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Dragons v Knights: JDB back on deck; Shoulder sidelines Ponga

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The Knights go in search of a ninth win on the trot and can ensure they finish in fifth place and get a home final should they get the job done against the Dragons.

The turnaround has been remarkable for Adam O'Brien's men, who sat 14th after Round 19 and looked anything but premiership contenders.

The Dragons have shown some promising signs in recent weeks but will still finish the season in second-last position, equalling their worst ever finish as a joint venture in 2019.

Having pushed the Storm and Warriors over the past fortnight, the Dragons go into Saturday's game confident of giving their home fans a ray of hope at the end of a tough season.

The Red V have not won an away game all season so playing at Netstrata Jubilee gives them some hope of an upset but the Knights are on a magical roll and loom as a danger team in September.

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Team News 

Dragons: The Dragons are 1-17 with no late changes. Jack de Belin returns from suspension at lock so Michael Molo goes to the bench. Debutant Sione Finau suffered an ankle injury against the Warriors and is replaced by Mat Feagai on the wing. Toby Couchman is 18th Man.

Knights: No further changes on game day after Jack Hetherington came into the starting side on Friday in place of prop Leo Thompson. The new face on the bench Oryn Keeley, who plays his first game since making his debut in Round 23 last season. and will miss the match with Lachlan Miller his replacement at fullback. Halfback Jackson Hastings (ankle) and Lachlan Fitzgibbon (shoulder) came out of the extended squad on Friday and will look to return for week one of the finals. Tyson Frizell, Dane Gagai and Phoenix Crossland are being rested so Brodie Jones, Enari Tuala and Fa'amanu Brown come in and Riley Jones makes his NRL debut off the bench in the back-up hooker role.

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Dragons is number 1 Tyrell Sloan
    Fullback for Knights is number 1 Lachlan Miller
  • Winger for Dragons is number 2 Mathew Feagai
    Winger for Knights is number 2 Dominic Young
  • Centre for Dragons is number 3 Mosese Suli
    Centre for Knights is number 3 Enari Tuala
  • Centre for Dragons is number 4 Zac Lomax
    Centre for Knights is number 4 Bradman Best
  • Winger for Dragons is number 5 Mikaele Ravalawa
    Winger for Knights is number 5 Greg Marzhew
  • Five-Eighth for Dragons is number 6 Talatau Amone
    Five-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Tyson Gamble
  • Halfback for Dragons is number 7 Ben Hunt
    Halfback for Knights is number 7 Adam Clune

Forwards

  • Prop for Dragons is number 8 Francis Molo
    Prop for Knights is number 8 Jacob Saifiti
  • Hooker for Dragons is number 9 Connor Muhleisen
    Hooker for Knights is number 9 Fa'amanu Brown
  • Prop for Dragons is number 10 Blake Lawrie
    Prop for Knights is number 16 Jack Hetherington 
  • 2nd Row for Dragons is number 11 Billy Burns
    2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Dylan Lucas
  • 2nd Row for Dragons is number 12 Dan Russell
    2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Brodie Jones
  • Lock for Dragons is number 13 Jack De Belin
    Lock for Knights is number 13 Adam Elliott

Interchange

  • Interchange for Dragons is number 14 Jacob Liddle
    Interchange for Knights is number 14 Riley Jones
  • Interchange for Dragons is number 15 Michael Molo
    Interchange for Knights is number 15 Daniel Saifiti
  • Interchange for Dragons is number 16 Ben Murdoch-Masila
    Interchange for Knights is number 17 Mat Croker
  • Interchange for Dragons is number 17 Ryan Couchman
    Interchange for Knights is number 19 Oryn Keeley

Reserves

  • Replacement for Dragons is number 18 Toby Couchman
    Replacement for Knights is number 24 Dane Aukafolau

Match Officials

  • Referee: Ben Cummins
  • Touch Judge: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
  • Senior Review Official: Matt Noyen

Last updated:

Stat Attack

  • Knights backs Greg Marzhew (162) is first for tackle breaks in the NRL.
  • The best winning streak in Knights history is 11 on the trot between Round 25, 2001 and Round 6, 2002, which included the 2001 grand final victory.
  • The Dragons have won five of their past seven games against the Knights.
  • The Knights have not won at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium since 2009.
  • The Dragons have won four of their past five games at Netstrata Jubilee.
  • Dominic Young requires one try to break the club’s record for most tries in a season.
  • Ben Hunt has scored a try in his past four games at Netstrata Jubilee.

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.