Knights v Titans: Elliott back on deck; Clark a late withdrawal
Fresh from recording back-to-back wins for the first time this season, the Titans will head to Newcastle to face a Knights side desperate to get back into the winner's circle after a run of tough defeats.
With Kieran Foran winding back the clock, David Fifita in arguably career best form and young guns Jayden Campbell and Alofiana Khan-Pereira firing, the Titans enter Round 11 inside the top eight and incredibly on the cusp of the top four courtesy of a hard-fought 26-24 win over Parramatta.
They'll travel south to face a Newcastle side fresh off the bye last week, which couldn't have come at a better time for Adam O'Brien's side.
The Knights haven't won since defeating the Warriors in Round 6 but will relish being back in front of their faithful fans at McDonald Jones Stadium, where they've won three of their last four including a Golden Point defeat to last year's premiers.
Historically, Gold Coast have won just four of their 13 games at Newcastle and haven't won three in a row since the game went behind closed doors in Queensland as a result of the COVID pandemic in 2021.
Match: Knights v Titans
Round 11 -
home Team
Knights
12th Position
away Team
Titans
9th Position
Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
Team News
Knights: A late positional change for the home side with Jack Hetherington to start at lock and Mat Croker shifting to the bench alongside Adam Elliott, who makes his first appearance since suffering a groin injury in the opening game of the season against the Warriors. Dylan Lucas will be 18th man.
Titans: Erin Clark (finger) is a late omission with Iszac Fa'asuamaleaui coming onto the bench. Kruise Leeming is also back into the side and on the bench for Keano Kini, who goes to 18th man.
Match: Knights v Titans
Round 11 -
home Team
Knights
away Team
Titans
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Knights is number 1 Lachlan MillerFullback for Titans is number 1 Jayden Campbell
-
Winger for Knights is number 2 Dominic YoungWinger for Titans is number 2 Alofiana Khan-Pereira
-
Centre for Knights is number 3 Dane GagaiCentre for Titans is number 3 Brian Kelly
-
Centre for Knights is number 4 Bradman BestCentre for Titans is number 4 Jojo Fifita
-
Winger for Knights is number 5 Greg MarzhewWinger for Titans is number 5 Phillip Sami
-
Five-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Kalyn PongaFive-Eighth for Titans is number 6 Kieran Foran
-
Halfback for Knights is number 7 Jackson HastingsHalfback for Titans is number 7 Tanah Boyd
Forwards
-
Prop for Knights is number 8 Daniel SaifitiProp for Titans is number 8 Moeaki Fotuaika
-
Hooker for Knights is number 9 Phoenix CrosslandHooker for Titans is number 9 Chris Randall
-
Prop for Knights is number 10 Leo ThompsonProp for Titans is number 10 Tino Fa'asuamaleaui
-
2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Tyson Frizell2nd Row for Titans is number 11 David Fifita
-
2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Lachlan Fitzgibbon2nd Row for Titans is number 12 Joe Stimson
-
Lock for Knights is number 17 Jack HetheringtonLock for Titans is number 13 Isaac Liu
Interchange
-
Interchange for Knights is number 13 Mat CrokerInterchange for Titans is number 14 Kruise Leeming
-
Interchange for Knights is number 14 Tyson GambleInterchange for Titans is number 16 Klese Haas
-
Interchange for Knights is number 15 Jacob SaifitiInterchange for Titans is number 17 Joe Vuna
-
Interchange for Knights is number 16 Adam ElliottInterchange for Titans is number 20 Iszac Fa'asuamaleaui
Reserves
-
Replacement for Knights is number 21 Dylan LucasReplacement for Titans is number 18 Keano Kini
Match Officials
- Referee: Peter Gough
- Touch Judge: Chris Sutton
- Touch Judge: Kasey Badger
- Senior Review Official: Chris Butler
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- No team has recorded more tackle breaks per game than the Knights, who average 38.2 tackle breaks compared to the Titans 29.8 per game.
- The Knights have made more tackles per game (356.6) than any other team.
- The Knights have won their past four games against the Titans at McDonald Jones Stadium, who have only won three of their past 15 at the venue.
- David Fifita has scored five tries in five games against the Knights, while Dominic Young scored four tries in two games against the Titans in 2022.
- Alofiana Khan-Pereira has scored 11 tries from his first nine NRL games.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
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