A rare treat with three games on a Sunday so make yourself comfortable and settle in for a feast of footy kicking off in rugby league heartland in Newcastle with the Knights hosting the Rabbitohs.
The Bunnies have surged into the top four on the back of wins over the Dragons and Storm, savouring their first ever triumph in Melbourne as they piled on nine tries in a stunning 48-6 demolition.
The Knights have received a huge boost with Kalyn Ponga, Bradman Best and Tyson Frizell back on deck for a game that will tell us plenty about the men from the Hunter.
The Sharks and Wests Tigers square off at Ocean Protect Stadium with the home side seeking a response after giving up 80 points in losses to the Roosters and Cowboys.
The curtain comes down on Round 9 with a blockbuster clash between two of the NRL's hottest teams in Penrith and Manly.
Nathan Cleary and Isaah Yeo have the Panthers humming at 7-1 while the Sea Eagles have won four straight since Kieran Foran took charge and loom as a genuine threat to the ladder leaders.
Follow all the action from Round 9 of the NRL Telstra Premiership on NRL.com's live blog.
Knights v Rabbitohs at McDonald Jones Stadium
Match: Knights v Rabbitohs
Round 9 -
home Team
Knights
11th Position
away Team
Rabbitohs
5th Position
Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
16 min: Great attack by the Knights down the left edge as Greg Marzhew gets clear and finds Flecther Sharpe who comes up with a dropped ball in Matt Dufty's cover tackle.
10 min: Dylan Lucas celebrates his return from a throat injury with a try as he takes a short ball from Fletcher Sharpe and powers into a hole on the left edge. Kalyn Ponga converts. Knights 12-0
9 min: The Rabbitohs create space on the right edge but Jamie Humphreys' pass for Jack Wighton is too high and the centre puts it down. The Knights take over 40 metres out.
6 min: The Knights strike first through Trey Mooney who surges onto a Phoenix Crossland pass and defies three defenders to get the ball down. Kalyn Ponga converts. Knights 6-0
4 min: The Rabbitohs come up with an error after a poor pass by Cody Walker and they compound the mistake by giving away an offside penalty.
3 min: Kalyn Ponga puts up a high ball 40 metres out from his own line but it sails out on the full and the Rabbitohs go on the attack.
Late Mail
Knights: No late changes on game day for the Knights who welcome back Kalyn Ponga (hamstring) and Bradman Best (groin) as they look to snap a three-match losing streak. Ponga will line up at fullback, with Best at centre. Fletcher Sharpe moves to five-eighth as a result, with Fletcher Hunt and Sandon Smith both shifting to the interchange. Greg Marzhew returns from a concussion on the wing.
Rabbitohs: No further changes on game day after Brandon Smith (calf) dropped out of the squad on Saturday along with Liam Le Blanc while Adam Elliott remains on the six-man bench as he looks to return from a long-term calf injury. Halfback Jamie Humphreys, who left the field last week with a rib complaint, will take his place in the side.
Numbers Game
- The Knights have won their last three games against the Rabbitohs.
- Rabbitohs centre Latrell Mitchell has scored 66 points in his last four games.
- The Knights have won only one of their last nine games at McDonald Jones Stadium.
- Rabbitohs winger Alex Johnston has scored 15 tries in 10 games against the Knights.
- The Knights have conceded 124 points in their last three games.
Sharks v Wests Tigers at Ocean Protect Stadium
Match: Sharks v Wests Tigers
Round 9 -
home Team
Sharks
9th Position
away Team
Wests Tigers
4th Position
Venue: Ocean Protect Stadium, Sydney
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
Panthers v Sea Eagles at CommBank Stadium
Match: Panthers v Sea Eagles
Round 9 -
home Team
Panthers
1st Position
away Team
Sea Eagles
7th Position
Venue: CommBank Stadium, Sydney
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
