Raiders
17
Match Complete
Knights
10
| S. Williams |  | 76 | ||
| 65 |  | K. Ponga | ||
| 64 |  | S. Kenny-Dowall | ||
| C. Nicoll-Klokstad | | 60 | ||
| J. Croker | | 38 | ||
| S. Williams | | 37 | ||
| 29 | | J. Ramien | ||
| J. Croker | | 22 | ||
| C. Nicoll-Klokstad | | 20 |
| 3 | Tries | 2 | ||
| 2 | Conversions | 1 | ||
| 0 | Penalty Goals | 0 | ||
| 1 | Field Goals | 0 |
The Canberra Raiders and Newcastle Knights meet at GIO Stadium in Round 3 NRL action. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 6pm (AEDT).
After promising starts to the season, these two teams will be looking to solidify their spot in the top eight after three rounds of the season.
The Raiders towelled up the Titans in Round 1 before going down to the Storm and the Knights surprised the Sharks in their opener before losing to the Panthers last weekend.
Neither side were disgraced in the losses and will both have positive energy and thoughts heading into this clash in the nation’s capital.
Ricky Stuart was quite pleased with his sides structures and patterns in the loss to the Storm and cited the benchmark standard set by Melbourne as a good early test for his Raiders.
Newcastle were within centimetres of toppling the Panthers in what turned out to be a hard-fought two-point loss.
The Knights will be hoping for a continuation of the obvious development and adjustment that the team is undertaking.
Nathan Brown is determined to persist with Kalyn Ponga in the halves and Connor Watson has lived up to his part of the bargain with a promising start to the season at full-back, although at the time of writing he was in doubt for this match.
The Knights’ young forwards will be tested against the big Raiders pack tonight.
Josh Papalli and Sia Soliola will provide the usual challenge and Englishmen Elliott Whitehead and John Bateman present a more skilful arm in the Raiders’ forwards.
Tim Glasby and David Klemmer will need to lead from the front for the visitors if they are to escape Canberra with the two competition points.
Prediction
This match may well come down to a forward battle in the centre of the park with a no-nonsense approach taken by both coaches.
The corresponding fixture last season was quite different with plenty of points and an open affair.
I’m tipping that both coaches will look to grind their way to victory in this one. Canberra have the forwards to get that job done.
Canberra Raiders 18, Newcastle Knights 14
Catch all the action on The Roar live coverage from 6pm (AEDT).
Where: GIO Stadium, Canberra
When: Friday 29th March, 2019 (AEDT)
TV: Fox League, NRL App, Kayo Sports
Raiders
1 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2 Nick Cotric 3 Jarrod Croker 4 Joseph Leilua 5 Jordan Rapana 6 Jack Wighton 7 Aidan Sezer 8 Josh Papalii 9 Josh Hodgson 10 Dunamis Lui 11 John Bateman 12 Elliott Whitehead 13 Ryan Sutton Interchange: 14 Siliva Havili 15 Hudson Young 16 Sia Soliola 17 Corey Horsburgh
Reserves: 18 Sam Williams 19 JJ Collins 20 Bailey Simonsson 21 Jack Murchie
Knights
1 Connor Watson 2 Edrick Lee 3 Hymel Hunt 4 Jesse Ramien 5 Shaun Kenny-Dowall 6 Kalyn Ponga 7 Mitchell Pearce 8 David Klemmer 9 Danny Levi 10 James Gavet 11 Siona Mata’utia 12 Lachlan Fitzgibbon 13 Tim Glasby Interchange: 14 Kurt Mann 15 Aidan Guerra 16 Mitchell Barnett 17 Herman Ese’ese
Reserves: 18 Josh King 19 Mason Lino 20 Jamie Buhrer 21 Brodie Jones
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
I'll take your word for that and very happy to take them on board. John Bateman has become a cult hero here in Canberra after only 3 games. Amazing player. Great energy in attack and defence. Just hope he can lift the rest of the team to his level. And a big shout out to CNK at full back as well. He looked great in the trials and is producing the same in home and away games. Two massive signings for the club.
Geoff you will soon learn if need men in the Trenches please shout up for the “Bradford Lads”. So proud of probably the best production line and “Rugby nursery” in the World. John Bastian & Bradford Bulls. Please take a Bow.????????????
Neel
Roar Guru
The Knights seem a bit rusty. Still early days though.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
With all the money they spent this year on their roster it pains me to say they’ve gone backwards..dismal..
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Pretty hard to watch - not much of a spectacle between two pretty ordinary teams and two even more ordinary referees. Still a win is a win. Last year the Raiders would have found a way to lose that. CNK at fullback and Bateman were outstanding again. Two new recruits that have been our best players for 3 games running.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
The Canberra Raiders have defeated the Newcastle Knights 17-0 in the nation's capital, to confirm the widely held belief that they are a real threat in 2019. Despite a duo of disallowed tries in the first half, the Raiders were by far the better side; against a Newcastle team that lacked fluency from the opening minutes. The green machine opened a 16-4 lead at the break and potentially left a few more points on the field such was their dominance. Josh Papalii, John Bateman and Siliva Havili led from the front and Sam Williams played well of the back of their work. Jack Wighton had a disappointing night yet young fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad was superb with two tries to open his NRL account. Nathan Brown will do a lot of soul searching after the loss. The second half saw the Knights unable to make any real improvements in their rather weak first half display and his decision to move Kalyn Ponga back to fullback late in the game suggests he may be rethinking the team structure he has defended so consistently this season. Mitchell Pearce struggled to create and Danny Levi failed to influence the game around the ruck. Tim Glasby and David Klemmer tried hard all night yet the men from the Hunter will need far more in attack if they are to play semi-final football in 2019. Ricky Stuart will be pleased with the effort of his men and two early wins will put a smile on his face. Brown will go back to the drawing board in the hope of finding more attacking possibilities within his squad. Final Score Canberra Raiders……….....17 Newcastle Knights ………..10
Emcie
Roar Guru
I think it must be because neither the ball or the ball carrying arm touched the ground. I don't think a tackle can be ruled complete without that happening.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Thanks for being on board for the game. The match report will be up in around ten minutes. Canberra Raiders……….....17 Newcastle Knights ………..10
Stuart Thomas
Expert
FULL-TIME The Raiders have their second win of the season and the Knights will go back to the drawing board. Canberra Raiders……….....17 Newcastle Knights ………..10
Stuart Thomas
Expert
80' NO TRY and the Knights have 6 seconds to play out. Canberra Raiders……….....17 Newcastle Knights ………..10
Stuart Thomas
Expert
80' The ball is knocked on in goal and it will be full-time in Canberra. Canberra Raiders……….....17 Newcastle Knights ………..10
Stuart Thomas
Expert
80' Cotric catches it and beats the defence. The ball is lost near the line. What happened? VIDEO REF! Canberra Raiders……….....17 Newcastle Knights ………..10
Stuart Thomas
Expert
80' Newcastle feed the scrum and kick on the first. Canberra Raiders……….....17 Newcastle Knights ………..10
Stuart Thomas
Expert
80' Hodgson hammers the ball into touch on the last and that will wind the clock down. Canberra Raiders……….....17 Newcastle Knights ………..10
Joe
Roar Rookie
Bateman has been outstanding in this match.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
79' Pearce chips on the last yet the Raiders clean it up and that will be enough to see the Raiders home. Canberra Raiders……….....17 Newcastle Knights ………..10
Stuart Thomas
Expert
78' Pearce finds Lee on the left and the visitors go over halfway. Canberra Raiders……….....17 Newcastle Knights ………..10
Stuart Thomas
Expert
78' The Knights restart and the Raiders play a wet weather safety first set with a deep kick on the end of it. Canberra Raiders……….....17 Newcastle Knights ………..10
Stuart Thomas
Expert
77' Sorry if that just stuffed your footy tab ticket! Canberra Raiders……….....17 Newcastle Knights ………..10
Stuart Thomas
Expert
77' They set up straight away and Williams converts the chance. FIELD GOAL RAIDERS! Canberra Raiders……….....17 Newcastle Knights ………..10