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The Knights have piled on a century of points in their past two matches and go hunting a big scalp when the Storm arrive in Newcastle on Saturday night.

With Kalyn Ponga and Bradman Best in supreme form out wide and the forward pack muscling up, the Knights have climbed from 14th to 10th across the past month and will fancy their chances of an upset in front of the McDonald Jones Stadium faithful.

The Storm find themselves in familiar territory inside the top four on the back of a dominant win over the Roosters, with Origin stars Harry Grant and Cameron Munster backing up in style to lead Craig Bellamy's side to their 11th win of the season.

With clashes against the Eels (rd 22), Panthers (rd 23), Raiders (rd 24) and Broncos (rd 27) still to come, the Storm have plenty of challenges in the run home and need to make hay against the likes of the Knights and Dragons.

Having negotiated the Origin period and with a relatively healthy squad, the Storm will set sail for the finals, looking to improve on last year's fifth placing to ensure a double chance.

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Team News 

Knights: The Knights will start at 1-17 as named, with star centre Dane Gagai returning from the foot injury that has sidelined him since Round 17. He replaces Enari Tuala in the only change to the team that rolled over Wests Tigers in Round 20. 

Storm: Coach Craig Bellamy has made a late change to his squad, with Bronson Garlick promoted to the bench and Tyran Wishart named as 18th man. Otherwise, Bellamy has stuck solid with the squad that got the job done against the Roosters. Alec MacDonald retains his spot on the bench.

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Knights is number 1 Kalyn Ponga
    Fullback for Storm is number 1 Nick Meaney
  • Winger for Knights is number 2 Dominic Young
    Winger for Storm is number 2 Will Warbrick
  • Centre for Knights is number 3 Dane Gagai
    Centre for Storm is number 3 Reimis Smith
  • Centre for Knights is number 4 Bradman Best
    Centre for Storm is number 4 Justin Olam
  • Winger for Knights is number 5 Greg Marzhew
    Winger for Storm is number 5 Xavier Coates
  • Five-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Tyson Gamble
    Five-Eighth for Storm is number 6 Cameron Munster
  • Halfback for Knights is number 7 Jackson Hastings
    Halfback for Storm is number 7 Jahrome Hughes

Forwards

  • Prop for Knights is number 8 Daniel Saifiti
    Prop for Storm is number 8 Tui Kamikamica
  • Hooker for Knights is number 9 Phoenix Crossland
    Hooker for Storm is number 9 Harry Grant
  • Prop for Knights is number 10 Leo Thompson
    Prop for Storm is number 10 Christian Welch
  • 2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Tyson Frizell
    2nd Row for Storm is number 11 Trent Loiero
  • 2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Lachlan Fitzgibbon
    2nd Row for Storm is number 12 Nelson Asofa-Solomona
  • Lock for Knights is number 13 Adam Elliott
    Lock for Storm is number 13 Josh King

Interchange

  • Interchange for Knights is number 14 Kurt Mann
    Interchange for Storm is number 15 Tom Eisenhuth
  • Interchange for Knights is number 15 Jacob Saifiti
    Interchange for Storm is number 16 Tariq Sims
  • Interchange for Knights is number 16 Jack Hetherington
    Interchange for Storm is number 17 Alec MacDonald
  • Interchange for Knights is number 17 Mat Croker
    Interchange for Storm is number 18 Bronson Garlick

Reserves

  • Replacement for Knights is number 20 Brodie Jones
    Replacement for Storm is number 14 Tyran Wishart

Match Officials

  • Referee: Gerard Sutton
  • Touch Judge: Jon Stone
  • Touch Judge: Phil Henderson
  • Senior Review Official: Ben Cummins

Last updated:

Stat Attack

  • The Storm have racked up a combined score of 98-6 in their past two games against Newcastle, winning 50-2 last year and 48-4 in 2021.
  • The Knights have won five of their past seven games at McDonald Jones Stadium.
  • The Storm have won their past 11 games against the Knights.
  • Knights winger Dominic Young has scored 16 tries in his past 13 games.
  • Storm winger Xavier Coates has scored eight tries in his past five games.
  • Knights star Kalyn Ponga has lost all seven career games against the Storm.
  • The Knights have racked up 692 tackle breaks this season compared to the Storm's 547. The Broncos have the most tackle breaks with 714 but have played one more match than Newcastle.

Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.

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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