Raiders v Knights: Papalii, Williams cleared; Fitzgibbon returns
Both these teams arrive in Wagga Wagga with their confidence down after big losses at home - the Knights lost by 34 points to the Roosters last week, while the Raiders went down by 14 to the Rabbitohs.
They now each have just three wins from eight rounds so far and are searching for answers as well as a return to form.
For Ricky Stuart's side leaving Canberra for a change of scenery might help. They have lost their last three home games at GIO Stadium, and are now staring at a fifth defeat in a row.
The Knights offered little in their seven tries-to-one humiliation at the hands of the Roosters with coach Adam O'Brien saying afterwards that everyone needed to have good, hard chat on what they wanted the rest of the seasons to look like.
Match: Raiders v Knights
Round 9 -
home Team
Raiders
12th Position
away Team
Knights
10th Position
Venue: McDonalds Park, Wagga Wagga
The rundown
Team news
Raiders: Prop Josh Papalii makes a welcome return from a week off to "refresh mentally".
Halfback George Williams is also back after he was a late scratching in warm-up last week due to a hamstring strain but Josh Hodgson (calf) and Jarrod Croker (shoulder) have had their returns delayed by at least a week.
Sebastian Kris (ankle) has been named in the centres despite fears he had suffered a syndesmosis injury against the Rabbitohs and will have to be cleared to take his place.
Matthew Timoko is the 18th man with Sam Williams dropping out of the squad on game day. Ryan James and Dunamis Lui were dropped from the 21-man squad 24 hours out from kick-off.
The Raiders have been outscored 69-8 in their past four second halves.
Knights: Lachlan Fitzgibbon returns from a shoulder injury and starts in the second row with Mitch Barnett shifting to lock and Connor Watson to the bench. Pasami Saulo drops out of the side with Gehamat Shibasaki the 18th man.
Last week's 18th man Phoenix Crossland has been selected to replace playmaker Blake Green, who suffered a rib injury against the Roosters.
Knights winger Hymel Hunt has been ruled out of Saturday's trip to Wagga Wagga to face Canberra. Hunt had been looking to return from a hamstring injury. Staford To'a has been elevated to the wing.
Tex Hoy and Josh King were omitted from the squad on Friday.
The Knights have lost six of their past seven away games.
Match: Raiders v Knights
Round 9 -
home Team
Raiders
away Team
Knights
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Raiders is number 1 Caleb AekinsFullback for Knights is number 1 Kalyn Ponga
-
Winger for Raiders is number 2 Bailey SimonssonWinger for Knights is number 2 Brayden Musgrove
-
Centre for Raiders is number 3 Sebastian KrisCentre for Knights is number 3 Enari Tuala
-
Centre for Raiders is number 4 Curtis ScottCentre for Knights is number 4 Bradman Best
-
Winger for Raiders is number 5 Jordan RapanaWinger for Knights is number 19 Starford To'a
-
Five-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Jack WightonFive-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Kurt Mann
-
Halfback for Raiders is number 7 George WilliamsHalfback for Knights is number 7 Phoenix Crossland
Forwards
-
Prop for Raiders is number 8 Josh Papali'iProp for Knights is number 8 David Klemmer
-
Hooker for Raiders is number 9 Tom StarlingHooker for Knights is number 9 Jayden Brailey
-
Prop for Raiders is number 10 Emre GulerProp for Knights is number 10 Daniel Saifiti
-
2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 Corey Harawira-Naera2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Tyson Frizell
-
2nd Row for Raiders is number 12 Elliott Whitehead2nd Row for Knights is number 18 Lachlan Fitzgibbon
-
Lock for Raiders is number 13 Ryan SuttonLock for Knights is number 12 Mitchell Barnett
Interchange
-
Interchange for Raiders is number 14 Siliva HaviliInterchange for Knights is number 13 Connor Watson
-
Interchange for Raiders is number 15 Hudson YoungInterchange for Knights is number 14 Sauaso Sue
-
Interchange for Raiders is number 16 Corey HorsburghInterchange for Knights is number 15 Jacob Saifiti
-
Interchange for Raiders is number 17 Joseph TapineInterchange for Knights is number 16 Brodie Jones
Reserves
-
Reserve for Raiders is number 20 Matthew TimokoReserve for Knights is number 22 Gehamat Shibasaki
Match Officials
- Referee: Adam Gee
- Touch Judge: Phil Henderson
- Touch Judge: Wyatt Raymond
- Senior Review Official: Henry Perenara
Last updated:
Key match-up
Jack Wighton v Kurt Mann: The rival five-eighths have shouldered a bit more responsibility lately, either through injuries to their respective halfbacks or the slip in their side's attack.
The pressure is on both these No.6s to not over-play their hand chasing points but to come up with the creativity needed to bamboozle opposition defences.
Stat attack
Jordan Rapana (eight) and Will Kennedy (six) are the leading try scorers for their sides teammates may look to these two for a much-needed win.
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