Knights v Roosters: Hymel hunts first game; Keary, JWH return
The Roosters sit just one win outside the eight but three more injury blows have made the task of sneaking into the finals that much tougher.
With Sitili Tupouniua and Billy Smith gone for the season with knee injuries and Siosiua Taukeiaho out for at least a month with a facial fracture, the Roosters will need every ounce of their renowned fighting qualities to get to the play-offs for a sixth straight year.
The Knights have won just one of five since their round 13 bye and given up 156 points in the process, a worrying sign for Adam O'Brien, although with games against the Bulldogs, Tigers and Titans still to come they could yet get on a late roll.
With four of their remaining seven games to be played at home the Knights will be determined to give their loyal fans something to cheer about even if the finals prove a bridge too far,
Sportsbet Betting preview: Knights v Roosters
The Rundown
Team news
Knights: Utility Kurt Mann's leg injury will keep him sidelined for another week, with Phoenix Crossland added to the 17. Hymel Hunt comes onto the wing for his first game of the season. Tyson Frizell (ribs) and Edrick Lee (foot) suffered injuries against Manly but will play, while Simi Sasagi (ribs) is replaced on the bench by Brodie Jones.
Roosters: Joey Manu (quad) is out with Drew Hutchison taking his place in the centres, with Manu's original replacement, Adam Keighran, reverting back to the bench an hour before kick off. Luke Keary (concussion symptoms) and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (hamstring) are back on deck in a huge boost for the Roosters. Mid-season recruit Matt Lodge comes into the starting side to fill the void left by Siosiua Taukeiaho (cheekbone). Nat Butcher moves to the second row to cover for Sitili Tupouniua (knee).
Match: Knights v Roosters
Round 19 -
home Team
Knights
away Team
Roosters
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Knights is number 1 Kalyn PongaFullback for Roosters is number 1 James Tedesco
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Winger for Knights is number 2 Edrick LeeWinger for Roosters is number 2 Daniel Tupou
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Centre for Knights is number 3 Dane GagaiCentre for Roosters is number 3 Paul Momirovski
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Centre for Knights is number 4 Enari TualaCentre for Roosters is number 16 Drew Hutchison
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Winger for Knights is number 5 Hymel HuntWinger for Roosters is number 5 Joseph-Aukuso Sua'ali'i
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Five-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Anthony MilfordFive-Eighth for Roosters is number 6 Luke Keary
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Halfback for Knights is number 7 Adam CluneHalfback for Roosters is number 7 Sam Walker
Forwards
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Prop for Knights is number 8 David KlemmerProp for Roosters is number 8 Jared Waerea-Hargreaves
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Hooker for Knights is number 9 Jayden BraileyHooker for Roosters is number 9 Sam Verrills
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Prop for Knights is number 10 Daniel SaifitiProp for Roosters is number 10 Matthew Lodge
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2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Tyson Frizell2nd Row for Roosters is number 11 Angus Crichton
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2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Lachlan Fitzgibbon2nd Row for Roosters is number 12 Nat Butcher
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Lock for Knights is number 13 Mitchell BarnettLock for Roosters is number 13 Victor Radley
Interchange
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Interchange for Knights is number 15 Jacob SaifitiInterchange for Roosters is number 14 Connor Watson
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Interchange for Knights is number 16 Pasami SauloInterchange for Roosters is number 15 Egan Butcher
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Interchange for Knights is number 17 Brodie JonesInterchange for Roosters is number 17 Terrell May
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Interchange for Knights is number 19 Phoenix CrosslandInterchange for Roosters is number 20 Adam Keighran
Reserves
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Replacement for Knights is number 18 Leo ThompsonReplacement for Roosters is number 19 Naufahu Whyte
Match Officials
- Referee: Peter Gough
- Touch Judge: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
- Touch Judge: Phil Henderson
- Senior Review Official: Grant Atkins
Last updated:
Key match-up
Kalyn Ponga v James Tedesco: Two great fullbacks, two great leaders. Ponga had the last laugh in Origin with a magnficent display in the decider and he'll be out to get another one over Tedesco here. Ponga is averaging 135 metres per game this season but his influence extends way beyond the bare statistics. Tedesco was superhuman backing up for the Roosters on Saturday with 191 running metres and a couple of tries. Both men will dig deep into their bag of tricks in search of victory and their showdown should be worth the price of admission alone.
Stat Attack
The Roosters have five players in the top 50 for metres run in 2022, the best being James Tedesco (3346), who sits behind only Dylan Edwards (3745). Roosters winger Daniel Tupou is 13th in the NRL with 2428 metres while Joey Manu is 27th with 2186m, Siosuia Taukeiaho 31st with 2139m and Angus Crichton 41st with 1982. The only Knight inside the top 50 is tireless prop David Klemmer in 42nd on the table with 1971 metres from his 13 games.
Match: Knights v Roosters
Round 19 -
home Team
Knights
14th Position
away Team
Roosters
8th Position
Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
