Matchday Details
Sunday May 3 – 2 PM (AEST) – McDonald Jones Stadium
📺 Broadcast: Fox League / Kayo
Referee: Liam Kennedy | Senior Review Official: Ashley Klein
Newcastle Knights: 1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Dominic Young 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Fletcher Sharpe 7. Dylan Brown 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Trey Mooney 11. Dylan Lucas 12. Jermaine McEwen 13. Mathew Croker 14. Sandon Smith 15. Tyson Frizell 16. Pasami Saulo 17. Fletcher Hunt 18. Harrison Graham 19. Francis Manuleleua 20. Cody Hopwood 21. Kyle McCarthy 22. James Schiller
South Sydney Rabbitohs: 1. Matthew Dufty 2. Alex Johnston 3. Latrell Mitchell 4. Jack Wighton 5. Campbell Graham 6. Cody Walker 7. Jamie Humphreys 8. Tevita Tatola 9. Bronson Garlick 10. Sean Keppie 11. Keaon Koloamatangi 12. Tallis Duncan 13. Cameron Murray 14. Peter Mamouzelos 15. Lachlan Hubner 16. Euan Aitken 17. Liam Le Blanc 18. Jayden Sullivan 19. Moala Graham-Taufa 20. Adam Elliott 21. Latrell Siegwalt 22. Brandon Smith
Match Preview
The South Sydney Rabbitohs make the trip up the M1 on Sunday afternoon to face the Newcastle Knights in front of the Hunter Valley’s home faithful.
The Rabbitohs come into this clash high-flying and full of confidence, sitting in the top four, having demolished the Storm 48-6, while the Knights found themselves on the opposite side of a lopsided scoreline, having been handed a hefty 44-12 defeat by the Panthers.
The cavalry is back in full force for the Knights, with Bradman Best, Dylan Lucas, Greg Marzhew, Tyson Frizell, and fleet-footed fullback Kalyn Ponga all making their return for the home side. For the Rabbitohs, Brandon Smith is under an injury cloud coming into this clash, with Peter Mamozuelos filling in the 14 jersey, while Keaon Koloamatangi joins the starting side in the back row.
You would be hard-pressed to find a better battle between two tackle-busting centres when Best lines up against Latrell Mitchell, and a State of Origin jersey may even be on the line. Mitchell is arguably the form centre in the competition right now, boasting 10 tries and four try assists in the opening eight weeks, while Best will be hoping to return from an injury lay-off and string some good performances together.
The battle of the fullbacks will be sure to light up McDonald Jones Stadium when Ponga and Matt Dufty go head-to-head. Fresh off extending his stay at the Knights until 2030, Ponga returns to rekindle his combination with halves Dylan Brown and Fletcher Sharpe for the first time since round 1, while Dufty has been stellar deputising for Jye Gray for the Rabbitohs, averaging 330 metres in his two games in first grade this season.
The sides have been evenly split in their last 10 clashes, both walking away with five victories; however, the Rabbitohs have historically struggled at McDonald Jones, losing 17 of their 24 visits to the venue.
Prediction
RLZ Tip: Rabbitohs by 6.
Bold call: Latrell Mitchell to continue his great recent form, crossing over as first try-scorer.
