Knights v Sea Eagles: Best back on deck: Trbojevic returns
The Newcastle Knights will look to keep their bid for a top-four finish on track when they host the desperate Sea Eagles on Saturday afternoon.
The match is Newcastle's final game at McDonald Jones Stadium before the finals, with Justin Holbrook's men eager to keep in touch with the top four.
The Knights have won three in a row, with Kalyn Ponga recreating the form that saw him claim the Dally M Medal in 2023 and leading his side on a remarkable rise from wooden spoon to premiership contender.
Standing in their way on Saturday is a Manly side desperate to keep their slim finals hopes alive.
The Sea Eagles' top-eight chances have faded amid a six-game losing streak and now sit 10th, six points outside the eight.
Manly must win their final three games and hope other results go their way to play finals, a quest that starts in Newcastle on Saturday.
Match: Knights v Sea Eagles
Round 25 -
home Team
Knights
6th Position
away Team
Sea Eagles
10th Position
Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
Team News
Knights: Centre Bradman Best returns after two games out with a calf injury and fills the hole left by Dane Gagai (hamstring). Prop Jacob Saifiti is also back after six games out with a hamstring injury so Cody Hopwood slides to the bench. Veteran Tyson Frizell starts in place of Francis Manuleleua, who will miss this week due to the late onset of concussion symptoms.
Sea Eagles: A massive in for Manly with gun fullback Tom Trbojevic returning after three games out with a hamstring injury. Clayton Faulalo has been shifted to five-eighth in place of Joey Walsh, who suffered a hairline fracture in his jaw during last Friday’s loss to the Dolphins. Back-rower Ben Trbojevic (concussion) is good to go so Corey Waddell moves to the bench. Prop Caleb Navale will come off the bench in his first NRL game of the year having returned from an ACL injury through NSW Cup last week.
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Knights is number 1 Kalyn PongaFullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Tom Trbojevic
-
Winger for Knights is number 2 Dominic YoungWinger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Jason Saab
-
Centre for Knights is number 3 Fletcher HuntCentre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Tolutau Koula
-
Centre for Knights is number 4 Bradman BestCentre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Reuben Garrick
-
Winger for Knights is number 5 Greg MarzhewWinger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Lehi Hopoate
-
Five-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Fletcher SharpeFive-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Clayton Faulalo
-
Halfback for Knights is number 7 Sandon SmithHalfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Jamal Fogarty
Forwards
-
Prop for Knights is number 8 Jacob SaifitiProp for Sea Eagles is number 8 Simione Laiafi
-
Hooker for Knights is number 9 Phoenix CrosslandHooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Brandon Wakeham
-
Prop for Knights is number 10 Trey MooneyProp for Sea Eagles is number 10 Nathan Brown
-
2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Jermaine McEwen2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Haumole Olakau'atu
-
2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Tyson Frizell2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Ben Trbojevic
-
Lock for Knights is number 13 Mat CrokerLock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Jake Trbojevic
Interchange
-
Interchange for Knights is number 14 Harrison GrahamInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Jake Simpkin
-
Interchange for Knights is number 15 Cody HopwoodInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Nicholas Lenaz
-
Interchange for Knights is number 16 Lachlan CrouchInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Corey Waddell
-
Interchange for Knights is number 17 Thomas CantInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 17 Caleb Navale
-
Interchange for Knights is number 18 Pasami SauloInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 18 Josh Feledy
-
Interchange for Knights is number 19 Toby WinterInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 19 Fletcher Baker
Reserves
-
Reserve for Knights is number 20 Diesel HaganReserve for Sea Eagles is number 20 Onitoni Large
-
Reserve for Knights is number 21 Kyle McCarthyReserve for Sea Eagles is number 21 Jackson Shereb
-
Reserve for Knights is number 22 Elijah Salesa-LeaumoanaReserve for Sea Eagles is number 22 Blake Wilson
Knights Ins
- Bradman Best
- Diesel Hagan
- Elijah Salesa-Leaumoana
- Jacob Saifiti
- Kyle McCarthy
Sea Eagles Ins
- Ben Trbojevic
- Blake Wilson
- Caleb Navale
- Onitoni Large
- Tom Trbojevic
Knights Outs
- Dane Gagai
- Francis Manuleleua
Sea Eagles Ins
- Hugo Hart
- Joey Walsh
Match Officials
- Referee: Wyatt Raymond
- Touch Judge: Dave Munro
- Senior Review Official: Adam Gee
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- The Knights have won three of their last four games against the Sea Eagles.
- The Sea Eagles have conceded 150 points in their last four games.
- Knights winger Dominic Young has scored 10 tries in his last six games against the Sea Eagles.
- Sea Eagles second-rower Haumole Olakau’atu has scored six tries in his last seven games against the Knights.
- Knights five-eighth Fletcher Sharpe has scored five tries in his last three games.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
