Canberra and Newcastle meet at GIO Stadium on Sunday afternoon with form lines that show just one win from the last five rounds, but perhaps missing the full picture of truly where these sides are at.
Led by the stoic efforts of Joseph Tapine and Jack Wighton, the Raiders can consider themselves a touch unlucky to have fallen by eight to the Eels and six to the Broncos over the past three weeks.
Prior to that, Ricky Stuart's men were superb in knocking off the Rabbitohs in Dubbo and the Sharks on the Shire but, at the end of it all, still head into Sunday's clash with just two Premiership points more than the Novocastrians.
The Knights were soundly beaten at home by Penrith in what is fast becoming an all-too-familiar sight for the Newcastle faithful, having been outscored 197-28 over the course of their past five matches at McDonald Jones Stadium.
As such, coach Adam O'Brien may well relish the chance to get on the road this weekend, having won their past two away matches against the Bulldogs (in Round 10) and Warriors (in Round 12). Newcastle have not lost to Canberra since O'Brien took over in 2020, but each of those results did come away from the nation's capital.
Heading into the round sitting in 11th and 12th position respectively, it's starting to approach must-win territory for both sides in order to maintain touching distance with the top eight and a spot in the Telstra Premiership finals at the end of the year.
Sportsbet Betting preview: Raiders v Knights
The Rundown
Team news
Raiders: Jack Wighton (COVID-19) is out, replaced by Matt Frawley in the halves. Jordan Rapana returns from suspension on the wing with James Schiller coming onto the bench. Corey Harawira-Naera goes to 18th man. Josh Papalii is back in the starting side after coming off the bench last week following his Origin commitments.
Knights: Adam Clune is a late inclusion, replacing Jake Clifford in the halves. Leo Thompson will start with Jacob Saifiti moving to the bench. Kalyn Ponga (concussion protocols) will play. Kurt Mann moves into the starting side at lock with Mitch Barnett going to the second row and Lachlan Fitzgibbon playing reserve grade on Sunday.
Match: Raiders v Knights
Round 15 -
home Team
Raiders
away Team
Knights
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Raiders is number 1 Xavier SavageFullback for Knights is number 1 Kalyn Ponga
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Winger for Raiders is number 2 Nick CotricWinger for Knights is number 2 Edrick Lee
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Centre for Raiders is number 3 Matthew TimokoCentre for Knights is number 3 Dane Gagai
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Centre for Raiders is number 4 Sebastian KrisCentre for Knights is number 4 Enari Tuala
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Winger for Raiders is number 5 Jordan RapanaWinger for Knights is number 5 Dominic Young
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Five-Eighth for Raiders is number 23 Matt FrawleyFive-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Anthony Milford
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Halfback for Raiders is number 7 Jamal FogartyHalfback for Knights is number 21 Adam Clune
Forwards
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Prop for Raiders is number 8 Josh Papali'iProp for Knights is number 8 David Klemmer
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Hooker for Raiders is number 9 Zac WoolfordHooker for Knights is number 9 Chris Randall
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Prop for Raiders is number 10 Joseph TapineProp for Knights is number 15 Leo Thompson
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2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 Hudson Young2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Tyson Frizell
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2nd Row for Raiders is number 12 Elliott Whitehead2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Mitchell Barnett
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Lock for Raiders is number 13 Adam ElliottLock for Knights is number 13 Kurt Mann
Interchange
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Interchange for Raiders is number 14 Tom StarlingInterchange for Knights is number 10 Jacob Saifiti
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Interchange for Raiders is number 15 Ryan SuttonInterchange for Knights is number 14 Simi Sasagi
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Interchange for Raiders is number 17 Corey HorsburghInterchange for Knights is number 16 Mat Croker
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Interchange for Raiders is number 19 James SchillerInterchange for Knights is number 17 Pasami Saulo
Reserves
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Replacement for Raiders is number 16 Corey Harawira-NaeraReplacement for Knights is number 18 Phoenix Crossland
Match Officials
- Referee: Ashley Klein
- Touch Judge: Nick Morel
- Senior Review Official: Gerard Sutton
Last updated:
Key match-up
Joseph Tapine v David Klemmer: While their respective teams might not be going the best, it's tough to question the commitment or effort produced by Joseph Tapine or David Klemmer on a week-to-week basis as the two book-ends continue to churn away in the middle. No player has made more post contact metres this year than Tapine (964m), who also ranks fourth in the competition for offloads (26), while the Kiwi international leads all forwards for run metres with 2,245. Since returning from injury in Round 6, Klemmer has been equally vital for his side — averaging just shy of 145 metres per game while completing his tackles at a 97.1 percent efficiency rate. In what could well be a free-flowing contest, which ever forward pack can get on top early will be key in setting their side up for victory on Sunday. Look for Tapine and Klemmer as the ones to try and make that happen on each side of the ball.
Stat Attack
Having scored the fewest points of any side this season, Newcastle also head into this week's game with the fewest tackle breaks, post-contact metres, offloads and run metres — a dark picture for Knights fans so far this year.
But they do shade the Raiders in terms of discipline, which could well be the key to victory on Sunday. Canberra have conceded the third most penalties (92) and made the most handling errors (134) of any side, while their missed and ineffective tackles number is also significantly higher than the Knights — ranking seventh in ineffective (compared to Newcastle in 14th) and eighth in missed tackles (compared to 12th).
Match: Raiders v Knights
Round 15 -
home Team
Raiders
10th Position
away Team
Knights
13th Position
Venue: GIO Stadium, Canberra
