Newcastle Knights
22
Match Complete
Canberra Raiders
28
| 73 |  | J. Fogarty | ||
| 71 |  | J. Wighton | ||
| 53 |  | J. Fogarty | ||
| 49 | | J. Fogarty | ||
| 48 | | H. Young | ||
| 43 | | J. Fogarty | ||
| 42 | | S. Kris | ||
| A. Milford | | 40 | ||
| J. Brailey | | 39 | ||
| E. Lee | | 36 | ||
| 32 | | J. Rapana | ||
| D. Young | | 25 | ||
| D. Young | | 18 | ||
| 10 | | S. Kris | ||
| E. Lee | | 5 |
| 5 | Tries | 5 | ||
| 1 | Conversions | 3 | ||
| 0 | Penalty Goals | 1 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
Round 23 of the NRL Premiership concludes this afternoon when the Newcastle Knights host the Canberra Raiders at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 4:05pm (AEST).
“So, you’re telling me there’s a chance.”
Canberra Raiders fans are holding on to Lloyd from Dumb and Dumber this weekend. Mathematically, the Raiders are still a chance. Realistically, it will take a miracle. They can keep dreaming next week with a big win over Newcastle today.
Just when you think the Knights season couldn’t get any worse, along came the escapades of Kalyn Ponga and Kurt Mann. The Knights players and coaching staff could be forgiven for wishing this season would just end.
They were in the game with 15 minutes to go against the Broncos last weekend, but all too familiar errors returned. The Broncos bounced away to win 28-10.
Bradman Best and Enari Tuala have been stood down by the club for disciplinary reasons. Edrick Lee returns from injury in place of Tuala and Krystian Mapapalangi will make his NRL debut. David Klemmer also returns with Jacob Saifiti shifting to lock and Mat Croker to the bench.
Without Ricky Stuart, the Raiders ended the Dragons season last weekend with a 24-22 win. The second-half wobbles returned, but they were good enough to hold on at the death.
The Raiders are not the flashest team around, they rely on their big pack of forwards to get some domination up front. The Knights pack also contains some big names, and they need to stand up this afternoon to give Newcastle a sniff.
Joe Tapine is a big in for the Raiders, pushing Emre Guler to the bench and Ryan Sutton to the reserves. Nick Cotric returns from suspension, with Albert Hopoate losing his spot in the 17.
Prediction
Canberra need to win this week to stay alive and they need a big scoreline to start and address their poor for and against differential.
The Knights are playing for pride alone but, after the events of the last fortnight, you start to wonder how much pride is left.
Raiders by 20.
Game information
Kick-off: 4:05pm AEST
Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium
TV/Stream: Kayo Sports, Foxtel, Channel Nine
Odds: Knights $3.40, Raiders $1.32 – odds via PlayUp
Newcastle
1. Tex Hoy 2. Edrick Lee 3. Dane Gagai 4. Krystian Mapapalangi 5. Dominic Young 6. Anthony Milford 7. Adam Clune 8. David Klemmer 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Daniel Saifiti 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Brodie Jones 13. Jacob Saifiti
Interchange: 14. Phoenix Crossland 15. Pasami Saulo 16. Simi Sasagi 17. Mat Croker
Canberra
1. Xavier Savage 2. Nick Cotric 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Sebastian Kris 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. Adam Elliott
Interchange: 14. Tom Starling 15. Emre Guler 16. Corey Horsburgh 17. Corey Harawira-Naera
JennyFromPenny
Guest
Raiders are still a hope of finishing 6th and playing a home final if Roosters and Broncos lose their last two. None out of those games would be unlikely upsets.
Organised Chaos
Guest
Bruce, not a Sydney team, to quote Greenburg ‘Canberra can just wither on the vine’. Sydney hates us so things won’t change. But hey, they keep sending peeps like Scomo here and blaming us for decisions made, plus it’s cold in Canbera. So we deserve it, because Sydney is sooo great.
Organised Chaos
Guest
Huh, what part of ball on sideline do you not understand?
Organised Chaos
Guest
Why good luck Fyshwick? Huh?
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
I hope you are watching the NRLW!!!
Stormy
Roar Rookie
Hence my earlier question - who is the Knights defensive coach?
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Cause you are the knights
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
The fox team are more accurate than the bunker
The Roar
Editor
Thanks for following tonight’s blog brought to you by nib Health. Make sure you check out Tahlulah Tillett’s story on how she’s maintained a positive attitude despite all the ups and downs that go into being a professional athlete. Watch her fascinating story.
andrew
Roar Rookie
Raiders still in the fight for the 8.
Stormy
Roar Rookie
The player can contact the post,but the ball still has to be placed inside the touchline.
Harry
Guest
A player can contact the corner post if in mid-air, but if they ground the ball on the corner post or if a kicked ball hits the corner post then that’s touch in goal - in both cases because if not for the post the ball would’ve hit the touch line in goal (whereas a player who’s in mid air in isn’t considered in touch anywhere on the field).
Kurt S
Roar Pro
Thanks Choppy.. the fox team said that it was a no try because the ball touched the cornerpost. But if it hit the line, I get it. Thanks mate
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Happy just to win Steve - the Raiders never seem to win easily
Phil
Roar Rookie
How can you lead 22-8 at halftime and lose? Canberra deserved to win, not because they scored more points but because the Knights couldn't shut Canberra out.
Stormy
Roar Rookie
Raiders did enough to win, but won't trouble any team about them, on that showing. Well done, Knights for fighting it out, till the end. Best game of your season - should give you some hope. Thanks, David, enjoyed your call, as I always do.
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
MOTM David. You were outstanding. Enjoy the week to recover and Netflick
David Holden
Roar Guru
Thanks for following the blog tonight. Enjoy your week all and we'll be back for Round 24 of the NRL season
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
He grounded it on the line so no try.
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Nice play knights. Wouldve been nice to get within two and then miss the kick Good comeback Raiders. That try to Wighton and the earlier one to Young were sensational. Good you have blokes who can turn it on when you really need it. Two weeks to see if you can crqck the 8. Good luck, Fyshwick