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St George Illawarra and Newcastle meet at Wollongong's WIN Stadium on Sunday desperate to turn the screws on their seasons after a string of losses for both sides in recent weeks.

Easter Sunday will again deliver a crucial contest for both sides at this stage of the season with the Dragons beating the Knights 22-13 in the corresponding Easter Sunday clash last year.

The Dragons produced an improved performance in their 24-12 loss to South Sydney last week but suffered their fourth defeat in a row while the injury-hit Knights have lost three on the bounce after two wins to start the season.

The two outfits have met on 41 occasions since 1998 with the Dragons holding a 28-13 win-loss record overall against the Hunter side.

They'll play for the Alex McKinnon Cup for the eighth time in honour of the former Knights and Dragons forward.

Sportsbet Betting preview: Dragons v Knights

The Rundown

Team news

Dragons: The Red V are 1-18. Josh Kerr earns a promotion in the starting side with Aaron Woods dropping back to the bench while Josh McGuire returns from suspension. Tyrell Fuimaono and Tyrell Sloan dropped out before kick-off. George Burgess is included on the bench. 

Knights: Adam Clune (knee) is a late withdrawal after failing to get through Saturday's final training run, replaced by Phoenix Crossland in the halves. Jacob Saifiti switches with brother Daniel and will start alongside David Klemmer, moving the NSW representative to the bench. Simi Sasagi comes into the 17 as a bench utility.

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Dragons is number 1 Moses Mbye
    Fullback for Knights is number 1 Kalyn Ponga
  • Winger for Dragons is number 2 Mathew Feagai
    Winger for Knights is number 2 Edrick Lee
  • Centre for Dragons is number 3 Mosese Suli
    Centre for Knights is number 3 Dane Gagai
  • Centre for Dragons is number 4 Zac Lomax
    Centre for Knights is number 4 Bradman Best
  • Winger for Dragons is number 5 Mikaele Ravalawa
    Winger for Knights is number 5 Enari Tuala
  • Five-Eighth for Dragons is number 6 Jack Bird
    Five-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Jake Clifford
  • Halfback for Dragons is number 7 Ben Hunt
    Halfback for Knights is number 14 Phoenix Crossland

Forwards

  • Prop for Dragons is number 8 Francis Molo
    Prop for Knights is number 8 David Klemmer
  • Hooker for Dragons is number 9 Andrew McCullough
    Hooker for Knights is number 9 Chris Randall
  • Prop for Dragons is number 10 Josh Kerr
    Prop for Knights is number 15 Jacob Saifiti
  • 2nd Row for Dragons is number 11 Tariq Sims
    2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Tyson Frizell
  • 2nd Row for Dragons is number 12 Jaydn Su'A
    2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Brodie Jones
  • Lock for Dragons is number 13 Jack De Belin
    Lock for Knights is number 13 Kurt Mann

Interchange

  • Interchange for Dragons is number 14 Talatau Amone
    Interchange for Knights is number 10 Daniel Saifiti
  • Interchange for Dragons is number 15 Blake Lawrie
    Interchange for Knights is number 16 Leo Thompson
  • Interchange for Dragons is number 16 Josh McGuire
    Interchange for Knights is number 17 Sauaso Sue
  • Interchange for Dragons is number 17 George Burgess
    Interchange for Knights is number 18 Simi Sasagi

Reserves

  • Replacement for Dragons is number 18 Tautau Moga
    Replacement for Knights is number 20 Tex Hoy

Match Officials

  • Referee: Ben Cummins
  • Touch Judge: Wyatt Raymond
  • Touch Judge: Jon Stone
  • Senior Review Official: Ashley Klein

Last updated:

Key match-up

Zac Lomax v Bradman Best: Two specialist centres on their edge that offer a point of difference in attack. Lomax is averaging 122 running metres so far in 2022 with 11 tackle busts while Best has scored two tries and eight tackle busts to his name.

Stat attack

The Knights are leading the competition with 3,199 kick metres with Jake Clifford (2139m) doing most of the work with the boot. The Dragons (2549m) are ranked 11th in this area.

Acknowledgement of Country

National Rugby League respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.

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