NRL 2023 team news, Late Mail, Finals Week 1 confirmed team news, team changes, team lists, latest team updates and injury news for this week's games

NRL Late Mail: Finals Week 1 - Ponga good to go

Author: NRL.com
Timestamp: Sun 10 Sep 2023, 03:05 PM

All the late mail, team changes and news for Week 1 of the 2023 NRL Telstra Premiership finals series.

NRL Late Mail: Finals Week 1

Knights v Raiders, Sunday at McDonald Jones Stadium

Knights: Kalyn Ponga is good to go and will start at fullback after missing last week with a shoulder injury. He heads up a host of key additions for Newcastle, with Jackson Hastings (ankle), utility Kurt Mann (sternum) and back-rower Lachlan Fitzgibbon (shoulder) all declared fit. Dane Gagai starts at centre despite being sick during the week.

Raiders: No late changes for coach Ricky Stuart, with James Schiller the man to replace Seb Kris (suspension) on the wing. Club legend Jarrod Croker was dropped from the reserves an hour before kick-off, with Albert Hopoate remaining to be the 18th man. The loss of Josh Papalii (biceps) and Corey Horsburgh (suspended) has tested the club's forward depth, with Ata Mariota and Hohepa Puru again part of the run-on side.

Finals Week 1 - Finals Week 1 - Sunday 10 Sep

Full Time

Knights

Raiders

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Knights is number 1 Kalyn Ponga

Fullback for Raiders is number 1 Jordan Rapana
Winger for Knights is number 2 Dominic Young

Winger for Raiders is number 2 James Schiller
Centre for Knights is number 3 Dane Gagai

Centre for Raiders is number 3 Jack Wighton
Centre for Knights is number 4 Bradman Best

Centre for Raiders is number 4 Matthew Timoko
Winger for Knights is number 5 Greg Marzhew

Winger for Raiders is number 5 Nick Cotric
Five-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Tyson Gamble

Five-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Matt Frawley
Halfback for Knights is number 7 Jackson Hastings

Halfback for Raiders is number 7 Jamal Fogarty

Forwards

Prop for Knights is number 8 Jacob Saifiti

Prop for Raiders is number 8 Ata Mariota
Hooker for Knights is number 9 Phoenix Crossland

Hooker for Raiders is number 9 Zac Woolford
Prop for Knights is number 10 Leo Thompson

Prop for Raiders is number 10 Joseph Tapine
2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Tyson Frizell

2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 Hudson Young
2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Lachlan Fitzgibbon

2nd Row for Raiders is number 12 Elliott Whitehead
Lock for Knights is number 13 Adam Elliott

Lock for Raiders is number 13 Hohepa Puru

Interchange

Interchange for Knights is number 14 Kurt Mann

Interchange for Raiders is number 14 Tom Starling
Interchange for Knights is number 15 Daniel Saifiti

Interchange for Raiders is number 15 Emre Guler
Interchange for Knights is number 16 Jack Hetherington

Interchange for Raiders is number 16 Pasami Saulo
Interchange for Knights is number 17 Mat Croker

Interchange for Raiders is number 17 Trey Mooney