Ultimate Guide: NRL Round 19 Preview

Author: Newcastle Knights
Timestamp: Tue 9 Jul 2024, 05:35 PM

The nib Newcastle Knights are back on the road after back-to-back wins, with a crucial Round 19 trip to Sydney's Northern Beaches to face the Sea Eagles awaiting the squad this week.

Coming off the back of a gritty win over the Raiders, the Knights will be looking to continue building as the run towards finals looms in the near-future.

With the Knights sitting 9th on for and against and Manly clinging to a top eight position by a single point, the clash is set to be hugely important for both sides, despite the loss of a number of stars to Origin duty.

Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles vs Newcastle Knights
Date:	Sunday, July 14, 2024
Venue:	4 Pines Park, Brookvale
NRL Kick Off:	4:05pm AEST

The match will be shown live on Channel Nine, 9Now, Fox League and Kayo Sports.

Head to Head

Since: 1988

Played: 59

Knights: 23

Sea Eagles: 35

Draws: 1

Team Lists

Round 19 - Round 19 - Sunday 14 Jul

Full Time

Sea Eagles

Knights

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Tom Trbojevic

Fullback for Knights is number 1 Fletcher Sharpe
Winger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Jason Saab

Winger for Knights is number 2 Krystian Mapapalangi
Centre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Tommy Talau

Centre for Knights is number 3 Dylan Lucas
Centre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Reuben Garrick

Centre for Knights is number 4 Thomas Cant
Winger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Lehi Hopoate

Winger for Knights is number 5 Greg Marzhew
Five-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Luke Brooks

Five-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Will Pryce
Halfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Jamie Humphreys

Halfback for Knights is number 7 Jackson Hastings

Forwards

Prop for Sea Eagles is number 8 Toafofoa Sipley

Prop for Knights is number 8 Daniel Saifiti
Hooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Jake Simpkin

Hooker for Knights is number 9 Phoenix Crossland
Prop for Sea Eagles is number 10 Josh Aloiai

Prop for Knights is number 10 Leo Thompson
2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Haumole Olakau'atu

2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Tyson Frizell
2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Karl Lawton

2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Kai Pearce-Paul
Lock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Nathan Brown

Lock for Knights is number 13 Adam Elliott

Interchange

Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Clayton Faulalo

Interchange for Knights is number 14 Jayden Brailey
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Gordon Chan Kum Tong

Interchange for Knights is number 15 Jacob Saifiti
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Ethan Bullemor

Interchange for Knights is number 16 Brodie Jones
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 18 Caleb Navale

Interchange for Knights is number 17 Mat Croker

Reserves

Replacement for Sea Eagles is number 21 Ben Condon

Replacement for Knights is number 18 Jack Hetherington

Match Officials

Referee: Grant Atkins
Touch Judge: Dave Munro
Touch Judge: Chris Sutton
Senior Review Official: Wyatt Raymond

Last updated: 9/7/2024 12:25:39 PM

Team News

With a number of players unavailable due to State of Origin duties, Adam O'Brien has named a new-look squad set to head south to the Northern Beaches.

Kalyn Ponga, Dane Gagai and Bradman Best come out of the backline, with Fletcher Sharpe returning to fullback in his skipper's absence.

Tom Cant will make his first appearance of the year in the centres, making up a new-look centre pairing with Dylan Lucas.

Krystian Mapapalangi has also been drafted into the team on the wing.

Jackson Hastings will line up at halfback for what is set to be his 100th NRL game, while Mat Croker has been named on the bench for his 50th game in the red and blue jumper.

Meanwhile, with Daly Cherry-Evans and Jake Trbojevic captaining their respective states, Manly have named Jamie Humphreys and Clayton Faulalo to make their NRL debuts.

Tom Trbojevic also shifts back to fullback, after returning from injury in the centres last week.

Form Guide

With the Knights coming off back to back wins, confidence will be sky-high in the Newcastle camp.

The Knights have outlasted Parramatta and Canberra in their last two starts, with each game going down to the wire in a positive sign the side is battle-hardened heading into some big games at the back end of the year.

The Knights are now level with the top eight, with the Club currently sitting in 9th with only points differential keeping Adam O'Brien's side out of the top eight.

Match Highlights: Knights v Raiders

Meanwhile, the Sea Eagles managed to scrape home with a thrilling 21-20 golden point win over the Cowboys last week, with Anthony Seibold's team 7th on the ladder, just one point ahead of the Knights.

Key Match Up

Haumole Olakau'atu vs Kai Pearce-Paul

These two gun back rowers will be critical to their side's chances this weekend.

After being overlooked for Origin III in favour of Mitch Barnett, Olakau'atu will return to Club football with a point to prove this weekend.

His opposite number in Pearce-Paul has been one of the finds of the season since arriving from the UK, establishing himself as an emerging talent on the Knights edge.