NRL 2020: Knights v Dragons, round 19 preview

Author: NRL.com
Timestamp: Sun 20 Sep 2020, 03:05 PM

With a top-four finish now out of the equation, a home game in the first week of the finals is the goal for the Knights over the final two weeks of the regular season.

To do that they need to win their remaining two games and hope either the Rabbitohs (one loss) or the Raiders (two losses) do them a favour.

The Dragons, on the other hand, are languishing in 13th position. Possibly the only good news for them is they cannot slip any lower.

These two sides both lost last weekend, with the combined losing margin of 59 points a real concern for both clubs.

Round 19 - Round 19 - Sunday 20 Sep

Full Time

Knights

Dragons

Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle

Highlights Latest

The rundown

Team news

Knights: Tex Hoy is out with a hamstring injury, with Mason Lino starting at five-eighth. Pasami Saulo also dropped out of the squad 24 hours before kick-off.

Gehamat Shibasaki replaces Edrick Lee in Newcastle's 21-man squad after the club had a player exemption approved on Friday. Lee will miss the match to attend to a private matter.

Josh King and Tautau Moga were the two players omitted an hour before the match.

Kalyn Ponga will return from a rest at fullback but hooker Kurt Mann is suspended. Chris Randall starts at dummy-half and Phoenix Crossland joins the interchange. Hymel Hunt has earned a start at centre and Mitch Barnett will return at lock with Jacob Saifiti dropping to the pine and Josh King at 18th man.

The Knights have won their past four games at McDonald Jones Stadium.

Dragons: Euan Aitken and Adam Clune are out with hamstring injuries, with Brayden Wiliame to start in the centres, Ben Hunt at halfback, Cameron McInnes at hooker, Tariq Sims in the second row, Jackson Ford at lock and Tyrell Fuimaono on the interchange.

Eddie Blacker and Jayden Sullivan were the two players left out an hour before the match.

Young centre Max Feagai will make his debut from the interchange. The Dragons have won eight of their past 10 games against the Knights.

Round 19 - Round 19 - Sunday 20 Sep

Full Time

Knights

Dragons

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Knights is number 1 Kalyn Ponga

Fullback for Dragons is number 1 Matthew Dufty
Winger for Knights is number 5 Starford To'a

Winger for Dragons is number 2 Jordan Pereira
Centre for Knights is number 3 Enari Tuala

Centre for Dragons is number 4 Zac Lomax
Centre for Knights is number 4 Hymel Hunt

Centre for Dragons is number 20 Brayden Wiliame
Winger for Knights is number 22 Gehamat Shibasaki

Winger for Dragons is number 5 Cody Ramsey
Five-Eighth for Knights is number 20 Mason Lino

Five-Eighth for Dragons is number 6 Corey Norman
Halfback for Knights is number 7 Mitchell Pearce

Halfback for Dragons is number 9 Ben Hunt

Forwards

Prop for Knights is number 8 David Klemmer

Prop for Dragons is number 8 Kaide Ellis
Hooker for Knights is number 9 Chris Randall

Hooker for Dragons is number 13 Cameron McInnes
Prop for Knights is number 10 Daniel Saifiti

Prop for Dragons is number 10 Paul Vaughan
2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Lachlan Fitzgibbon

2nd Row for Dragons is number 11 Tyson Frizell
2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Aidan Guerra

2nd Row for Dragons is number 14 Tariq Sims
Lock for Knights is number 13 Mitchell Barnett

Lock for Dragons is number 12 Jackson Ford

Interchange

Interchange for Knights is number 14 Phoenix Crossland

Interchange for Dragons is number 15 Josh Kerr
Interchange for Knights is number 15 Jacob Saifiti

Interchange for Dragons is number 16 Blake Lawrie
Interchange for Knights is number 16 Herman Ese'ese

Interchange for Dragons is number 17 Max Feagai
Interchange for Knights is number 17 Sione Mata'utia

Interchange for Dragons is number 19 Tyrell Fuimaono

Match Officials

Referee: Grant Atkins
Touch Judge: Dave Munro
Touch Judge: Jon Stone
Senior Review Official: Steve Chiddy

Last updated: 5/29/2023 4:41:14 AM

Key match-up

Mitchell Pearce v Adam Clune: Pearce will play his 300th NRL game this year if the Knights make it as far as the grand final. For the Knights to be any chance of achieving that, the man known as Junior needs to be at his best. Clune, on the other hand, has proven he belongs in the NRL in a breakout 2020 season.

Stat attack

The Knights (36) and Dragons (31) missed a combined 67 tackles and conceded 79 points last weekend. This from the sides that rank numbers one and two in the "most tackles made" stat for 2020.