Finals hopes are on the line as the Raiders host the Knights in a crucial Round 23 showdown in Canberra. With Newcastle pushing for a top-eight finish and Canberra needing a late-season surge, expect a fierce contest between two evenly matched sides.

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Matchday Details

Sunday, 9 August 2026 – 2:00pm AEST – GIO Stadium Canberra
📺 Broadcast: Fox League / Kayo
Referee: Ashley Klein | Senior Review Official: Chris Butler

Raiders: 1. Kaeo Weekes, 2. Jed Stuart, 3. Simi Sasagi, 4. Matthew Timoko, 5. Xavier Savage, 6. Ethan Strange, 7. Ethan Sanders, 8. Corey Horsburgh, 9. Owen Pattie, 10. Joseph Tapine (c), 11. Zac Hosking, 12. Ata Mariota, 13. Morgan Smithies, 14. Tom Starling, 15. Joe Roddy, 16. Josh Papalii, 17. Daine Laurie, 18. Savelio Tamale, 19. Matty Nicholson, 20. Coby Black, 21. Mark Tuialii, 22. Vena Patuki-Case

Knights: 1. Kalyn Ponga (c), 2. Dominic Young, 3. Dane Gagai, 4. Bradman Best, 5. Greg Marzhew, 6. Fletcher Sharpe, 7. Sandon Smith, 8. Tyson Frizell, 9. Phoenix Crossland, 10. Trey Mooney, 11. Jermaine McEwen, 12. Francis Manuleleua, 13. Mat Croker, 14. Harrison Graham, 15. Cody Hopwood, 16. Lachlan Crouch, 17. Thomas Cant, 18. Fletcher Hunt, 19. Brodie Jones, 20. Toby Winter, 21. Kyle McCarthy, 22. Diesel Hagan

Match Preview

After a dominant win over the Brisbane Broncos, the Newcastle Knights will be looking to cement their position in the top eight with another win over one of last season’s heavyweights, the Canberra Raiders. With finals aspirations at breaking point, the Raiders will be hoping to avenge last week’s loss to the Panthers after another Nathan Cleary masterclass.

In what shapes as one of the most evenly matched contests of the weekend, Newcastle will have more at stake with just five rounds left in the NRL season.  With a bye in hand, two more wins will almost certainly lock up a finals position that seemed unlikely leading into the season.  The Canberra Raiders while not mathematically out of top eight contention would need to win their remaining four and have some luck with other team’s misfortune to reach the finals.

The Raiders appeared to be hitting form with four wins in a row before injuries to key second-rowers Noah Martin and Hudson Young, cruelled their chances against a formidable Penrith Panthers line-up.  They will however fancy their chances against a Knights side with injury issues of their own.  The season-ending injuries to Dylan Brown and Dylan Lucas appeared not to trouble them against a disappointing Brisbane Broncos outfit, and they will be hoping for more of the same against the Raiders.

The Knights injured pair were admirably replaced by reliable halfback Sandon Smith (385 kicking meters, 128 run meters), while backrowers Jermaine McEwen and Francis Manuleleua ran riot on the edges after the Broncos lost Xavier Willison in the opening five minutes to injury.  A big game will be required from the Raiders replacement backrowers Ata Mariota and Morgan Smithies for the Raiders to stay in this contest.

The five-eighth showdown between next-gen superstars Ethan Strange and Fletcher Sharpe will be crucial.  At 21 and 22 years of age, they are leading the charge of modern five-eighths and likely to be competing for the New South Wales five-eighth position for the foreseeable future. They are both creative, near-unstoppable near the try line, and not afraid to take the game on.  Both players are approaching the top of their game and will likely have long representative futures ahead.

Former Australian and New South Wales representative Tyson Frizell will play his 300th game this weekend and will combine with the much-improved Trey Mooney against the Raiders’ experienced front-row trio of Corey Horsburgh, Joseph Tapine and Josh Papalii.  How both teams’ forward packs cover key injuries is vital in this contest and the ability of Phoenix Crossland and Owen Pattie in gaining forward ascendency and momentum from No. 9, will undoubtedly shape this contest.

Both teams enter this game mostly unchanged from last round, with the Raiders only making one change, as centre Simi Sasagi returns from injury to replace Sebastian Kris.   

In recent contests the ledger is balanced with both teams two wins and two losses from the last four. While both teams can put on points, expect this to be a close and low-scoring encounter.  Canberra will be wet and cold with rain expected. The Knights have won their last two wet-weather arm wrestles against the Dolphins (by one point) and Tigers (by six points). Can they make it three straight?

Prediction

RLZ Tip: Raiders by 4
Full Round 23 tips → /nrl-round-23-predictions-2026/
Bold call: Simi Sasagi scores a four-pointer on his return from injury.

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Cameron Mark

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