The nib Newcastle Knights NRLW side will look to return to winning ways when they travel down to play Parramatta this weekend.
In a Grand Final re-match from last year, the two teams will go head-to-head again for a big two points.
A few key players have returned for the Knights as they look to pick up their second win of the campaign.
PARRAMATTA EELS v nib NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Date: Sunday, August 6th
Kick-off: 12:00pm
Venue: CommBank Stadium
The match will be shown live on Nine, Nine Now, Fox League and Kayo Sports.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Since: 2021
Eels: 1
Knights: 2
TEAMS
Match: Eels v Knights
Round 3 -
home Team
Eels
away Team
Knights
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Eels is number 1 Abbi ChurchFullback for Knights is number 1 Tamika Upton
-
Winger for Eels is number 2 Zali FayWinger for Knights is number 2 Sheridan Gallagher
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Centre for Eels is number 4 Cassey Tohi-HikuCentre for Knights is number 3 Shanice Parker
-
Centre for Eels is number 20 Kimberley HuntCentre for Knights is number 4 Abigail Roache
-
Winger for Eels is number 5 Monique DonovanWinger for Knights is number 5 Jasmin Strange
-
Five-Eighth for Eels is number 6 Pihuka Berryman-DuffFive-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Georgia Roche
-
Halfback for Eels is number 7 Rosemarie BeckettHalfback for Knights is number 7 Jesse Southwell
Forwards
-
Prop for Eels is number 8 Talesha O'NeillProp for Knights is number 8 Simone Karpani
-
Hooker for Eels is number 9 Rueben CherringtonHooker for Knights is number 9 Olivia Higgins
-
Prop for Eels is number 17 Madeline JonesProp for Knights is number 10 Rima Butler
-
2nd Row for Eels is number 3 Mahalia Murphy2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Caitlan Johnston
-
2nd Row for Eels is number 11 Amelia Mafi2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Yasmin Clydsdale
-
Lock for Eels is number 13 Kennedy CherringtonLock for Knights is number 13 Hannah Southwell
Interchange
-
Interchange for Eels is number 10 Ruby-Jean Kennard-EllisInterchange for Knights is number 14 Nita Maynard
-
Interchange for Eels is number 14 Capri PaekauInterchange for Knights is number 15 Kayla Romaniuk
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Interchange for Eels is number 19 Kyra SimonInterchange for Knights is number 16 Laishon Albert-Jones
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Interchange for Eels is number 21 Kelsey ClarkInterchange for Knights is number 17 Tayla Predebon
Reserves
-
Replacement for Eels is number 16 Shannon MuruReplacement for Knights is number 18 Felila Kia
Match Officials
- Referee: Belinda Sharpe
- Senior Review Official: Ben Cummins
Last updated:
TEAM NEWS
Knights NRLW Head Coach Ronald Griffiths has named his 22-woman squad for our Round 3 clash against the Parramatta Eels.
In a huge boost for the side, Captain Hannah Southwell has been named to make her return.
The NSW and Australian representative ruptured her ACL in Round 1 of last season and will mark her first appearance of the new campaign by leading out the side at CommBank Stadium.
English international Georgia Roche has also been selected to make her highly-anticipated NRLW debut.
A quick and strong ball-runner, Roche will line-up alongside Jesse Southwell in the halves.
In further team news, Kiwi international Laishon Albert-Jones returns to the bench having missed last round due to a mandatory concussion stand-down.
For the Eels, Elsie Albert could make her club debut after being included in the extended reserves as she battles a calf injury which has kept her out of the opening two rounds.
FORM GUIDE
After an opening start win, the Knights went down by 11 points to the North Queensland Cowboys in Round 2.
The Knights sit in fifth spot on the ladder from the opening two games.
They will come up against their Grand Final opponents from last year in the Parramatta Eels, who were defeated 38-12 by the Dragons last round.
KEY MATCH-UP
Hannah Southwell v Kennedy Cherrington: It's the battle of the captain's in the middle of the park this Sunday.
Southwell returns to the starting line-up after an extensive recovery from an ACL rupture in Round 1 of last season.
The NSW and Australian rep will play alongside her sister Jesse for the second time and lead out the red and blue.
On the other side, the Knights will look to contain Cherrington who has 19 tackle breaks over the last two seasons for the Eels.
STAT ATTACK
The match is the first between the two Clubs following last year's Grand Final.
Knights fullback Tamika Upton has the most kick return metres after two rounds with 125.
Only 15 of 34 players across both clubs featured on Grand Final day last year - the Knights have 11 and Eels 4.
