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Ultimate Guide: Bulldogs update team

Sunday afternoon footy returns to Newcastle as the nib Newcastle Knights host the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs at McDonald Jones Stadium.

The team will look to keep their finals hopes alive and leapfrog the Bulldogs on the ladder with a result on Sunday after a last start loss to the Sydney Roosters.

As part of the NRL's Women in League Round, the Knights players will wear their 2022 WIL jersey to demonstrate their dedication to the ongoing growth of women's involvement on and off the field. 

This is your Ultimate Guide to the Newcastle Knights Round 20 fixture against the Bulldogs, brought to you by Hunter City Motor Group.

nib NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS v CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS

Date: Sunday, July 31, 2022

Kick-off: 2:00pm

Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium

Brailey: Reaction to Roosters defeat and next man up

GAME DAY INFORMATION

Gates/Fan Zone open: 12:30pm

Game Day Itinerary: See here

Theme: NRL Women in League Round

Tickets: Purchase here

Membership: 3 Game Membership

Merchandise: Show your colours

50/50 Charity Raffle: Dress for Success

Match Day sponsor: Brydens Lawyers

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Since: 1988

Played: 52

Knights: 24

Bulldogs: 27

Draws: 1

TEAMS

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Knights is number 1 Tex Hoy
    Fullback for Bulldogs is number 1 Jake Averillo
  • Winger for Knights is number 18 Simi Sasagi
    Winger for Bulldogs is number 2 Jacob Kiraz
  • Centre for Knights is number 3 Dane Gagai
    Centre for Bulldogs is number 3 Aaron Schoupp
  • Centre for Knights is number 4 Enari Tuala
    Centre for Bulldogs is number 4 Braidon Burns
  • Winger for Knights is number 21 Dominic Young
    Winger for Bulldogs is number 5 Josh Addo-Carr
  • Five-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Anthony Milford
    Five-Eighth for Bulldogs is number 6 Matt Burton
  • Halfback for Knights is number 20 Jake Clifford
    Halfback for Bulldogs is number 7 Kyle Flanagan

Forwards

  • Prop for Knights is number 8 David Klemmer
    Prop for Bulldogs is number 8 Max King
  • Hooker for Knights is number 9 Jayden Brailey
    Hooker for Bulldogs is number 9 Jeremy Marshall-King
  • Prop for Knights is number 10 Daniel Saifiti
    Prop for Bulldogs is number 10 Paul Vaughan
  • 2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Tyson Frizell
    2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 11 Jackson Topine
  • 2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Mitchell Barnett
    2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 15 Tevita Pangai Junior
  • Lock for Knights is number 13 Brodie Jones
    Lock for Bulldogs is number 13 Josh Jackson

Interchange

  • Interchange for Knights is number 14 Phoenix Crossland
    Interchange for Bulldogs is number 14 Zach Dockar-Clay
  • Interchange for Knights is number 15 Jacob Saifiti
    Interchange for Bulldogs is number 16 Joe Stimson
  • Interchange for Knights is number 16 Pasami Saulo
    Interchange for Bulldogs is number 17 Chris Patolo
  • Interchange for Knights is number 17 Mat Croker
    Interchange for Bulldogs is number 22 Harrison Edwards

Reserves

  • Replacement for Knights is number 23 Krystian Mapapalangi
    Replacement for Bulldogs is number 20 Kurtis Morrin

Match Officials

  • Referee: Chris Butler
  • Touch Judge: Darian Furner
  • Touch Judge: Dave Munro
  • Senior Review Official: Kasey Badger

Last updated:

TEAM NEWS

UPDATE: In two late changes, Dom Young returns from a rib injury on the wing for Hymel Hunt while Simi Sasagi comes in for Edrick Lee.

For the Bulldogs, Tevita Pangai Junior starts in the second row for Corey Waddell, who was found guilty of dangerous contact at the judiciary on Tuesday night and hit with a five-match ban. Rookie Harrison Edwards will make his NRL debut off the interchange. 

TUESDAY: Knights Head Coach Adam O'Brien named his 22-man squad for our Round 20 clash with the Canterbury Bulldogs.

Tex Hoy will replace skipper Kalyn Ponga at fullback, while Mitch Barnett moves into the back-row and Brodie Jones was named to start at lock-forward.

Ponga on current fitness and returning from Origin experience

Phoenix Crossland will retain his bench spot after a late call-up last week, along with a recall for Mat Croker who joins Pasami Saulo and Jacob Saifiti on the bench. 

For the Bulldogs, Jake Averillo (COVID protocols) returns in the No.1 jersey so Declan Casey goes to the reserves list. Back-rower Raymond Faitala-Mariner has been sidelined with a rib cartilage injury so Josh Jackson goes to lock and Jackson Topine comes into the side in the second row. 

WOMEN IN LEAGUE ROUND

The National Rugby League launched the 2022 Harvey Norman Women in League Round this week, calling on the whole Rugby League community to recognise, celebrate and support women at all levels across the game.

This year’s theme is ‘Play Your Part to Change the Story’, highlighting that everyone has an important role to play in driving increased opportunities for women, both on and off the field.

As part of this year’s Women in League Round, each of the 16 NRL clubs nominates a role model who is playing their part for women in Rugby League.

The role models will be celebrated in broadcast coverage and at the eight NRL matches from Thursday 28 July to Sunday 31 July.

The Newcastle Knights role model for this round is our NRLW Wellbeing Manager, Holly Fuda.

NRLW Wellbeing Manager, Holly Fuda.
NRLW Wellbeing Manager, Holly Fuda.

FORM GUIDE

The Knights went down 42-12 to the Sydney Roosters last start at home.

Sitting in 14th position on the ladder, the red and blue sit eight points away from the top eight with six games remaining in the regular season.

On the other side, the travelling team sit in 12th spot having won three of their last five.

The Bulldogs defeated the Gold Coast Titans 36-26 in Round 19.

KEY MATCH-UP

Edrick Lee v Josh Addo-Carr: Knights winger Edrick Lee will have a battle on his hands coming up against Bulldogs flyer, Josh Addo-Carr.

Lee has scored a try in seven of his last nine fixtures to have 11 for the season so far.

The 29-year-old has made 40 tackle breaks and 10 line breaks since his return from injury in Round 6.

Addo-Carr has 14 tries for the season and recently scored a hat-trick in the Bulldogs win over the Titans.

STAT ATTACK

The Knights have won the last three fixtures against the Bulldogs including a 16-6 win in Magic Round this year.

Dom Young has been named in the extended squad, and earned a place among the NRL's elite group of speedsters last weekend after being clocked on the Telstra Tracker at a remarkable 38 kilometres per hour in Round 18's loss to the Sea Eagles. 

Bulldogs forward Tevita Pangai Junior leads the NRL for offloads with 41.