Defend the Kingdom: NRL Round 2 preview

Author: Newcastle Knights
Timestamp: Wed 8 Mar 2023, 05:54 PM

The nib Newcastle Knights will travel down to play the Wests Tigers in a Sunday afternoon special at Leichhardt Oval for Round 2.

With the Allan McMahon Shield on the line, the side will be out to secure its first win of the campaign and our first piece of silverware for 2023.

All three men's senior grades will be in action across the day with supporters in for a cracking day of footy down at Leichhardt.

WESTS TIGERS v nib NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS

Date: Sunday, March 12th

Kick-off: 4:05pm

NSW Cup v Magpies: 1:35pm

Jersey Flegg Cup v Tigers: 11:50am

Venue: Leichhardt Oval, Sydney

The match will be shown live on Nine and Fox League plus live streamed on Kayo Sports.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Since: 2000

Tigers: 17

Knights: 17

TEAMS

Round 2 - Round 2 - Sunday 12 Mar

Full Time

Wests Tigers

Knights

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Daine Laurie

Fullback for Knights is number 1 Lachlan Miller
Winger for Wests Tigers is number 2 David Nofoaluma

Winger for Knights is number 2 Hymel Hunt
Centre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Brent Naden

Centre for Knights is number 3 Dane Gagai
Centre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Tommy Talau

Centre for Knights is number 4 Bradman Best
Winger for Wests Tigers is number 5 Charlie Staines

Winger for Knights is number 5 Dominic Young
Five-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Adam Doueihi

Five-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Kalyn Ponga
Halfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Luke Brooks

Halfback for Knights is number 7 Jackson Hastings

Forwards

Prop for Wests Tigers is number 8 Stefano Utoikamanu

Prop for Knights is number 8 Daniel Saifiti
Hooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Apisai Koroisau

Hooker for Knights is number 9 Jayden Brailey
Prop for Wests Tigers is number 10 David Klemmer

Prop for Knights is number 17 Leo Thompson
2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Isaiah Papali'i

2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Tyson Frizell
2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 15 Asu Kepaoa

2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Lachlan Fitzgibbon
Lock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Joe Ofahengaue

Lock for Knights is number 15 Jack Johns

Interchange

Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Jake Simpkin

Interchange for Knights is number 10 Jacob Saifiti
Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Alex Seyfarth

Interchange for Knights is number 14 Phoenix Crossland
Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Alex Twal

Interchange for Knights is number 16 Jack Hetherington
Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 22 Brandon Tumeth

Interchange for Knights is number 19 Tyson Gamble

Reserves

Reserve for Wests Tigers is number 18 Starford To'a

Reserve for Knights is number 18 Brodie Jones

Match Officials

Referee: Peter Gough
Touch Judge: Liam Kennedy
Touch Judge: Jon Stone
Senior Review Official: Matt Noyen

Last updated: 12/8/2023 1:10:55 AM

TEAM NEWS

UPDATE: Knights Head Coach Adam O'Brien has reduced his squad to 19 ahead of our Round 2 battle against the Wests Tigers at Leichhardt Oval tomorrow.

Kurt Mann has been a late withdrawal with Tyson Gamble set to make his Club debut.

Wearing jersey #19, Gamble is the newest inductee to the Knights honour roll becoming Knight No. 339.

For the Tigers, Back-rower Shawn Blore hasn't passed concussion protocols and was removed from the squad on Saturday with Balmain junior Brandon Tumeth coming onto the bench in what will be his NRL debut.

Asu Kepaoa joins the run-on side in the second row. Api Koroisau has been named to start after coming off the bench in Round 1, while Joe Ofahengaue has also been promoted to the starting side and Alex Twal shifts to the bench.

Alex Seyfarth comes into the squad to replace Fonua Pole (knee). Centres Brent Naden (knee) and Tommy Talau (leg cramps) are good to go.

TUESDAY: Veteran Maroons Origin centre Dane Gagai returns from a hamstring injury and Jack Johns replaces interchange forward Adam Elliott who suffered a groin injury against the Warriors last week.

For the Tigers, Api Koroisau has been named to start after coming off the bench in Round 1.

Joe Ofahengaue has also been promoted to the starting side with Alex Twal shifting to the bench. Alex Seyfarth comes into the squad to replace Fonua Pole (knee).

Back-rower Shawn Blore has been named pending concussion protocols after picking up a head knock on Sunday.

ALLAN MCMAHON SHIELD

The Knights and Wests Tigers will pay tribute to the life and career of Allan McMahon by contesting for the Allan McMahon Shield this Sunday.

McMahon had a strong affiliation with both clubs having played 110 first grade game at the Balmain Tigers between 1975 and 1981. He later became the inaugural coach of the Newcastle Knights in 1988.

The former coach paved the way for the Knights in their introduction to the league in '88 and laid the foundations that would bear fruits in years to come.

Sadly, McMahon passed away in 2003 at the age of 48. The Knights and Tigers will remember an inspiring figure of both clubs and continue his legacy.

The Shield has been contested since '03 in the first game of the year between the two clubs with the Knights currently holding the shield after a victory over their upcoming opposition in Round 2 last season.

FORM GUIDE

In a hard-fought opening round game in New Zealand, the Knights went down 20-12 to the Warriors in Round 1.

With plenty of positives to take from the first fixture, the match blooded new players including Adam Elliott, Jackson Hastings, Jack Hetherington and Lachlan Miller into the line-up.

Hastings on first game and Tigers match-up

Meanwhile, the Tigers were defeated 22-10 by the Gold Coast Titans last start.

In the Pre-Season challenge, they played the Warriors and Raiders in preparation for the new season.

KEY MATCH-UP

Jayden Brailey v Apisai Koroisau: Our co-captain will go head-to-head with premiership-winning hooker, Apisai Koroisau on Sunday.

After a strong pre-season and having overcome a rollercoaster 2022 season with injury, Brailey led out the team in Round 1 and made 49 tackles for zero missed against the Warriors.

The crafty dummy-half will look to get the Knights on the front-foot with his play out of the No.9 role.

On the opposite side, Koroisau moved over from the premiers, the Panthers, in the off-season to join the Tigers and is the reigning Dally M hooker of the year.

STAT ATTACK

Lachlan Fitzgibbon will notch his 100th game in the NRL when he runs out to play on the weekend. A loyal custodian to the red and blue, 'Fitzy' came through the pathways system to debut in 2015 and has spent nine seasons at the Club.