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Knights v Wests Tigers: Tuala in for Gagai; Visitors unchanged

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With each passing week the spectre of back-to-back wooden spoons looms larger for Wests Tigers, who were unable to convert a strong opening term into a desperately needed win against the Sharks.

After entering the competition in 2000 the joint venture claimed their first ever wooden spoon last year and have eight matches left to climb out of the cellar and avoid a repeat.

The return of chief playmaker Luke Brooks can't come quickly enough for Wests Tigers, who have managed just 30 points across their past four matches while conceding 166 points.

The Knights sit three points outside the top eight so they need to start a charge on the back of inspirational skipper Kalyn Ponga and newly minted Blue Bradman Best.

With games against the Tigers, Bulldogs and Dragons among their final eight matches, the men from the Hunter will get their opportunity to chalk up some wins, but they also confront the Storm, Sharks and Raiders so a return to the finals will be well earned if they get there.

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Team News 

Knights: Dane Gagai's return from a foot injury has been put on hold with Enari Tuala coming back into the starting side. Bradman Best and Jacob Saifiti will back up from Origin III. Dylan Lucas is 18th man while Kalyn Ponga will notch his 100th game for the Knights.

Wests Tigers: There are no late changes for the visitors. Api Koroisau will return from a broken jaw in a boost for the side while Alex Twal is also back from suspension. Daine Laurie will be 18th man with Will Smith remaining at five-eighth. 

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Knights is number 1 Kalyn Ponga
    Fullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Jahream Bula
  • Winger for Knights is number 2 Dominic Young
    Winger for Wests Tigers is number 2 Asu Kepaoa
  • Centre for Knights is number 4 Bradman Best
    Centre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Starford To'a
  • Centre for Knights is number 19 Enari Tuala
    Centre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Tommy Talau
  • Winger for Knights is number 5 Greg Marzhew
    Winger for Wests Tigers is number 5 Junior Tupou
  • Five-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Tyson Gamble
    Five-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Will Smith
  • Halfback for Knights is number 7 Jackson Hastings
    Halfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Brandon Wakeham

Forwards

  • Prop for Knights is number 8 Daniel Saifiti
    Prop for Wests Tigers is number 8 Stefano  Utoikamanu 
  • Hooker for Knights is number 9 Phoenix Crossland
    Hooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Apisai Koroisau
  • Prop for Knights is number 10 Leo Thompson
    Prop for Wests Tigers is number 10 David Klemmer
  • 2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Tyson Frizell
    2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Isaiah Papali'i
  • 2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Lachlan Fitzgibbon
    2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 John Bateman
  • Lock for Knights is number 13 Adam Elliott
    Lock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Fonua Pole

Interchange

  • Interchange for Knights is number 14 Kurt Mann
    Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Jake Simpkin
  • Interchange for Knights is number 15 Jacob Saifiti
    Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Shawn Blore
  • Interchange for Knights is number 16 Jack Hetherington
    Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Alex Twal
  • Interchange for Knights is number 17 Mat Croker
    Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Alex Seyfarth

Reserves

  • Replacement for Knights is number 18 Dylan Lucas
    Replacement for Wests Tigers is number 18 Daine Laurie

Match Officials

  • Referee: Peter Gough
  • Touch Judge: Kasey Badger
  • Senior Review Official: Gerard Sutton

Last updated:

Stat Attack

  • The Knights have not won consecutive games all season.
  • The Knights have won their past three games against Wests Tigers.
  • Wests Tigers have won one from seven away from home in 2023.
  • Knights captain Kalyn Ponga will play his 100th game for the club.
  • Wests Tigers have conceded 166 points in their past four games.
  • Knights winger Dominic Young has scored 16 tries from his past 14 games

Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the 

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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.