Check out the match preview and prediction for the 2025 National Rugby League round 15 clash between the Newcastle Knights and the Sydney Roosters.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
Newcastle Knights Vs Sydney Roosters
Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
Date: Saturday June 14, 5:30pm (AEST)
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Knights: 1. Fletcher Sharpe 2. James Schiller 3. Dane Gagai 4. Fletcher Hunt 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Jackson Hastings 7. Jack Cogger 8. Mathew Croker 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Brodie Jones 11. Dylan Lucas 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Phoenix Crossland 14. Matthew Arthur 15. Thomas Cant 16. Jermaine McEwen 17. Elijah Leaumoana 18. Kyle McCarthy 19. Tyrone Thompson 20. Mason Teague 21. Brock Greacen 22. Wilson De Courcey
Roosters: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Billy Smith 4. Mark Nawaqanitawase 5. Dominic Young 6. Hugo Savala 7. Sam Walker 8. Naufahu Whyte 9. Benaiah Ioelu 10. Salesi Foketi 11. Egan Butcher 12. Siua Wong 13. Victor Radley 14. Sandon Smith 15. Zach Dockar-Clay 16. Blake Steep 17. Nat Butcher 18. Ethan King 19. Makahesi Makatoa 20. Taylor Losalu 21. Tom Rodwell 23. De La Salle Va’a
Referee: Gerard Sutton
Bunker: Adam Gee
MATCHDAY PREVIEW
It’s the moment Roosters fans have been waiting nine months for: the return of Sam Walker from his ACL injury.
His return is a timely one for the Roosters, who also get Naufahu Whyte and Nat Butcher back from injury, replacing their five Origin representatives.
After a thrilling comeback win at home last week, the Knights are on home deck again looking to keep the momentum going, although they’ll have to do it without Kalyn Ponga, who is on Origin duty, and Tyson Frizell (concussed).
Fletcher Sharpe will move to fullback to cover Ponga, with Jackson Hastings making his first appearance in first grade since July last year at five-eighth. Jayden Brailey returns to the starting side at hooker, with Phoenix Crossland moving to lock. Matthew Arthur joins the bench.
There are many changes for the Roosters, with Walker’s return seeing Hugo Savala named at five-eighth and Sandon Smith on the bench. Dom Young returns to the side to replace Robert Toia, with Mark Nawaqanitawase sliding to centre. Young guns Salesi Foketi and Benaiah Ioelu start in place of Lindsay Collins and Connor Watson, with Egan Butcher replacing Angus Crichton. Zach Dockar-Clay has also been named to return to first grade via the bench.
Newcastle’s Golden Point victory over Manly could prove to be the catalyst that gets their season going in the right direction. Although the Knights have struggled to score points, they have the second-best defensive record in the competition.
The Roosters meanwhile have scored 20 points or more in six of their past seven matches; but have conceded the third-most points per game this season.
History favours the Roosters in this match-up, with 38 wins from their 61 meetings, including 17 from their past 20. The Roosters have also won seven of the past eight matches between the two teams in Newcastle.
The Roosters showed against Cronulla three weeks ago that they have the depth to cover their Origin absences. With Walker, Whyte, and Butcher all returning, they should be able to cover their missing rep stars and beat the Knights.
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Roosters by 8 points.
Check out our round 15 predictions here.
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