Match day guide and preview for the Canberra Raiders NRL round 20 game against the Newcastle Knights.
Who, when and where?
Newcastle Knights vs Canberra Raiders
Saturday 31 July, 5.30pm
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane QLD
Head-to-head record: Played 53. Raiders 28 wins. Knights 22 wins. 3 draws.
Ladder position and recent form
Canberra Raiders 9th | 359 points for | 431 points against | 8 wins & 10 losses | WWWLL
The Raiders are in season best form having won three straight games, including a gutsy 12-10 win over the Eels last week.
Their goal line defence has been poor so far this season, but Canberra showed plenty of determination to defend their line last week.
The Raiders have shown some good signs during their win streak, but they need to keep improving to book a finals spot
Newcastle Knights 11th | 291 points for | 448 points against | 7 wins & 11 losses | LLWWL
After a couple of good wins, the Knights have been brought back to earth with two heavy defeats.
They lost 48-4 to the Storm before a second half capitulation last week against the Roosters handed them a 28-8 loss.
The difference between their best and worst is far too big at the moment but this is certainly a winnable game against another inconsistent side.
Raiders and Knights team lists
| Raiders | Knights | |
| Jordan Rapana | 1 | Kalyn Ponga |
| Harley Smith-Shields | 2 | Enari Tuala |
| Jarrod Croker | 3 | Kurt Mann |
| Seb Kris | 4 | Bradman Best |
| Semi Valemei | 5 | Hymel Hunt |
| Matt Frawley | 6 | Phoenix Crossland |
| Sam Williams | 7 | Jake Clifford |
| Josh Papalii | 8 | Jacob Saifiti |
| Josh Hodgson | 9 | Jayden Brailey |
| Emre Guler | 10 | Daniel Saifiti |
| Corey Harawira-Naera | 11 | Tyson Frizell |
| Eliott Whitehead | 12 | Mitchell Barnett |
| Hudson Young | 13 | Connor Watson |
| Bench | Bench | |
| Tom Starling | 14 | Sauaso Sue |
| Matt Timoko | 15 | David Klemmer |
| Sia Soliola | 16 | Josh King |
| Joe Tapine | 17 | Brodie Jones |
| Reserves | Reserves | |
| Matt Frawley | 18 | Jirah Momoisea |
| Ryan James | 19 | Simi Sasagi |
| Bailey Simonsson | 20 | Tex Hoy |
| Dunamis Lui | 21 | Mitchell Pearce |
Canberra Raiders
The Raiders have two key inclusions with Wighton and Whitehead returning from injury.
Frawley drops to the extended bench for Wighton while Young shifts to lock in place of the injured Ryan Sutton and Whitehead slots into the second row.
Papalii has been named to start in the front row despite failing an HIA last week while Simonsson and Lui are on the extended bench as they return from injury.
Newcastle Knights
Bradman Best and David Klemmer return for the Knights while Mitchell Pearce was named on the extended bench but has been ruled out.
Kalyn Ponga has been battling a sternum injury but has been named at fullback and looks set to play.
Last 5 meetings
- 2021 Round 9: Raiders 16 – 24 Knights at McDonalds Park
- 2020 Round 4: Raiders 18 – 34 Knights at Campbelltown Stadium
- 2019 Round 3: Raiders 17 – 10 Raiders at GIO Stadium
- 2018 Round 2: Raiders 28 – 30 Knights at GIO Stadium
- 2017 Round 25: Raiders 46 – 28 Knights at GIO Stadium
The Knights have won the last two matches against Canberra, including a come-from-behind victory earlier this year in Wagga Wagga.
After trailing 16-0 at half-time, Ponga led Newcastle back to a win over a disappointing Raiders outfit.
The players to watch
Raiders – Jordan Rapana
Rapana has been one of the Raiders most consistent players this season, but he had his best game last week when asked to pay fullback.
He finished the match with 261 run metres along with 15 tackle breaks, a try and a try saving hit in the dying seconds.
At 31-years-old, Rapana continues to play at a high level and will again be extremely important to the Raiders chances once again.
Knights – Kalyn Ponga
Ponga is having a strange season with some brilliant performances mixed in with injuries and some underwhelming efforts.
He was exceptional in his comeback game against the Cowboys but last week against the Roosters he looked sore all game and had no impact at all.
He was instrumental in their win over Canberra earlier in the season and will need to bring that type of dominant performance if the Knights are to record a much-needed win.
Pre match predictions
Return of the Jack: Wighton to score a try and record a try assist on his return.
I’m lovin’ it: Raiders to seek vengeance for the round nine McDonalds Park boilover by containing Kalyn Ponga to zero tries and assists. – Denholm Samaras
Other match details
The match will be broadcast live on Channel Nine and Fox League channel 502 at 7.30pm. It is also available to stream on Kayo.
You can listen to the match on Raiders on Mix – Mix106.3 FM, Radio 2CC – 1206 AM and ABC Grandstand – 666 ABC AM.
Gates open 4.30pm
The Raiders v Knights match is the first of an NRL double header at Suncorp Stadium with the Storm v Panthers blockbuster to follow at 7.35pm.
Click here for more match day information.
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