Defend the Kingdom: NRL Elimination Final preview
It's all led to this for the nib Newcastle Knights with the squad preparing for a monumental Elimination Final showdown against the Canberra Raiders at McDonald Jones Stadium this Sunday.
The NRL side will look to create their own piece of history come Sunday hosting their first finals match for the first time since 2006 and riding high after nine consecutive wins.
They match-up against a tough Raiders outfit, who finished in eighth spot, for the do-or-die battle.
nib NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS v CANBERRA RAIDERS
Date: Sunday, September 10th
Kick-off: 4:05pm
Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
The match will be shown live on Nine, Nine Now, Fox League and Kayo Sports.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Since: 1988
Played: 56
Knights: 25
Raiders: 29
Draws: 2
TEAMS
Match: Knights v Raiders
Finals Week 1 -
home Team
Knights
away Team
Raiders
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Knights is number 1 Kalyn PongaFullback for Raiders is number 1 Jordan Rapana
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Winger for Knights is number 2 Dominic YoungWinger for Raiders is number 2 James Schiller
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Centre for Knights is number 3 Dane GagaiCentre for Raiders is number 3 Jack Wighton
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Centre for Knights is number 4 Bradman BestCentre for Raiders is number 4 Matthew Timoko
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Winger for Knights is number 5 Greg MarzhewWinger for Raiders is number 5 Nick Cotric
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Five-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Tyson GambleFive-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Matt Frawley
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Halfback for Knights is number 7 Jackson HastingsHalfback for Raiders is number 7 Jamal Fogarty
Forwards
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Prop for Knights is number 8 Jacob SaifitiProp for Raiders is number 8 Ata Mariota
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Hooker for Knights is number 9 Phoenix CrosslandHooker for Raiders is number 9 Zac Woolford
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Prop for Knights is number 10 Leo ThompsonProp for Raiders is number 10 Joseph Tapine
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2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Tyson Frizell2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 Hudson Young
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2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Lachlan Fitzgibbon2nd Row for Raiders is number 12 Elliott Whitehead
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Lock for Knights is number 13 Adam ElliottLock for Raiders is number 13 Hohepa Puru
Interchange
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Interchange for Knights is number 14 Kurt MannInterchange for Raiders is number 14 Tom Starling
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Interchange for Knights is number 15 Daniel SaifitiInterchange for Raiders is number 15 Emre Guler
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Interchange for Knights is number 16 Jack HetheringtonInterchange for Raiders is number 16 Pasami Saulo
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Interchange for Knights is number 17 Mat CrokerInterchange for Raiders is number 17 Trey Mooney
Reserves
-
Replacement for Knights is number 20 Dylan LucasReplacement for Raiders is number 19 Albert Hopoate
Match Officials
- Referee: Ashley Klein
- Touch Judge: Liam Kennedy
- Touch Judge: Jon Stone
- Senior Review Official: Adam Gee
Last updated:
TEAM NEWS
TUESDAY: Knights NRL Head Coach Adam O'Brien named his 22-man squad for their huge Elimination Final showdown against the Canberra Raiders.
Numerous players have been named to return to the team, including Kalyn Ponga, Dane Gagai, Jackson Hastings, Phoenix Crossland, Tyson Frizell, Lachlan Fitzgibbon and Kurt Mann.
Dom Young will play his 50th NRL and Knights game, off the back of breaking the Club’s try scoring record with a double against the Dragons last week.
For the Raiders, Seb Kris was banned for five matches for the tackle on Sione Katoa. James Schiller comes in on the wing.
Ponga on receiving Buderus Medal, commitment and team unity
FORM GUIDE
The Knights finished the regular season in fifth spot on the ladder with 14 wins, one draw and nine defeats after 27 rounds.
The red and blue come into the elimination final off the back of nine straight victories.
On the other side, the Raiders finished the 2023 campaign in eighth spot with 13 wins and 11 defeats.
Canberra were defeated 24-6 in the final round by the Sharks.
Crossland on first finals week and Raiders challenge
KEY MATCH-UP
Leo Thompson v Joe Tapine: The battle of the forwards is worth the price of admission alone on Sunday with the two No.10's set to go toe-to-toe.
Thompson only missed the one game during the regular season becoming one of the first names on the team sheet each week.
Leo has 44 tackle breaks and averages 10 hit ups per game.
The Knights will tackle Joe Tapine, who has 29 offloads for the season and averaged 154 run metres across 2023.
Fitzgibbon on finishing on a high and finals experience
STAT ATTACK
This will be the first time these two clubs have met in finals football.
Knights winger Greg Marzhew has scored 14 tries in 10 games at McDonald Jones Stadium in 2023.
The Raiders have played finals in four of the past five seasons while the Knights will make their third finals appearance in the past four seasons.
The Knights have not won a finals match since 2013.
