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The nib Newcastle Knights will head down the M1 to take on arch rivals, the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, this Saturday at 4 Pines Park, Brookvale.
Coming off a tough loss to South Sydney, the Knights will be looking to spark their finals hopes with a victory on Saturday against top eight opposition.
New recruit Anthony Milford will also notch a huge milestone and reach 200 NRL games in the fixture against Manly.
This is your Ultimate Guide to the Newcastle Knights Round 18 fixture against the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, brought to you by Hunter City Motor Group.
MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES v nib NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Date: Saturday, July 16, 2022
Kick-off: 5:30pm
NSW Cup kick-off: 12:40pm
Jersey Flegg Cup kick-off: 3:15pm
Venue: 4 Pines Park, Sydney
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Since: 1988
Played: 56
Manly: 34
Knights: 22
TEAMS
Match: Sea Eagles v Knights
Round 18 -
home Team
Sea Eagles
away Team
Knights
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Reuben GarrickFullback for Knights is number 1 Kalyn Ponga
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Winger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Jason SaabWinger for Knights is number 2 Edrick Lee
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Centre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Morgan HarperCentre for Knights is number 3 Dane Gagai
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Centre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Tolutau KoulaCentre for Knights is number 4 Enari Tuala
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Winger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Christian TuipulotuWinger for Knights is number 5 Dominic Young
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Five-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Kieran ForanFive-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Anthony Milford
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Halfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Daly Cherry-EvansHalfback for Knights is number 7 Adam Clune
Forwards
-
Prop for Sea Eagles is number 8 Sean KeppieProp for Knights is number 8 David Klemmer
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Hooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Lachlan CrokerHooker for Knights is number 9 Jayden Brailey
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Prop for Sea Eagles is number 18 Josh AloiaiProp for Knights is number 10 Daniel Saifiti
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2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Haumole Olakau'atu2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Tyson Frizell
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2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Andrew Davey2nd Row for Knights is number 20 Lachlan Fitzgibbon
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Lock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Jake TrbojevicLock for Knights is number 12 Mitchell Barnett
Interchange
-
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 10 Toafofoa SipleyInterchange for Knights is number 14 Simi Sasagi
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Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Dylan WalkerInterchange for Knights is number 15 Jacob Saifiti
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Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Joshua SchusterInterchange for Knights is number 17 Brodie Jones
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Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Martin TaupauInterchange for Knights is number 18 Leo Thompson
Reserves
-
Replacement for Sea Eagles is number 19 Ben TrbojevicReplacement for Knights is number 19 Chris Randall
Match Officials
- Referee: Gerard Sutton
- Touch Judge: Nick Morel
- Touch Judge: Jon Stone
- Senior Review Official: Chris Butler
Last updated:
TEAM NEWS
UPDATE:In two late changes, Lachlan Fitzgibbon comes into the second-row. Kurt Mann comes out of the team with Mitch Barnett moving to lock.
Leo Thompson also joins the bench replacing Pasami Saulo.
Chris Randall and Mat Croker remain on the extended bench.
Manly remain unchanged.
TUESDAY: Knights Head Coach Adam O’Brien named his 22-man squad for Saturday night’s clash.
Origin representative players Kayln Ponga, Dane Gagai and debutant Jacob Saifiti have been named in the squad. All three will be monitored and assessed after tomorrow night's decider at Suncorp Stadium, before a final team is announced an hour prior to kick off.
Club Captain Jayden Brailey returns to start at hooker and utility forward Brodie Jones has been named in the top 17.
Brailey: Return match and playing time
Centre Bradman Best was unavailable for selection after suffering an injury to his thumb in last week's match against the Rabbitohs with Gagai and Tuala named in the centres.
For the Sea Eagles, Des Hasler has named the same 17 that beat Melbourne, with Origin stars Daly Cherry-Evans and Jake Trbojevic set to back up after Wednesday's decider. Josh Aloiai is listed as 18th Man after he missed Round 16 due to a concussion.
MILFORD 200TH
Our newest recruit Anthony Milford is set to notch a major milestone this weekend bringing up 200 first grade games.
The talented five-eighth began his career in Canberra having a breakout first year in the NRL receiving a nomination for Rookie of the Year.
The Queenslander returned home to Brisbane in 2015 making a Grand Final in his first season at the Broncos where he would go onto play 151 games across seven seasons.
Milford joined Newcastle midway through this season having previously scored 70 tries and provided 103 try-assists.
Saifiti: J-Saf's Origin call-up and bouncing back
FORM GUIDE
After leading early against the Rabbitohs, the Knights slipped to our 11th loss of the campaign going down 40-28 to South Sydney.
Newcastle have won two out of our last five and sit in 12th spot on the ladder.
Fresh off the bye, Manly have strong form winning three of their last four including a 36-30 win over Melbourne last start.
Road to Recovery: Jayden Brailey
The Sea Eagles sit in 8th spot with eight wins and eight losses in 2022.
KEY MATCH-UP
Edrick Lee v Jason Saab: Two towering and powerful wingers will combat on Saturday with Edrick Lee to take on Jason Saab.
Lee has been in supreme try-scoring form with a try in each of his last five games and nine in that period.
Jacob Saifiti talks to the media ahead of Origin debut
The Queensland Origin representative also has 29 tackle breaks so far this campaign since coming back from injury in Round 6.
The winger will have a battle on his hands coming up against the Sea Eagles flyer, who scored two tries in the last-start win over the Storm and is renowned for his speed.
STAT ATTACK
The Knights have won three out of the last four against the Sea Eagles and the last clash at Brookvale back in 2020.
In his return game last round, Jayden Brailey played 40 minutes contributing one try-assist, one line-break assist and 24 tackles in the middle.
Sea Eagles halfback Daly Cherry-Evans leads the NRL for 40/20's with three for the season.
For total kick metres, both teams sit high on the ladder with Knights sitting fifth with 8,855 metres while the Sea Eagles sit fourth with 9,026.