The Raiders will have taken plenty of heart from their fightback against the Warriors and return to familiar surroundings in Canberra to confront a confident Knights side riding a three-game winning streak.
Newcastle's impressive victory over the Storm moved them to within one point of the top eight, filling the Knights faithful with hope that a return to the finals is a very real possibility.
With Kalyn Ponga in supreme form and their forwards rumbling through the middle of the ruck, Newcastle have piled on 126 points in the past three games to take their points differential into positive territory at +42.
The Raiders sit inside the top four despite their golden point loss to the Warriors but their -55 differential needs a major boost in the run home, with games against Wests Tigers and Bulldogs providing an opportunity to rack up a big score.
When the sides clashed in Newcastle in Round 4 it was the Knights saluting 24-14 to square the ledger at 21 wins apiece in the NRL era.
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Team news
Raiders: The Green Machine will take the field as named mid-week, with no changes from the side who came close to producing a miraculous comeback against the Warriors in Round 21. Matthew Frawley is the replacement player.
Knights: Daniel Saifiti will miss the game due to a thigh strain and is replaced in the front row by brother Jacob in the only change to the side that beat the Storm. Brodie Jones joins the bench. Adam Elliott was charged with a careless high tackle but received a fine and will take his place against his former club. There were no late changes an hour from kick-off.
Match: Raiders v Knights
Round 22 -
home Team
Raiders
away Team
Knights
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Raiders is number 1 Sebastian KrisFullback for Knights is number 1 Kalyn Ponga
-
Winger for Raiders is number 2 Albert HopoateWinger for Knights is number 2 Dominic Young
-
Centre for Raiders is number 3 Jarrod CrokerCentre for Knights is number 3 Dane Gagai
-
Centre for Raiders is number 4 Matthew TimokoCentre for Knights is number 4 Bradman Best
-
Winger for Raiders is number 5 Jordan RapanaWinger for Knights is number 5 Greg Marzhew
-
Five-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Jack WightonFive-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Tyson Gamble
-
Halfback for Raiders is number 7 Jamal FogartyHalfback for Knights is number 7 Jackson Hastings
Forwards
-
Prop for Raiders is number 8 Josh PapaliiProp for Knights is number 8 Jacob Saifiti
-
Hooker for Raiders is number 9 Zac WoolfordHooker for Knights is number 9 Phoenix Crossland
-
Prop for Raiders is number 10 Joseph TapineProp for Knights is number 10 Leo Thompson
-
2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 Hudson Young2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Tyson Frizell
-
2nd Row for Raiders is number 12 Elliott Whitehead2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Lachlan Fitzgibbon
-
Lock for Raiders is number 13 Corey HorsburghLock for Knights is number 13 Adam Elliott
Interchange
-
Interchange for Raiders is number 14 Tom StarlingInterchange for Knights is number 14 Kurt Mann
-
Interchange for Raiders is number 15 Emre GulerInterchange for Knights is number 15 Brodie Jones
-
Interchange for Raiders is number 16 Pasami SauloInterchange for Knights is number 16 Jack Hetherington
-
Interchange for Raiders is number 17 Ata MariotaInterchange for Knights is number 17 Mat Croker
Reserves
-
Replacement for Raiders is number 19 Matt FrawleyReplacement for Knights is number 18 Dylan Lucas
Match Officials
- Referee: Adam Gee
- Touch Judge: Jon Stone
- Touch Judge: Belinda Sharpe
- Senior Review Official: Grant Atkins
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- Knights halfback Jackson Hastings has come up with five try assists in 2023 while Canberra No.7 Jamal Fogarty has come up with 11.
- The Knights have scored 75 tries this season, the Raiders 59.
- The Raiders have conceded 100 points in their past three games at GIO Stadium.
- The Knights have won only one of their past six games at GIO Stadium.
- Raiders second-rower Hudson Young has scored a try in four consecutive games against the Knights.
- Dominic Young requires two tries to equal the Knights’ record for most tries in a season, which stands at 21.
- Raiders forward Elliott Whitehead has the chance to claim his 100th victory in the NRL.
Match: Raiders v Knights
Round 22 -
home Team
Raiders
7th Position
away Team
Knights
10th Position
Venue: GIO Stadium, Canberra
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the
