Check out the match preview and prediction for the 2025 National Rugby League round 17 clash between the Newcastle Knights and the Canberra Raiders.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
Newcastle Knights Vs Canberra Raiders
Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle.
Date: Friday 27 June, 8:00pm (ADST)
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Knights: 1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Dominic Young 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. James Schiller 6. Jackson Hastings 7. Jack Cogger 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Tyson Frizell 11. Dylan Lucas 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Phoenix Crossland 14. Brodie Jones 15. Thomas Cant 16. Jermaine McEwen 17. Mathew Croker 18. Elijah Leaumoana 19. Tyson Gamble 20. Fletcher Hunt 21. Greg Marzhew 22. Jack Hetherington
Raiders: 1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Jed Stuart 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Xavier Savage 6. Ethan Strange 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papali’i 9. Tom Starling 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Simi Sasagi 12. Zac Hosking 13. Corey Horsburgh 14. Owen Pattie 15. Noah Martin 16. Morgan Smithies 17. Ata Mariota 18. Trey Mooney 19. Pasami Saulo 20. Chevy Stewart 21. Danny Levi 22. Ethan Sanders
Referee: Peter Gough
Bunker: Chris Butler
MATCHDAY PREVIEW
The Raiders travel to Newcastle to play a gritty Knights team to round off Friday night’s double-header. Newcastle have often been missing in attack, averaging a league-worst 15 points a game, but they have kept themselves competitive at times with decent defence, averaging 19 points a game (two points a game better on defence than the second-placed Canberra Raiders). The under-fire Knights coach Adam O’Brien’s side did find a bit of much-needed form last week, defeating the Dolphins 26-20 at HBF Park, buoyed by a return-to-form double from left centre Bradman Best. The Raiders had a tricky Friday night clash with the Tigers in Campbelltown, bursting out to a quick 16-0 lead to then get involved in an arm wrestle match, though doing the job 16-12.
In team news the Knights suffered a brutal blow in their win last week, with their best player this season by far Fletcher Sharpe suffering a laceration in his kidney. Doctors described it as an injury typically seen in motor vehicle accidents, emphasising how brutal the impact in rugby league can be. This means the Knights will have a new halves combination with Jackson Hastings and Jack Cogger. Front rower Jacob Saifiti makes his return from a calf injury, shifting Mat Croker to the bench. It is also worth mentioning Phoenix Crossland will bring up 100 NRL games, so congratulations to him.
For Ricky Stuart’s Raiders, New South Wales second rower Hudson Young has reportedly been playing through discomfort in his groin, so they will rest him this week during this busy representative period. Simi Sasagi will take Young’s place at starting left edge second row: he has been in great form when called upon by Stuart, earning this call up. Another young forward Noah Martin, who debuted earlier in the season, takes the vacant bench spot.
In a contrast to last week, the Raiders go into this game playing a team who has a favourable record against them in recent times. The Knights have won four of their last five meetings with Canberra, with the most notable victory coming in the first week of the finals in 2023, where the Knights eliminated Canberra 30-28. The most recent meeting in round 18 last season saw Dane Gagai inspire his team to a 16-12 victory with a double. Gagai could yet again cause Canberra headaches, with the Raiders letting in eight tries to right centres this season, one of their weaker areas statistically. For this reason, I am going to pinpoint the Gagai verses Sebastian Kris match up as the key match-up this week in deciding who can potentially make or break this game. When I think of Canberra’s left edge vulnerability, I cast my mind to the Bulldogs loss in Canberra, where Stephen Crichton ran riot that afternoon to stun a sold-out Canberra crowd after they ran down a 20-0 half-time deficit. I’m sure the coaching and tactical staff are aware of this and will make plans to ensure something like this doesn’t happen with Gagai Friday night.
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Raiders by 8 points.
Check out our round 17 predictions here.
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