Match day guide and preview for the 2023 NRL Elimination Final between the Newcastle Knights and Canberra Raiders.
Match details
- Who: Newcastle Knights vs Canberra Raiders
- When: Sunday 10 September, 4.05pm
- Where: McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
- Weather: min 4, max 21. 5% chance of rain
- Head-to-head record: Played 56. Knights 25 wins. Raiders 29 wins. 2 draws.
Line ups
| RAIDERS | KNIGHTS | |
| Jordan Rapana | 1 | Kalyn Ponga |
| James Schiller | 2 | Dominic Young |
| Jack Wighton | 3 | Dane Gagai |
| Matthew Timoko | 4 | Bradman Best |
| Nick Cotric | 5 | Greg Marzhew |
| Matt Frawley | 6 | Tyson Gamble |
| Jamal Fogarty | 7 | Jackson Hastings |
| Ata Mariota | 8 | Jacob Saifiti |
| Zac Woolford | 9 | Phoenix Crossland |
| Joseph Tapine | 10 | Leo Thompson |
| Hudson Young | 11 | Tyson Frizell |
| Elliott Whitehead | 12 | Lachlan Fitzgibbon |
| Hohepa Puru | 13 | Adam Elliott |
| BENCH | ||
| Tom Starling | 14 | Kurt Mann |
| Emre Guler | 15 | Daniel Saifiti |
| Pasami Saulo | 16 | Jack Hetherington |
| Trey Mooney | 17 | Mathew Croker |
| RESERVES | ||
| Jarrod Croker | 18 | Adam Clune |
| Albert Hopoate | 19 | Lachlan Miller |
| Danny Levi | 20 | Dylan Lucas |
| Ethan Strange | 21 | Enari Tuala |
| Xavier Savage | 22 | Brodie Jones |
The Raiders have brought James Schiller in to replace the suspended Sebastian Kris. Jack Wighton remains at centre with Matt Frawley to play five-eighth.
The Knights have received a big boost with star fullback Kalyn Ponga overcoming a shoulder injury. Dane Gagai, Jackson Hastings, Tyson Frizell, Lachlan Fitzgibbon, Leo Thompson, Phoenix Crossland and Kurt Mann are all back into the 17.
Team profiles
Newcastle Knights 5th – 14 wins, 1 draw and 9 losses
There were experts that had Newcastle coach Adam O’Brien sacked at the halfway mark of the year, but the Knights have completely turned their season around to come into the finals as the form team in the competition having won nine in a row. Ponga’s return to fullback mid-season has played a key role, with the Queensland superstar showing why he is one of the most damaging players in the NRL. The Knights have one of the most passionate fan bases in the NRL and with a full house on show to watch, it’s hard to see them letting this opportunity slip.
- Points for: 626 points for (4th)
- Points against: 451 points against (4th)
- Last 10: 9-1: WWWWWWWWWL
- Home record: 9-3
- Away record: 5-6
- Average winning margin: 19.1 points
- Average losing margin: 10.2 points
- Most tries: Dom Young (23)
- Most try assists: Kalyn Ponga (20)
- Most line breaks: Dom Young (31)
- Most run metres: Greg Marzhew (3,993)
- Most tackles: Phoenix Crossland (814)
- Last finals win: 2013
Last 5 finals: 2-3
- 2021 Elimination Final: lost to Eels 28-20 at Browne Park, Rockhampton
- 2020 Elimination Final: lost to Rabbitohs 46-20 at Accor Stadium
- 2013 Preliminary Final: lost to Roosters 40-14 at Allianz Stadium
- 2013 Semi Final: defeated Storm 18-16 at AAMI Park
- 2013 Elimination Final: defeated Bulldogs 22-6 at ANZ Stadium
Canberra Raiders 8th – 13 wins and 11 losses
For the second year in a row, the Raiders have finished in 8th spot and will travel interstate for an Elimination Final. However, the situation is quite different this year, with Canberra losing five of their last seven matches heading into this finals series, compared to last year where they went into the finals having won seven of their last eight matches. The Raiders managed to knock off the Storm in Melbourne last year, but the 2023 Knights present a much bigger challenge given their red-hot form. The Raiders are heading into hostile territory and while not many give them a chance of winning, this squad has plenty of finals experience and know how to win a final away from home.
- Points for: 486 points for (13th)
- Points against: 623 points against (12th)
- Last 10: 5-5: LLWLWLLWWW
- Home record: 7-5
- Away record: 6-6
- Average winning margin: 5.3 points
- Average losing margin: 18.7 points
- Most tries: Jordan Rapana and Matt Timoko (11)
- Most try assists: Jamal Fogarty (15)
- Most linebreaks: Jordan Rapana and Matt Timoko (14)
- Most run metres: Matt Timoko (3,787)
- Most tackles: Corey Horsburgh (855)
- Last finals win: 2022
Last 10 finals: 3-2
- 2022 Semi Final: lost to Parramatta 40-4 at Commbank Stadium
- 2022 Elimination Final: defeated Melbourne 28-20 at AAMI Park
- 2020 Preliminary Final: lost to Melbourne 30-10 at Suncorp Stadium
- 2020 Semi Final: defeated Roosters 22-18 at SCG
- 2020 Elimination Final: defeated Cronulla 32-20 at GIO Stadium
Last 5 meetings and McDonald Jones Stadium history
- 2023 round 22: Raiders 6 – 28 Knights at GIO Stadium
- 2023 round 4: Knights 24 – 14 Raiders at McDonald Jones Stadium
- 2022 round 23: Knights 22 – 28 Raiders at McDonald Jones Stadium
- 2022 round 15: Raiders 20 – 18 Knights at GIO Stadium, Canberra
- 2021 round 20: Knights 34 – 24 Raiders at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
The Knights have a good recent record over the Raiders, winning three of the last five and five of the last seven.
Over the last decade or so, Newcastle just always seem to give Canberra trouble. Even when the Knights were terrible and won three straight wooden spoons from 2015 to 2017, they still managed to sneak out a draw and a win over the Raiders in that period.
This will be the first time these two sides have met in a finals match.
Pre match predictions
Gamble responsibly: Tyson Gamble to have two try assists and no errors in a professional outing. Knights by 16.
Big Knight out: Knights to score 30+ against a depleted but valiant Raiders side. Knights by 20 – Denholm Samaras
