The nib Newcastle Knights return to action this Sunday for a showdown against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs away from home.
Heading into the crunch part of the season, the Knights will be aiming to return to winning ways ahead of their third and final bye round.
A slice of history will also be on the line with the Club chasing its 400th win in its history.
CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS v nib NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Date: Sunday, July 2nd
Kick-off: 2:00pm
Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney
The match will be shown live on Fox League and Kayo Sports.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Since: 1988
Bulldogs: 28
Knights: 24
Draws: 1
TEAMS
Match: Bulldogs v Knights
Round 18 -
home Team
Bulldogs
away Team
Knights
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Bulldogs is number 1 Hayze PerhamFullback for Knights is number 1 Kalyn Ponga
-
Winger for Bulldogs is number 2 Jacob KirazWinger for Knights is number 2 Dominic Young
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Centre for Bulldogs is number 3 Jake AverilloCentre for Knights is number 3 Enari Tuala
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Centre for Bulldogs is number 4 Paul AlamotiCentre for Knights is number 4 Bradman Best
-
Winger for Bulldogs is number 5 Josh Addo-CarrWinger for Knights is number 5 Greg Marzhew
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Five-Eighth for Bulldogs is number 6 Khaled RajabFive-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Tyson Gamble
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Halfback for Bulldogs is number 7 Matt BurtonHalfback for Knights is number 7 Jackson Hastings
Forwards
-
Prop for Bulldogs is number 8 Max KingProp for Knights is number 10 Leo Thompson
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Hooker for Bulldogs is number 9 Reed MahoneyHooker for Knights is number 9 Phoenix Crossland
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Prop for Bulldogs is number 10 Tevita Pangai JuniorProp for Knights is number 15 Jacob Saifiti
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2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 11 Jayden Okunbor2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Tyson Frizell
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2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 12 Jacob Preston2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Lachlan Fitzgibbon
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Lock for Bulldogs is number 13 Kurtis MorrinLock for Knights is number 13 Adam Elliott
Interchange
-
Interchange for Bulldogs is number 14 Harrison EdwardsInterchange for Knights is number 8 Daniel Saifiti
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Interchange for Bulldogs is number 15 Ryan SuttonInterchange for Knights is number 14 Kurt Mann
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Interchange for Bulldogs is number 17 Jackson TopineInterchange for Knights is number 16 Jack Hetherington
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Interchange for Bulldogs is number 23 Raymond Faitala-MarinerInterchange for Knights is number 17 Mat Croker
Reserves
-
Replacement for Bulldogs is number 19 Reece HoffmanReplacement for Knights is number 18 Dylan Lucas
Match Officials
- Referee: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
- Touch Judge: Darian Furner
- Touch Judge: Chris Sutton
- Senior Review Official: Matt Noyen
Last updated:
TEAM NEWS
TUESDAY: Knights Head Coach Adam O'Brien named his 22-man squad for our clash against the Bulldogs.
There has been two changes made to the team from last round.
Dane Gagai (foot) has withdrawn with an injury. Enari Tuala comes into the centres to replace the veteran outside-back.
Lachlan Fitzgibbon returns to the second-row after sitting out the previous round due to a Category One concussion while Dylan Lucas moves back to the extended bench.
For the Bulldogs, Khaled Rajab gets his first run-on appearance, taking over at five-eighth from Karl Oloapu while Max King has come into the front row for Chris Patolo.
Youngster Harrison Edwards returns from concussion on the bench.
Raymond Faitala-Mariner played his first game in over a month last week in NSW Cup after being sidelined with illness and he is listed among the reserves.
Jackson Topine comes onto the bench at the expense of Corey Waddell.
FORM GUIDE
The Knights went down by eight points to the Penrith Panthers away from home last round.
Sitting in 14th on the ladder, the red and blue sit five points away from the top eight with nine games remaining in the regular season.
Meanwhile, the Bulldogs are fresh off the bye while have won one of their last four.
The Dogs sit in 15th heading into the fixture.
AOB on moving forward and finding solutions
BEANIE FOR BRAIN CANCER ROUND
The Newcastle Knights will join the NRL and Club legend Mark Hughes to help tackle brain cancer with the annual Beanie for Brain Cancer Round, in support of the Mark Hughes Foundation.
Entering its seventh season, the Foundation hopes to sell its one millionth beanie during this weekend's round of games.
In Australia, Brain Cancer kills more children than any other disease and more people under 40 than any other cancer.
Supporters are being urged to help raise much needed funds by buying a beanie or donating to the Mark Hughes Foundation.
To buy a beanie, support the cause or find out any more information head to www.markhughesfoundation.com.au
Hastings on injury scare and upcoming fixture
KEY MATCH-UP
Phoenix Crossland v Reed Mahoney: Two crafty and tough dummy-halfs will play a crucial role in this Sunday's game.
Crossland has stood up in his new position this season after playing mostly as a halfback throughout his juniors and early NRL games.
The No.9 has notched three tries, and leads the Knights for tackles with 512 at an efficiency of 92.4 percent.
On the other side, Reed Mahoney poses a threat out of dummy-half while has six try-assists and seven line-break assists for the season
STAT ATTACK
The Knights are chasing the Club's 400th win in its history.
Dom Young co-leads the NRL in tries with 16.
Knights centre Bradman Best has scored a try in his past three games against the Bulldogs.
Bulldogs winger Josh Addo-Carr has scored eight tries in 10 games against the Knights.
