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Defend the Kingdom: NRL Round 5 preview

The nib Newcastle Knights are heading west to Mudgee this Saturday coming up against the old enemy in the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles at Glen Willow Stadium.

After a confidence-boosting victory over the Raiders last round, the red and blue will travel to Mudgee looking for another number to add to the win column.

The Sea Eagles have started fast sitting in second spot on the ladder to set-up a huge battle in regional NSW.

MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES v nib NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS

Date: Saturday, April 1st

Kick-off: 3:00pm

Venue: Glen Willow Oval, Mudgee

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

Gamble on combinations and Manly challenge

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Since: 1988

Sea Eagles: 35

Knights: 22

Draws: 2

TEAMS

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Tom Trbojevic
    Fullback for Knights is number 1 Lachlan Miller
  • Winger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Christian Tuipulotu
    Winger for Knights is number 5 Greg Marzhew
  • Centre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Brad Parker
    Centre for Knights is number 3 Dane Gagai
  • Centre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Morgan Harper
    Centre for Knights is number 4 Bradman Best
  • Winger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Reuben Garrick
    Winger for Knights is number 20 Dominic Young
  • Five-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 19 Cooper Johns
    Five-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Tyson Gamble
  • Halfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Daly Cherry-Evans
    Halfback for Knights is number 7 Jackson Hastings

Forwards

  • Prop for Sea Eagles is number 8 Taniela Paseka
    Prop for Knights is number 8 Daniel Saifiti
  • Hooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Lachlan Croker
    Hooker for Knights is number 9 Jayden Brailey
  • Prop for Sea Eagles is number 10 Jake Trbojevic
    Prop for Knights is number 10 Leo Thompson
  • 2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Haumole Olakau'atu
    2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Tyson Frizell
  • 2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Kelma Tuilagi
    2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Lachlan Fitzgibbon
  • Lock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Josh Aloiai
    Lock for Knights is number 13 Jack Johns

Interchange

  • Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Kaeo Weekes
    Interchange for Knights is number 14 Phoenix Crossland
  • Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Ben Trbojevic
    Interchange for Knights is number 15 Jack Hetherington
  • Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Ethan Bullemor
    Interchange for Knights is number 16 Mat Croker
  • Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 17 Sean Keppie
    Interchange for Knights is number 17 Brodie Jones

Reserves

  • Replacement for Sea Eagles is number 21 Karl Lawton
    Replacement for Knights is number 18 Dylan Lucas

Match Officials

  • Referee: Chris Butler
  • Touch Judge: Dave Munro
  • Senior Review Official: Grant Atkins

Last updated:

TEAM NEWS

UPDATE: Hymel Hunt is a late withdrawal from the team with a rib injury. Dom Young comes into the run-on side on the wing.

For the Sea Eagles, five-eighth Josh Schuster was ruled out after succumbing to a quad injury he suffered against Souths. He is replaced by Cooper Johns.

TUESDAY: Knights Head Coach Adam O’Brien named his squad for the Malcolm Reilly Trophy clash against Manly.

Dane Gagai will celebrate another significant milestone when he makes his 250th NRL appearance in the match, after notching up 150 Knights games against the Dolphins in Round 3.

Bradman Best also plays his 50th NRL match, having debuted for the Knights in Round 23, 2019 just days after turning 18 and thus becoming eligible for selection in the best rugby league competition in the world.

Jack Johns has been named to start at lock Forward, replacing Kurt Mann who will miss the game due to mandatory concussion standown rules.

Simi Sasagi is also eligible to make a return from a shoulder injury following his inclusion in the extended squad.

For the Sea Eagles, Morgan Harper will play his first game of the season in place of injured centre Tolu Koula (knee).

Hooker Lachlan Croker returns from the shoulder injury which kept him out of Round 4 so Karl Lawton goes to the reserves list.

FORM GUIDE

The Knights notched their second win of the season with a 10-point win over the Raiders last start.

A brilliant second half paved the way for victory keeping the Raiders scoreless in the final 40.

The red and blue sit in 12th spot while Manly currently sit in 2nd position.

The Sea Eagles have won two from three to start the season, going down by a point to South Sydney last start.

Marzhew on journey and building confidence

MALCOLM REILLY TROPHY

Adding to the intense rivalry of our clash with the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles is the chance to play for a prestigious piece of silverware.

The trophy, named for Knights inaugural premiership winning Coach and back-to-back Manly premiership winner Malcolm Reilly, is contested in the first competition match played between the two sides each season.

In 1995, Reilly made his way to Newcastle to take up the head coaching position at the Knights.

'Mal' would cement his spot in the Knights history books due to a fateful day in 1997.

Reilly became the first coach to lead the Club to a premiership after the 22-16 win over Manly in the 1997 Grand Final.

The Knights will honour his incredible time at the Club when they take on their old foe and will look to take home the trophy.

KEY MATCH-UP

Tyson Frizell v Haumole Olakau'atu: With blockbuster battles all over this park this Saturday, we've highlighted two dynamic and strong second-rowers set to go toe-to-toe.

One of the leaders of the pack, Frizell was instrumental in the win over the Raiders last start with 152 metres and a try.

'Friz' also combined with 52 post contact metres and four tackle breaks.

The Knights will look to contain Olakau'atu, who has scored three tries from as many games and averaged 135 run metres.

STAT ATTACK

Jackson Hastings leads the NRL in line engagements with 33 so far this season.

Manly winger Reuben Garrick leads the NRL in line-breaks with 7.

The Knights have played one game in Mudgee in our history, defeating the Dragons back in 2019.

Manly currently hold the Trophy after defeating the Knights 30-6 in Round of last season.