The nib Newcastle Knights are back home for a Thursday night blockbuster against rivals, the Sydney Roosters.
Fresh off a home win over the Dragons last start, the side will look to notch back-to-back wins in front of the Hunter faithful.
We've broken down the game from team news to the key match-up.
nib NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS v SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Date: Thursday 11 April
Gates/Fan Zone Open: 5:00pm
NSW Cup kick-off: 5:20pm
NRL kick-off: 7:50pm
Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
GAME DAY INFORMATION
Tickets: Purchase here
Membership: Play your part
Merchandise: Show your colours
50/50 Charity Partner: John Hunter Children's Hospital
Match Day Sponsor: Brydens Lawyers
KP: 'We've got a challenge ahead of us and we want to perform'
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Since: 1988
Knights: 21
Roosters: 37
Draws: 2
TEAMS
Match: Knights v Roosters
Round 6 -
home Team
Knights
away Team
Roosters
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Knights is number 1 Kalyn PongaFullback for Roosters is number 1 Joseph Manu
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Winger for Knights is number 5 Enari TualaWinger for Roosters is number 2 Daniel Tupou
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Centre for Knights is number 3 Dane GagaiCentre for Roosters is number 3 Michael Jennings
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Centre for Knights is number 4 Bradman BestCentre for Roosters is number 4 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii
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Winger for Knights is number 22 Greg MarzhewWinger for Roosters is number 5 Fetalaiga Pauga
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Five-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Jack CoggerFive-Eighth for Roosters is number 6 Connor Watson
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Halfback for Knights is number 7 Jackson HastingsHalfback for Roosters is number 7 Luke Keary
Forwards
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Prop for Knights is number 8 Jacob SaifitiProp for Roosters is number 8 Jared Waerea-Hargreaves
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Hooker for Knights is number 9 Jayden BraileyHooker for Roosters is number 9 Brandon Smith
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Prop for Knights is number 10 Leo ThompsonProp for Roosters is number 10 Lindsay Collins
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2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Dylan Lucas2nd Row for Roosters is number 11 Nat Butcher
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2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Kai Pearce-Paul2nd Row for Roosters is number 12 Angus Crichton
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Lock for Knights is number 13 Adam ElliottLock for Roosters is number 13 Victor Radley
Interchange
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Interchange for Knights is number 14 Phoenix CrosslandInterchange for Roosters is number 14 Zach Dockar-Clay
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Interchange for Knights is number 15 Daniel SaifitiInterchange for Roosters is number 15 Naufahu Whyte
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Interchange for Knights is number 16 Jack HetheringtonInterchange for Roosters is number 16 Sitili Tupouniua
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Interchange for Knights is number 17 Mat CrokerInterchange for Roosters is number 17 Terrell May
Reserves
-
Replacement for Knights is number 2 Thomas JenkinsReplacement for Roosters is number 18 Egan Butcher
Match Officials
- Referee: Gerard Sutton
- Touch Judge: Dave Munro
- Touch Judge: Matt Noyen
- Senior Review Official: Chris Butler
Last updated:
TEAM NEWS
TUESDAY: Knights Head Coach Adam O'Brien has named his 22-man squad for their Round 6 clash against the Sydney Roosters.
In squad news, the starting team is unchanged from the last match against the Dragons.
Greg Marzhew has been named on the extended bench after having wrist surgery following Round 2.
For the Roosters, with James Tedesco and Sam Walker both out under the concussion protocol, Joey Manu moves into the fullback role and Connor Watson becomes the five-eighth, with Luke Keary shifting into the No.7 jersey.
Junior Pauga is the new face in the backline due to Dominic Young’s two-game suspension, along with Michael Jennings who played 53 minutes last week after coming on as the replacement player.
Zach Dockar-Clay comes onto the bench while Nat Butcher returns in the second row, bumping his brother Egan out of the 17 and moving Sitili Tupouniua back to the bench.
FORM GUIDE
The Knights returned to the winner's circle with a 30-10 win over the St George Illawarra Dragons last start in trying conditions at home.
The result marked the side's eighth win out of the last nine on home soil.
On the other side, the Roosters have won two of their first five games following a 30-26 defeat to the Bulldogs last round.
Saifiti: 'We got challenged and the boys responded'
KEY MATCH-UP
Adam Elliott v Victor Radley: Two tough, hard-hitting and ball-playing 13's will go head-to-head on Thursday night.
Elliott has been a consistent figure in the Knights pack to start the season leading from the middle with a tackle efficiency of just over 95% and seven tackle breaks.
For the away side, Radley has averaged 142 run metres and had five tackle breaks to start the season.
STAT ATTACK
Knights centre Bradman Best has scored nine tries in his past 11 games at McDonald Jones Stadium.
Kalyn Ponga leads the Dally M count after the opening five rounds with 17 and still holds a 100% conversion rate to start the year.
The Knights sit third in the competition for post contact metres from the opening rounds with just over 3,000.
