The nib Newcastle Knights will welcome their old foe to McDonald Jones Stadium this Sunday for an afternoon blockbuster.
The red and blue will take on the Manly Sea Eagles aiming to pick up another big two points, with all three grades in action during the day.
Both coaches have named their sides with a few players missing due to Origin selection, however members and supporters will be in for a colossal battle come 4pm Sunday.
nib NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS v MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Date: Sunday, May 28th
Kick-off: 4:05pm
Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
The match will be shown live on Nine, Fox League and Kayo Sports.
AOB on reaction to Round 12 and Origin calls
GAME DAY INFORMATION
Game Day itinerary: See here
Gates/Fan Zone open: 11:15am
Jersey Flegg Cup v Sea Eagles: 11:30am
NSW Cup v Sea Eagles: 1:35pm
NRL kick-off: 4.05pm
Merchandise: Show your colours
Membership: See options
Tickets: Purchase here
Theme: Reconciliation Week
50-50 Charity Partner: Hunter Medical Research Institute
Match Day Sponsor: The University of Newcastle
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Since: 1988
Knights: 22
Sea Eagles: 35
Draws: 1
TEAMS
Match: Knights v Sea Eagles
Round 13 -
home Team
Knights
away Team
Sea Eagles
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Knights is number 1 Kalyn PongaFullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Kaeo Weekes
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Winger for Knights is number 2 Dominic YoungWinger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Jason Saab
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Centre for Knights is number 3 Dane GagaiCentre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Brad Parker
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Centre for Knights is number 4 Bradman BestCentre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Tolutau Koula
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Winger for Knights is number 5 Greg MarzhewWinger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Reuben Garrick
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Five-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Tyson GambleFive-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Joshua Schuster
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Halfback for Knights is number 7 Jackson HastingsHalfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Cooper Johns
Forwards
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Prop for Knights is number 8 Daniel SaifitiProp for Sea Eagles is number 8 Taniela Paseka
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Hooker for Knights is number 9 Phoenix CrosslandHooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Lachlan Croker
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Prop for Knights is number 10 Leo ThompsonProp for Sea Eagles is number 10 Toafofoa Sipley
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2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Jack Johns2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Haumole Olakau'atu
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2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Lachlan Fitzgibbon2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Samuela Fainu
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Lock for Knights is number 13 Adam ElliottLock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Sean Keppie
Interchange
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Interchange for Knights is number 14 Lachlan MillerInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Karl Lawton
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Interchange for Knights is number 15 Jacob SaifitiInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Ethan Bullemor
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Interchange for Knights is number 16 Jack HetheringtonInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 17 Ben Condon
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Interchange for Knights is number 17 Mat CrokerInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 19 Jake Arthur
Reserves
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Replacement for Knights is number 22 Kurt MannReplacement for Sea Eagles is number 18 Morgan Boyle
Match Officials
- Referee: Peter Gough
- Touch Judge: Kasey Badger
- Touch Judge: Darian Furner
- Senior Review Official: Grant Atkins
Last updated:
TEAM NEWS
UPDATE: There were no changes to the Knights 24 hour team.
For the Sea Eagles, mid-week signing Jake Arthur is set to make his club debut after joining the bench in the 24-hour update, with Christian Tuipulotu dropping out.
TUESDAY: Knights Head Coach, Adam O'Brien, named his 22-man squad for our clash against Manly Sea Eagles at McDonald Jones Stadium this Sunday afternoon.
Front rower Daniel Saifiti will notch up his 150th appearance in the NRL, having played his entire career in the red and blue. Saifiti made his Knights debut in Round 1, 2016 after graduating from the Entrance Tigers on the Central Coast.
Captain Kalyn Ponga has been named at fullback with Tyson Gamble at five-eighth. Lachlan Miller has been included on the interchange bench.
Jack Johns returns to the starting back-row replacing NSW Origin representative Tyson Frizell while Adam Elliott is named to start at lock forward.
Saifiti on role in the side and returning home
For the Sea Eagles, mid-week signing Jake Arthur comes straight into the 22-man squad, but it's Cooper Johns who will replace Daly Cherry-Evans (Origin) in the halves.
Kaeo Weekes starts at fullback in the absence of Tom Trbojevic (Origin), while Toafofoa Sipley joins the 17 in place of the injured Jake Trbojevic (calf) and will start at prop, with Sean Keppie moving to lock.
Samuela Fainu moves up from the bench to start second row, so Christian Tuipulotu joins the interchange for his first NRL game since Round 9.
FORM GUIDE
After 11 games played, the Knights sit in 12th spot with 11 points on the board.
The side went down 26-6 to the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks last start in Coffs Harbour, while return to McDonald Jones Stadium where they have won three out of their last four games.
They will take on the Manly Sea Eagles who sit in 9th spot after their Round 12 42-14 win over the Raiders.
Both sides met in Round 5 earlier this season, playing out a 32-all draw.
Greg Marzhew: Start to the season, journey to league and fan Q's
KEY MATCH-UP
Dominic Young v Jason Saab: Two of the games quickest players will do battle on Sunday afternoon.
Young has scored 11 tries from 10 games this season including a four-try haul against the Sea Eagles in Round 5.
The towering winger also has 33 tackle breaks and 11 line-breaks so far this season.
On the other flank and boasting similar speed and size, Jason Saab scored a try and ran for 144 metres last round.
STAT ATTACK
Knights winger Greg Marzhew has scored five tries in his past four games at McDonald Jones Stadium.
In the last five games between the two outfits, the spoils are shared with two wins each and a draw.
Manly forward Taniela Paseka sits fifth in the NRL for post-contact metres with 656.
Dane Gagai has made 62 tackle breaks this season, sitting fifth in the NRL.
