Defend the Kingdom: NRL Round 26 & NRLW Round 6 preview

Author: Newcastle Knights
Timestamp: Wed 23 Aug 2023, 03:33 PM

Get set for another blockbuster triple-header at McDonald Jones Stadium this Sunday.

With NSW Cup action kicking off beforehand, our NRLW side will run out against competition newcomers in the Sharks chasing four straight wins.

Our NRL side will then enter the field for a monumental match-up against fellow finals contenders, the Sharks on the Club's traditional Old Boys Day.

nib NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS NRL v CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS NRL

nib NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS NRLW v CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS NRLW

Game Day Itinerary: See here

Date: Sunday, August 27th

NRLW Kick-off: 1:45pm

NRL Kick-off: 4:05pm

Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle

Both matches will be shown live on Nine, Nine Now, Fox League and Kayo Sports.

Best on team confidence and combinations

NRL HEAD-TO-HEAD

Since: 1988

Knights: 31

Sharks: 27

Draws: 1

Clune on joining the squad and team role

NRLW HEAD-TO-HEAD

The match is the first meeting between the two Clubs.

NRL TEAMS

Round 26 - Round 26 - Sunday 27 Aug

Full Time

Knights

Sharks

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Knights is number 1 Kalyn Ponga

Fullback for Sharks is number 1 Connor Tracey
Winger for Knights is number 2 Dominic Young

Winger for Sharks is number 2 Sione Katoa
Centre for Knights is number 3 Dane Gagai

Centre for Sharks is number 3 Jesse Ramien
Centre for Knights is number 4 Bradman Best

Centre for Sharks is number 4 Siosifa Talakai
Winger for Knights is number 5 Greg Marzhew

Winger for Sharks is number 5 Ronaldo Mulitalo
Five-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Tyson Gamble

Five-Eighth for Sharks is number 17 Matt Moylan
Halfback for Knights is number 20 Adam Clune

Halfback for Sharks is number 6 Braydon Trindall

Forwards

Prop for Knights is number 8 Jacob Saifiti

Prop for Sharks is number 8 Toby Rudolf
Hooker for Knights is number 9 Phoenix Crossland

Hooker for Sharks is number 9 Blayke Brailey
Prop for Knights is number 10 Leo Thompson

Prop for Sharks is number 10 Braden Hamlin-Uele
2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Tyson Frizell

2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Briton Nikora
2nd Row for Knights is number 18 Dylan Lucas

2nd Row for Sharks is number 12 Wade Graham
Lock for Knights is number 13 Adam Elliott

Lock for Sharks is number 13 Cameron McInnes

Interchange

Interchange for Knights is number 15 Daniel Saifiti

Interchange for Sharks is number 14 Jack Williams
Interchange for Knights is number 16 Jack Hetherington

Interchange for Sharks is number 15 Royce Hunt
Interchange for Knights is number 17 Mat Croker

Interchange for Sharks is number 16 Thomas Hazelton
Interchange for Knights is number 22 Fa'amanu Brown

Interchange for Sharks is number 18 Jesse Colquhoun

Reserves

Replacement for Knights is number 21 Brodie Jones

Replacement for Sharks is number 19 Mawene Hiroti

Match Officials

Referee: Ashley Klein
Touch Judge: Belinda Sharpe
Senior Review Official: Grant Atkins

Last updated: 12/12/2023 11:06:29 PM

NRL TEAM NEWS

UPDATE: Lachlan Fitzgibbon, Kurt Mann and Jackson Hastings have come out of the team replaced by Dylan Lucas, Brodie Jones and Adam Clune in the starting 17.

For the Sharks, Nicho Hynes will be rested due to a quad injury that flared up after training. Matt Moylan moves into the starting side at five-eighth and Braydon Trindall goes to halfback.

Prop Oregon Kaufusi makes his return from a finger injury via the interchange bench.

NRLW TEAMS

Round 6 - Round 6 - Sunday 27 Aug

Full Time

Knights

Sharks

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Knights is number 1 Tamika Upton

Fullback for Sharks is number 1 Jada Taylor
Winger for Knights is number 2 Sheridan Gallagher

Winger for Sharks is number 2 Georgia Ravics
Centre for Knights is number 3 Shanice Parker

Centre for Sharks is number 3 Tiana Penitani
Centre for Knights is number 4 Abigail Roache

Centre for Sharks is number 4 Annessa Biddle
Winger for Knights is number 5 Jasmin Strange

Winger for Sharks is number 5 Andie Robinson
Five-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Georgia Roche

Five-Eighth for Sharks is number 6 Emma Tonegato
Halfback for Knights is number 7 Jesse Southwell

Halfback for Sharks is number 7 Tayla Preston

Forwards

Prop for Knights is number 10 Caitlan Johnston

Prop for Sharks is number 8 Ellie Johnston
Hooker for Knights is number 9 Olivia Higgins

Hooker for Sharks is number 9 Quincy Dodd
Prop for Knights is number 17 Tayla Predebon

Prop for Sharks is number 10 Chloe Saunders
2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Laishon Albert-Jones

2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Talei Holmes
2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Yasmin Clydsdale

2nd Row for Sharks is number 12 Vanessa Foliaki
Lock for Knights is number 13 Hannah Southwell

Lock for Sharks is number 13 Holli Wheeler

Interchange

Interchange for Knights is number 8 Kayla Romaniuk

Interchange for Sharks is number 14 Sereana Naitokatoka
Interchange for Knights is number 14 Nita Maynard

Interchange for Sharks is number 15 Harata Butler
Interchange for Knights is number 15 Felila Kia

Interchange for Sharks is number 16 Brooke Anderson
Interchange for Knights is number 16 Viena Tinao

Interchange for Sharks is number 17 Tegan Dymock

Reserves

Replacement for Knights is number 18 Tiana Davison

Replacement for Sharks is number 22 Kiana Takairangi

Match Officials

Referee: Kasey Badger
Senior Review Official: Matt Noyen

Last updated: 9/13/2023 7:26:05 AM

NRLW TEAM NEWS

In team news, Captain Hannah Southwell returns to the team at lock forward.

Caitlan Johnston will partner Kayla Romaniuk in the front-row while Laishon Albert-Jones will join Yasmin Clydsdale in the second row.

Viena Tinao returns to the bench with Rima Butler and Simone Karpani coming out of the side due to injury.

For the Sharks, they have made a positional switch in the forward pack as the only alteration. Veteran Holli Wheeler moves to lock after starting at prop last week, with Chloe Saunders shifting from the No.13 jersey to the No.10 jersey.

NRL FORM GUIDE

The Knights notched their seventh straight win with a 29-10 victory against the Rabbitohs.

The side remain in seventh spot on the ladder with two games remaining in the regular season.

It shapes as a huge match-up against the Sharks who sit in fifth spot on the ladder, one point above the Knights.

Cronulla defeated the North Queensland Cowboys 32-12 last round.

Saifiti on starting role and Sharks challenge

NRLW FORM GUIDE

The Knights made it three wins on the bounce with a last minute win over the Broncos last round.

The 22-20 victory kept the side in second spot on the competition ladder.

The side will take on the Sharks who sit in seventh spot on the ladder.

Cronulla defeated the North Queensland Cowboys 40-12 in Round 5.

STAT ATTACK

Dom Young still sits one try away from equalling the Club record (21) for most tries in a single season with Greg Marzhew not far behind with 18.

NRLW winger Sheridan Gallagher leads the competition in line-breaks with 9.

At Round 26, the NRL side sit equal with the Broncos for most tries in the competition.

Jesse Southwell leads the NRL in goal kicks with 17.

Defend the Kingdom: NRL Round 26 & NRLW Round 6 preview

nib NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS NRL v CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS NRL

nib NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS NRLW v CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS NRLW