Canberra Raiders
6
Match Complete
Newcastle Knights
28
| 55 |  | K. Ponga | ||
| J. Croker |  | 52 | ||
| J. Rapana |  | 51 | ||
| 43 | | K. Ponga | ||
| 41 | | T. Gamble | ||
| 34 | | K. Ponga | ||
| 32 | | D. Young | ||
| 21 | | K. Ponga | ||
| 19 | | G. Marzhew | ||
| 12 | | K. Ponga | ||
| 8 | | K. Ponga | ||
| 6 | | K. Ponga |
| 1 | Tries | 4 | ||
| 1 | Conversions | 4 | ||
| 0 | Penalty Goals | 2 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
The Newcastle Knights travel to Canberra to take on the hot and cold Canberra Raiders. Join The Roar for live scores from 3pm AEST.
The fifth-placed Raiders are well positioned in the finals race but have a number of teams nipping at their heels, including the Knights who have won three straight to move to 10th.
Ricky Stuart’s men are looking to rectify one of their biggest bugbears this year – a poor second-half record in which they have been outscored by 24 tries – against the visitors.
They’ve conceded the first try of the second half in seven of their last eight games, with four of those coming inside the first five minutes.
Stuart acknowledged it was an issue but pointed to his team’s fighting spirit to keep them in matches, like when they scored two tries in the final two minutes to force golden point against the Warriors last weekend.
Newcastle veteran forward Adam Elliott has escaped with a fine despite being charged for a high tackle in the win over Melbourne.
Daniel Saifiti is out with a thigh problem, replaced by twin Jacob in the starting front row.
Prediction
The Green Machine keeps on keeping on while the Knights are hitting their straps. This could be the sneaky best game of the round. Raiders by 4
Game information
Venue: GIO Stadium, Canberra
Kickoff: 3pm AEST
TV: Fox League
Stream: Kayo Sports
Odds: Raiders $1.55, Knights $2.45 – odds via PlayUp
Raiders: 1. Sebastian Kris 2. Albert Hopoate 3. Jarrod Croker 4. Matthew Timoko 5. Jordan Rapana 6. Jack Wighton 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papali’i 9. Zac Woolford 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Corey Horsburgh 14. Tom Starling 15. Emre Guler 16. Pasami Saulo 17. Ata Mariota 18. Nick Cotric 19. Matt Frawley 20. Trey Mooney 21. Ethan Strange 22. Utuloa Asouma
Knights: 1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Dominic Young 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Tyson Gamble 7. Jackson Hastings 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Leo Thompson 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Lachlan Fitzgibbon 13. Adam Elliott 14. Kurt Mann 15. Brodie Jones 16. Jack Hetherington 17. Mathew Croker 18. Dylan Lucas 19. Enari Tuala 20. Simi Sasagi 21. Lachlan Miller 22. Jack Johns
Rellum
Roar Guru
To me yes. It was obviously the wrong call given his concussion history, one on one tackling and everything you loose by not playing him at fullback
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Was it so crazy to at least try it? Anyway, I'm not making excuses, and I always rated Gamble, I would have gone with the current lineup.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
You look at their team on paper and it looks really good - finally delivering
Stormy
Roar Rookie
All true, R.R, but it seemed to take a long time to get settled. Not my team, obviously, but so disappointing for their fans. What could have been........
Rellum
Roar Guru
Ponga at 5/8th was so obviously a mistake him being played there should have the coaches decision making questioned. At least he corrected his mistake. Gamble is a lot better than people give him credit for, and more importantly when he plays the team competes
Stormy
Roar Rookie
That's 2 top 8 sides, in 2 weeks.
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Perhaps so. IIRC they weren't settled on Gamble at 5/8 so there was an issue of how to maximize the ROI on Ponga. Ponga is a good ballplayer, so 5/8 was not a silly idea, IMHO. Just happens that he's a decent 5/8 but an elite FB. And Gamble is a decent 5/8, and they now have a settled and decent spine.
Noel
Roar Rookie
No doubt Knights have performed well as of late, but gee I thought the Raiders were awful today. Knights deserve the kudos for knocking off a top 8 side; Raiders looked anything but.
69
Stormy
Roar Rookie
That's a poor reflection on their coach, I think. On their current form, they should have played finals........ maybe.
56
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Absolutely.
Arnab Bhattacharya
Roar Guru
Ponga not being at fullback played a key factor. He has two competent halves to work with.
Stormy
Roar Rookie
Knights seem to be proving that they are the real deal. Where was this form for most of the Season?
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Very dangerous. Warranted a sideline stint.
53
Arnab Bhattacharya
Roar Guru
Bin. Idc if he was going after the ball, player safety matters hugely here. That was a poor challenge for the ball
52
46
Phil
Roar Rookie
I expected more from Canberra today. If they don't come back with a minor miracle they can be branded imposters in the top 8. There are 4 teams in the bottom 8 with better point diffs.