will be chasing a huge two points in Round 17.
The teams have been named with two welcome inclusions for the Knights with Bradman Best and Jayden Brailey named in the squad.
This Round, the Club will also celebrate National NAIDOC week which respects, celebrates and recognises the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
This is your Ultimate Guide to the Newcastle Knights Round 17 fixture against the South Sydney Rabbitohs
nib NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS v SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Date: Friday, July 8, 2022
Kick-off: 7:59pm
Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium
BENCH CAM: Bradman reacts to Titans win
GAME DAY INFORMATION
Gates/ Fan Zone open: 5:00pm
NSW Cup kick-off: 5:15pm
Game Day Itinerary: See here
Theme: NAIDOC Week
Tickets: Purchase here
Membership: Take your seat
Merchandise: Show your colours
50/50 Charity Raffle: Walk A Mile Koori Style
Match Day Sponsor: University of Newcastle Awabakal
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Since: 1988
Played: 45
Knights: 27
Rabbitohs: 18
TEAMS
Match: Knights v Rabbitohs
Round 17 -
home Team
Knights
away Team
Rabbitohs
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Knights is number 1 Tex HoyFullback for Rabbitohs is number 1 Latrell Mitchell
-
Winger for Knights is number 2 Edrick LeeWinger for Rabbitohs is number 5 Jaxson Paulo
-
Centre for Knights is number 3 Enari TualaCentre for Rabbitohs is number 3 Taane Milne
-
Centre for Knights is number 4 Bradman BestCentre for Rabbitohs is number 4 Isaiah Tass
-
Winger for Knights is number 5 Dominic YoungWinger for Rabbitohs is number 20 Richard Kennar
-
Five-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Anthony MilfordFive-Eighth for Rabbitohs is number 6 Cody Walker
-
Halfback for Knights is number 7 Adam CluneHalfback for Rabbitohs is number 7 Lachlan Ilias
Forwards
-
Prop for Knights is number 8 David KlemmerProp for Rabbitohs is number 8 Tevita Tatola
-
Hooker for Knights is number 9 Chris RandallHooker for Rabbitohs is number 9 Siliva Havili
-
Prop for Knights is number 10 Daniel SaifitiProp for Rabbitohs is number 17 Davvy Moale
-
2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Tyson Frizell2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 11 Keaon Koloamatangi
-
2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Mitchell Barnett2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 12 Jed Cartwright
-
Lock for Knights is number 13 Kurt MannLock for Rabbitohs is number 14 Kodi Nikorima
Interchange
-
Interchange for Knights is number 14 Jayden BraileyInterchange for Rabbitohs is number 10 Thomas Burgess
-
Interchange for Knights is number 16 Leo ThompsonInterchange for Rabbitohs is number 16 Michael Chee Kam
-
Interchange for Knights is number 17 Mat CrokerInterchange for Rabbitohs is number 18 Daniel Suluka-Fifita
-
Interchange for Knights is number 19 Pasami SauloInterchange for Rabbitohs is number 21 Shaquai Mitchell
Reserves
-
Replacement for Knights is number 18 Simi SasagiReplacement for Rabbitohs is number 15 Blake Taaffe
Match Officials
- Referee: Todd Smith
- Touch Judge: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
- Touch Judge: Wyatt Raymond
- Senior Review Official: Ashley Klein
Last updated:
TEAM NEWS
UPDATE: Jacob Saifiti comes out of the squad with Pasami Saulo included on to the bench.
Lachlan Fitzgibbon and Simi Sasagi remain on the extended bench.
For the Rabbitohs, Mark Nicholls (head knock) is out, replaced by Davvy Moale at lock.
New signing Daniel Suluka-Fifita comes on to the bench.
EARLIER: Both teams will be without Origin players named in their respective 18-man squads, with a compulsory stand down weekend before next Wednesday's decider at Suncorp Stadium.
Recovery Report: Brailey and Best updates
Bradman Best returns from an elbow injury replacing Maroons representative Dane Gagai in the centres.
Tex Hoy will again move into the fullback position for Captain Kalyn Ponga, after a very strong performance in tricky conditions against the Titans at home last Friday night.
Club Captain, Jayden Brailey, has been included on the interchange bench after recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon suffered during pre-season training in December.
For the Rabbitohs, centre Campbell Graham is out after suffering a facial fracture against the Eels and his place is taken by Taane Milne.
Prop Hame Sele (hamstring) is also out, replaced by Thomas Burgess in the starting side with Davvy Moale joining the bench.
Latrell Mitchell will captain the Rabbitohs for the first time with Cameron Murray on Origin duty.
Siliva Havili takes over for Blues hooker Damien Cook while Mark Nicholls comes in at lock for Murray, and Maroons rep Jai Arrow is replaced by Jed Cartwright, who plays his first NRL game since round 25 last year.
Blake Taaffe and Michael Chee Kam are the new faces on the bench.
Daniel Suluka-Fifita joined the club on Monday after he was granted an early release by the Roosters and could be a late inclusion after being named 18th Man.
NAIDOC WEEK
It's national NAIDOC week with celebrations held from the 3rd to 10th of July.
The nib Newcastle Knights respect, celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
NAIDOC Week is an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations cultures and histories and participate in celebrations of the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth.
S2, LVL 12: Brailey visits the Dog Rescue. Caitlan Johnston returns from Origin.
This year’s NAIDOC theme is Get Up, Stand Up, Speak Up.
Friday night’s game against the Rabbitohs will acknowledge this with a host of activities celebrating our rich First Nations culture, proudly supported by our great friends at the University of Newcastle Australia and Awabakal.
FORM GUIDE
The Knights bounced back from a heartbreaking loss to Canberra with a resounding 26-point win over the Titans last start.
Winger, Edrick Lee, made history scoring five tries in the win to break a Club record for most tries in a single game.
The team sits in 12th spot on the ladder while their upcoming opposition sit in 7th position.
South Sydney defeated Parramatta last round 30-12 at Accor Stadium, Sydney.
The away team have won three of their last five.
KEY MATCH-UP
Anthony Milford v Cody Walker: The match-up between two crafty playmakers will be an exciting battle on Friday night.
Milford has hit the ground running at the Knights playing a huge role in the victory over the Titans last round.
The five-eighth had a hand in two tries along with two line-break assists and two forced drop-outs.
Milford will come up against reigning Dally M five-eighth of the year in Walker.
So far in 2022, the 32-year-old has produced 11 try-assists and six tries from 15 appearances.
STAT ATTACK
The Knights have the edge in the record stakes (27-18) while the two teams have shared two victories each in the last four games.
The Knights scored eight tries against the Titans - the most in a single game since Round 13, 2020 which was a 44-4 victory over the Tigers.
Edrick Lee broke the record for most tries in a game against the Titans, which originally stood at 4 and shared between Andrew Johns, Adam MacDougall, Darren Albert, Cooper Vuna, Akuila Uate, James McManus and
South Sydney winger, Alex Johnston, has the most tries in the NRL for 2022 with 16.
