Dolphins v Knights: Katoa starts; Same 17 for O'Brien
The Knights continue to surge towards the finals and will look to make it five wins on the bounce against a Dolphins outfit that went down in a heartbreaker against the Bulldogs last week.
Sitting 14th and floundering after a loss to Penrith in Round 17, the Kalyn Ponga-inspired Knights have peeled off wins over the Bulldogs, Wests Tigers, Storm and Raiders to close to within one point of the top eight.
Ponga has come up with seven try assists, 26 tackle breaks and 54 points across those four games to breathe new life into the Knights' season and remind everyone of his sublime talents.
The Dolphins have plenty of attacking weapons of their own but looked out of sync in Bundaberg on Sunday as handling errors and poor last-tackle options cost them dearly against the Bulldogs.
After starting the year so strongly and knocking off heavyweights like the Roosters, Raiders, Cowboys and Sharks along the way, Wayne Bennett's men will be desperate to avoid a late fadeout that takes the gloss off their debut season.
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Team news
Dolphins: Isaiya Katoa replaces Anthony Milford in the halves, with the latter dropping back to the bench an hour before kick-off. Kodi Nikorima moves from five-eighth to centre in place of Euan Aitken (knee). Connelly Lemuelu (head knock) is good to go and starts in the second row.
Knights: No late changes for coach Adam O'Brien, who will field the same 17 that beat the Raiders in Round 22. Dylan Lucas is the 18th man, while prop Daniel Saifiti (quad) remains sidelined.
Match: Dolphins v Knights
Round 23 -
home Team
Dolphins
away Team
Knights
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Dolphins is number 1 Hamiso Tabuai-FidowFullback for Knights is number 1 Kalyn Ponga
-
Winger for Dolphins is number 2 Jamayne IsaakoWinger for Knights is number 2 Dominic Young
-
Centre for Dolphins is number 3 Kodi NikorimaCentre for Knights is number 3 Dane Gagai
-
Centre for Dolphins is number 4 Valynce Te WhareCentre for Knights is number 4 Bradman Best
-
Winger for Dolphins is number 5 Tesi NiuWinger for Knights is number 5 Greg Marzhew
-
Five-Eighth for Dolphins is number 16 Isaiya KatoaFive-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Tyson Gamble
-
Halfback for Dolphins is number 7 Sean O'SullivanHalfback for Knights is number 7 Jackson Hastings
Forwards
-
Prop for Dolphins is number 8 Jesse BromwichProp for Knights is number 8 Jacob Saifiti
-
Hooker for Dolphins is number 9 Jeremy Marshall-KingHooker for Knights is number 9 Phoenix Crossland
-
Prop for Dolphins is number 10 Mark NichollsProp for Knights is number 10 Leo Thompson
-
2nd Row for Dolphins is number 11 Felise Kaufusi2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Tyson Frizell
-
2nd Row for Dolphins is number 12 Connelly Lemuelu2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Lachlan Fitzgibbon
-
Lock for Dolphins is number 13 Kenneath BromwichLock for Knights is number 13 Adam Elliott
Interchange
-
Interchange for Dolphins is number 6 Anthony MilfordInterchange for Knights is number 14 Kurt Mann
-
Interchange for Dolphins is number 14 Herman Ese'eseInterchange for Knights is number 15 Brodie Jones
-
Interchange for Dolphins is number 15 Josh KerrInterchange for Knights is number 16 Jack Hetherington
-
Interchange for Dolphins is number 17 Jarrod WallaceInterchange for Knights is number 17 Mat Croker
Reserves
-
Replacement for Dolphins is number 18 Max PlathReplacement for Knights is number 18 Dylan Lucas
Match Officials
- Referee: Grant Atkins
- Touch Judge: Phil Henderson
- Senior Review Official: Chris Butler
Last updated:
Stat attack
- Knights winger Dom Young needs one try to equal the club record for most tries in a season which is held by Timana Tahu and Akuila Uate with 21.
- Knights winger Greg Marzhew leads the NRL for tackle breaks with 130 and has scored seven tries in his past seven games.
- The Dolphins have won only one of their five games played outside Queensland this season.
- Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett has a perfect record in Perth – two games for two wins.
- Dolphins winger Jamayne Isaako has scored eight tries in his past nine games.
Match: Dolphins v Knights
Round 23 -
home Team
Dolphins
14th Position
away Team
Knights
8th Position
Venue: Optus Stadium, Perth
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
