The Knights’ late-season charge shows no sign of slowing as they prepare to take on a Sharks side who look to be hitting top form at just the right time.
A 22-10 win over a Rabbitohs side with everything to play for last week made it seven in a row for the Knights, something that hasn’t been achieved in the Hunter since the Andrew Johns-led premiership-winning side did it in 2001.
With Kalyn Ponga pulling all the right strings from fullback and their powerful outside backs in strong form, Newcastle showed in Round 25 that they can get the job done even without their chief playmaker Jackson Hastings, and they head into this week having scored the equal-most tries in the whole competition.
They’ll meet another attacking juggernaut on Sunday, with the Sharks averaging more points than any other side so far and having scored over 30 points in each of their last two games.
Cronulla are getting great value from their bench right now, with both Jack Williams and Thomas Hazelton running for more than 100 metres against the Cowboys.
On the back of strong performances from their middles the Sharks’ spine is firing too.
At McDonald Jones Stadium the Knights have won eight of eleven this season, but they haven’t beaten the Sharks in any of their past three games.
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Team News
Knights: Big changes confirmed again on Sunday with Jackson Hastings (ankle) failing to recover in time. Lachlan Fitzgibbon (shoulder) and Kurt Mann are also out. Adam Clune again takes over at halfback while former Bulldog Fa'amanu Brown joins the bench for a club debut. Brodie Jones will be 18th man.
Sharks: There are no further changes for the visitors after that star playmaker Nicho Hynes will be rested due to a quad injury that flared up after training. "At this stage of the season it's a risky ball game to throw him out there so we'll take the safe step there," Fitzgibbon said. Matt Moylan will come into the halves. Jesse Colquhoun comes onto the bench.
Match: Knights v Sharks
Round 26 -
home Team
Knights
away Team
Sharks
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Knights is number 1 Kalyn PongaFullback for Sharks is number 1 Connor Tracey
-
Winger for Knights is number 2 Dominic YoungWinger for Sharks is number 2 Sione Katoa
-
Centre for Knights is number 3 Dane GagaiCentre for Sharks is number 3 Jesse Ramien
-
Centre for Knights is number 4 Bradman BestCentre for Sharks is number 4 Siosifa Talakai
-
Winger for Knights is number 5 Greg MarzhewWinger for Sharks is number 5 Ronaldo Mulitalo
-
Five-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Tyson GambleFive-Eighth for Sharks is number 17 Matt Moylan
-
Halfback for Knights is number 20 Adam CluneHalfback for Sharks is number 6 Braydon Trindall
Forwards
-
Prop for Knights is number 8 Jacob SaifitiProp for Sharks is number 8 Toby Rudolf
-
Hooker for Knights is number 9 Phoenix CrosslandHooker for Sharks is number 9 Blayke Brailey
-
Prop for Knights is number 10 Leo ThompsonProp for Sharks is number 10 Braden Hamlin-Uele
-
2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Tyson Frizell2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Briton Nikora
-
2nd Row for Knights is number 18 Dylan Lucas2nd Row for Sharks is number 12 Wade Graham
-
Lock for Knights is number 13 Adam ElliottLock for Sharks is number 13 Cameron McInnes
Interchange
-
Interchange for Knights is number 15 Daniel SaifitiInterchange for Sharks is number 14 Jack Williams
-
Interchange for Knights is number 16 Jack HetheringtonInterchange for Sharks is number 15 Royce Hunt
-
Interchange for Knights is number 17 Mat CrokerInterchange for Sharks is number 16 Thomas Hazelton
-
Interchange for Knights is number 22 Fa'amanu BrownInterchange for Sharks is number 18 Jesse Colquhoun
Reserves
-
Replacement for Knights is number 21 Brodie JonesReplacement for Sharks is number 19 Mawene Hiroti
Match Officials
- Referee: Ashley Klein
- Touch Judge: Belinda Sharpe
- Senior Review Official: Grant Atkins
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- Led by Greg Marzhew, whose 154 tackle breaks are 20 more than the next best player in the NRL, the Knights lead the competition in that metric, averaging 42.5 per game.
- Nicho Hynes engages the line the most of any player this year at an average of 10.6 per game.
- Greg Marzhew has failed to score just once during the Knights’ current seven-game winning streak. He has eight tries in that period.
- The Knights have defeated the Sharks in three of their past four clashes at McDonald Jones Stadium.
- Sharks halfback Nicho Hynes has won all five games against the Knights.
- Sharks left winger Ronaldo Mulitalo has scored 19 tries in his past 19 games.
- Knights right winger Dominic Young requires one try to equal the club’s record of 21 tries in a season.
Match: Knights v Sharks
Round 26 -
home Team
Knights
5th Position
away Team
Sharks
6th Position
Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the .
