Match day guide and preview for the 2022 NRL round 23 game between the Canberra Raiders and Newcastle Knights.

Match details

• Who: Newcastle Knights vs Canberra Raiders
• When: Sunday 21 August 4.05pm
• Where: McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
• Weather: min 10 max 19, chance of rain 50%, 0 to 2mm
• Click here to buy tickets
• Head-to-head record: Played 53. Raiders 28 wins. Knights 23 wins. 2 draws.

Raiders and Knights team lists

Star front rower Joe Tapine and winger Nick Cotric come straight back into the Raiders’ starting side, with Albert Hopoate and Ryan Sutton dropping out of the 17. Canberra also get their coach back after Ricky Stuart served his one-week suspension.

The Knights stood down Bradman Best and Enari Tuala after they were late for a team bus. Former Raider Edrick Lee returns on the wing, with 19-year-old Krystian Mapapalangi to make his NRL debut at centre. David Klemmer returns in the front row after recovering from a knee issue.

Season so far and run home

Raiders 9^th | 392 points for | 423 points against | 11 wins & 10 losses | WLWWW

Canberra have turned their season around after a poor start and are still clinging to slim finals hopes with three matches remaining.

With Stuart missing last week against the Dragons, the Raiders looked to be cruising at 24-12 in the second half, but almost blew it in the dying moments as they hung on for a two-point win.

It leaves the Raiders needing to win their remaining three matches against Newcastle, Manly and Tigers, while also needing other results to go their way.

If Canberra does end up missing out on a top 8 spot, they will look back at the 2-6 start and wonder what could have been.

Newcastle Knights 14^th | 308 points for | 560 points against | 6 wins & 15 losses | LWLLL

After playing finals the last two years, the Knights have been one of the biggest disappointments of this season, with just six wins so far.

Their spine has been a mess all year with Kalyn Ponga struggling with form and injuries, while they have had no consistency in the halves at all.

Along with their on field woes, the Knights have endured a difficult week off the field as well and will be desperate to shift the focus away from the club with a rare win in front of their loyal fans.

Last 5 meetings and McDonald Jones Stadium history

• 2022 round 15: Raiders 20 – 18 Knights at GIO Stadium Canberra
• 2021 round 20: Knights 34 – 24 Raiders at Suncorp Stadium
• 2021 Round 9: Raiders 16 – 24 Knights at McDonalds Park, Wagga Wagga
• 2020 Round 4: Raiders 18 – 34 Knights at Campbelltown Stadium
• 2019 Round 3: Raiders 17 – 10 Raiders at GIO Stadium

The Raiders snapped a three-match losing streak against Newcastle earlier this year thanks to a brilliant individual Hudson Young try in the dying minutes.

These two sides haven’t played in Newcastle since 2017 where the Knights claimed a comfortable 34-20 win. In the last ten meetings in Newcastle, the Knights have won six matches, the Raiders have won three and there was a 24-24 draw in 2016.

Newcastle always seem to trouble the Raiders no matter where they are on the ladder, so Canberra will need to be on to keep their season alive.

Pre match predictions

Chips Ahoy: Tex Hoy to set up a try with a chip kick. Raiders by 10.

Shining Knight: Adam Elliott to shine against his future side with 150+ run metres and a try. Raiders by 12. – Denholm Samaras

Have any predictions of your own? Let us know in the comments below.

Other match details

The match will be broadcast live on Nine and Fox League channel 502 at 4pm and is also available to stream on Kayo. Overseas fans can watch via Watch NRL.

You can listen to the match on Raiders on Mix (Mix106.3 FM), Radio 2CC (1206 AM) and ABC Grandstand (666).