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Knights v Roosters: Hymel hunts first game; Keary, JWH return

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The Roosters sit just one win outside the eight but three more injury blows have made the task of sneaking into the finals that much tougher.

With Sitili Tupouniua and Billy Smith gone for the season with knee injuries and Siosiua Taukeiaho out for at least a month with a facial fracture, the Roosters will need every ounce of their renowned fighting qualities to get to the play-offs for a sixth straight year.

The Knights have won just one of five since their round 13 bye and given up 156 points in the process, a worrying sign for Adam O'Brien, although with games against the Bulldogs, Tigers and Titans still to come they could yet get on a late roll.

With four of their remaining seven games to be played at home the Knights will be determined to give their loyal fans something to cheer about even if the finals prove a bridge too far,

Sportsbet Betting preview: Knights v Roosters

The Rundown

Team news

Knights: Utility Kurt Mann's leg injury will keep him sidelined for another week, with Phoenix Crossland added to the 17. Hymel Hunt comes onto the wing for his first game of the season. Tyson Frizell (ribs) and Edrick Lee (foot) suffered injuries against Manly but will play, while Simi Sasagi (ribs) is replaced on the bench by Brodie Jones.

Roosters: Joey Manu (quad) is out with Drew Hutchison taking his place in the centres, with Manu's original replacement, Adam Keighran, reverting back to the bench an hour before kick off. Luke Keary (concussion symptoms) and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (hamstring) are back on deck in a huge boost for the Roosters. Mid-season recruit Matt Lodge comes into the starting side to fill the void left by Siosiua Taukeiaho (cheekbone). Nat Butcher moves to the second row to cover for Sitili Tupouniua (knee).

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Knights is number 1 Kalyn Ponga
    Fullback for Roosters is number 1 James Tedesco
  • Winger for Knights is number 2 Edrick Lee
    Winger for Roosters is number 2 Daniel Tupou
  • Centre for Knights is number 3 Dane Gagai
    Centre for Roosters is number 3 Paul Momirovski 
  • Centre for Knights is number 4 Enari Tuala
    Centre for Roosters is number 16 Drew Hutchison
  • Winger for Knights is number 5 Hymel Hunt
    Winger for Roosters is number 5 Joseph-Aukuso Sua'ali'i
  • Five-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Anthony Milford
    Five-Eighth for Roosters is number 6 Luke Keary
  • Halfback for Knights is number 7 Adam Clune
    Halfback for Roosters is number 7 Sam Walker

Forwards

  • Prop for Knights is number 8 David Klemmer
    Prop for Roosters is number 8 Jared  Waerea-Hargreaves
  • Hooker for Knights is number 9 Jayden Brailey
    Hooker for Roosters is number 9 Sam Verrills
  • Prop for Knights is number 10 Daniel Saifiti
    Prop for Roosters is number 10 Matthew Lodge
  • 2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Tyson Frizell
    2nd Row for Roosters is number 11 Angus Crichton
  • 2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Lachlan Fitzgibbon
    2nd Row for Roosters is number 12 Nat Butcher
  • Lock for Knights is number 13 Mitchell Barnett
    Lock for Roosters is number 13 Victor Radley

Interchange

  • Interchange for Knights is number 15 Jacob Saifiti
    Interchange for Roosters is number 14 Connor Watson
  • Interchange for Knights is number 16 Pasami Saulo
    Interchange for Roosters is number 15 Egan Butcher
  • Interchange for Knights is number 17 Brodie Jones
    Interchange for Roosters is number 17 Terrell May
  • Interchange for Knights is number 19 Phoenix Crossland
    Interchange for Roosters is number 20 Adam Keighran

Reserves

  • Replacement for Knights is number 18 Leo Thompson
    Replacement for Roosters is number 19 Naufahu Whyte

Match Officials

  • Referee: Peter Gough
  • Touch Judge: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
  • Touch Judge: Phil Henderson
  • Senior Review Official: Grant Atkins

Last updated:

Key match-up

Kalyn Ponga v James Tedesco: Two great fullbacks, two great leaders. Ponga had the last laugh in Origin with a magnficent display in the decider and he'll be out to get another one over Tedesco here. Ponga is averaging 135 metres per game this season but his influence extends way beyond the bare statistics. Tedesco was superhuman backing up for the Roosters on Saturday with 191 running metres and a couple of tries. Both men will dig deep into their bag of tricks in search of victory and their showdown should be worth the price of admission alone.

Stat Attack

The Roosters have five players in the top 50 for metres run in 2022, the best being James Tedesco (3346), who sits behind only Dylan Edwards (3745). Roosters winger Daniel Tupou is 13th in the NRL with 2428 metres while Joey Manu is 27th with 2186m, Siosuia Taukeiaho 31st with 2139m and Angus Crichton 41st with 1982. The only Knight inside the top 50 is tireless prop David Klemmer in 42nd on the table with 1971 metres from his 13 games.

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Acknowledgement of Country

National Rugby League respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.