Newcastle Knights
34
Match Complete
Canberra Raiders
24
| 80 |  | J. Croker | ||
| 79 |  | E. Guler | ||
| 72 | | J. Croker | ||
| 71 | | H. Young | ||
| J. Clifford | | 67 | ||
| K. Ponga | | 65 | ||
| E. Tuala | | 57 | ||
| J. Clifford |  | 51 | ||
| 47 | | J. Croker | ||
| 46 | | J. Papalii | ||
| E. Tuala | | 38 | ||
| 28 | | J. Croker | ||
| 27 | | H. Smith-Shields | ||
| J. Clifford | | 20 | ||
| K. Mann | | 18 | ||
| J. Clifford | | 8 | ||
| B. Best | | 7 | ||
| J. Clifford | | 5 | ||
| E. Tuala | | 4 |
| 6 | Tries | 4 | ||
| 4 | Conversions | 4 | ||
| 1 | Penalty Goals | 0 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
Sunday footy begins after the extraordinary events of yesterday with Canberra Raiders taking on the Newcastle Knights in a Suncorp Stadium showdown. Follow along withlive scores on The Roar from 1:50pm (AEST).
Peter V’landys has done it again – the NRL’s head honcho somehow convincing the Queensland government to allow the league to continue through the state’s snap COVID-19 lockdown. As a result, this vital match has only been delayed 24 hours.
Dead and buried just three weeks ago, a trio of wins have resurrected the Raiders’ season at a crucial time. Ricky Stuart’s team are looking more and more like the Green Machine of old with every passing week, first taking down Manly, then the Sharks, then squeaking past the Eels in a rip-snorting clash last week.
Sitting ninth, the Raiders need only to win and have one of the Sharks and Dragons suffer an expected loss to be back inside the eight, a remarkable rise. Their chances are boosted by the returns of Jack Wighton (ribs) and Elliott Whitehead (shoulder), who are both expected to play.
The Knights aren’t gone just yet, but this game looms as a four-point contest, with the loser to fall a game off the pace. The Knights’ horrible points differential also counts against them, with consecutive thrashings to the Storm and Roosters in recent weeks only worsening that predicament.
Mitchell Pearce has been named in the reserves as he recovers from a hamstring injury, and will surely start if deemed fit. Youngster Bradman Best has also made an early recovery from a syndesmosis injury.
Game information
Kick-off: 1:50pm (AEST)
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
TV: Fox League
Online: Kayo Sports, Foxtel Now, Foxtel GO
Betting: Knights $2.12, Raiders $1.72 (odds via PlayUp)
Teams
Newcastle Knights
1. Kalyn Ponga, 2. Enari Tuala, 3. Kurt Mann, 4. Bradman Best, 5. Hymel Hunt, 6. Phoenix Crossland, 7. Jake Clifford, 8. Jacob Saifiti, 9. Jayden Brailey (c), 10. Daniel Saifiti (c), 11. Tyson Frizell, 12. Mitchell Barnett, 13. Connor Watson
Bench/Reserves: 14. Sauaso Sue, 15. David Klemmer, 16. Josh King, 17. Brodie Jones | 18. Jirah Momoisea, 19. Simi Sasagi, 20. Tex Hoy, 21. Mitchell Pearce
Canberra Raiders
1. Jordan Rapana, 2. Harley Smith-Shields, 3. Jarrod Croker (c), 4. Sebastian Kris, 5. Semi Valemei, 6. Jack Wighton, 7. Sam Williams, 8. Josh Papalii, 9. Josh Hodgson, 10. Emre Guler, 11. Corey Harawira-Naera, 12. Elliott Whitehead, 13. Hudson Young
Bench/Reserves: 14. Tom Starling, 15. Matthew Timoko, 16. Iosia Soliola, 17. Joe Tapine | 18. Matt Frawley, 19. Ryan James, 20. Bailey Simonsson, 21. Dunamis Lui
BrendanF
Guest
Watching him play centre in Origin last year, I wouldn't want him there for my team. With the new rules and style of play, he could be a good 14 coming in when the forwards start to tire.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
The Knights were pumped for this one and we didn't respond in the first 20 minutes - and by the time we did we were too far behind. Ponga and Best tore us a new one. The Knights are much more formidable when both of them are fit. I was always worried when t was changed to a 2 pm start - we don't handle warm and humid conditions - which is a pathetic excuse but true. Wighton has been abysmal all season. He has some ability but I just can't see where to put him. He's not a 5/8 or a full back. Maybe centre. He can't do any worse than Jarod. Ricky needs to find a 5/8 and a half but there isn't much available.
Taree Raider
Guest
Geoff, why can't the Raiders play consistently? If they did & got beaten by the better side, so be it. I thought the Newcastle on their left edge, Bradman Best were unstoppable, they threw offloads that could have gone anywhere but they stuck. I thought Chris did the best he could, I don't blame him. Timoko is the Raiders Brian TO'O. HORSBURGH will be back next week I hope. He will bring some much needed spark to the forwards. Why not start with Papalli? Smith-Shields shows some promise. Jack Wighton should be dropped, he really is playing that badly, at least he didn't kick it out on the full, he just kicked it over the dead ball line. A controlling halfback, Adam Reynolds like is what is needed, until then we are doomed. Why didn't the Raiders make a play for Reynolds? Gee we miss Charnze N-K. Gee the Panthers miss Cleary. It's all relative I suppose. Next year?
Rob
Guest
Surely the Cowboys get 2 points for this result. How many points did Newcastle actually score?
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Agree with all of that. This was a danger game for the Raiders. The Knights responded after being slagged by captain Safiti for their performance last week – Best and Ponga were huge. And they were missing Pearce. The Knights are a decent team when they switch on and their game breakers are available. Wighton has had a horrible season. How he got a game in Origin is beyond me. It certainly wasn’t on form. He has scored one point in The Greenhouse player of the year voting (awarded by Raiders fans) and hasn’t scored one point in the Dally M so far this season. Says it all really.
Hard Yards
Roar Rookie
You can't let in six tries.
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