NRL 2024, Newcastle Knights, Gold Coast Titans, Round 26 preview, official team lists, injuries, updates

Knights v Titans: Best back in business; Sami in for Brimson

Author: NRL.com
Timestamp: Tue 27 Aug 2024, 04:10 PM

With the race for the top eight still in play for the Knights, there is plenty riding on the result of this week’s match up with the Titans.

Newcastle bounced back from their one-point loss against the Sharks to put on a big score against the Rabbitohs, with skipper Kalyn Ponga firing and centre Dane Gagai winding back the clock with a two-try performance.

The halves pairing of Phoenix Crossland and Jack Cogger also performed well together, with the Knights halves going through a number of iterations this season.

They are set to be without forwards Tyson Frizell (concussion protocols) and Kai Pearce-Paul (laceration) this weekend, the Englishman requiring surgery to the deep cut on his leg and extremely unlikely to play.

Titans coach Des Hasler didn’t mince words after his side’s 48-22 loss to the Roosters saying the performance wasn’t good enough, but he and captain Kieran Foran were optimistic the team could end their season on a high with two wins.

Titans star winger Alofiana Khan-Pereira broke his own club record for most tries after scoring a hat-trick against the Roosters, crossing for 23 so far this season. The Gold Coast backs have provided some exciting moments for the highlights reel, but the team’s defence has let them down this season.

Round 26 - Round 26 - Sunday 1 Sep

4:00 am

Knights

Titans

Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle

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Team News

Knights: Centre Bradman Best returns from the hamstring injury he suffered against the Broncos in Round 20 so Dylan Lucas shifts to the back row to replace Kai Pearce-Paul (laceration). Brodie Jones moves from the bench to the starting side to replace Tyson Frizell (concussion protocols) and Thomas Cant joins the bench.

Titans: Just the one change with Phil Sami coming into the centres in place of AJ Brimson, who is headed for surgery on the groin injury that has hampered him all season. Tanah Boyd is again listed as 18th man.

Round 26 - Round 26 - Sunday 1 Sep

4:00 am

Knights

Titans

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Knights is number 1 Kalyn Ponga

Fullback for Titans is number 1 Keano Kini
Winger for Knights is number 2 Fletcher Sharpe

Winger for Titans is number 2 Alofiana Khan-Pereira
Centre for Knights is number 3 Dane Gagai

Centre for Titans is number 3 Brian Kelly
Centre for Knights is number 4 Bradman Best

Centre for Titans is number 4 Phillip Sami
Winger for Knights is number 5 Greg Marzhew

Winger for Titans is number 5 Jojo Fifita
Five-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Jack Cogger

Five-Eighth for Titans is number 6 Jayden Campbell
Halfback for Knights is number 7 Phoenix Crossland

Halfback for Titans is number 7 Kieran Foran

Forwards

Prop for Knights is number 8 Daniel Saifiti

Prop for Titans is number 8 Moeaki Fotuaika
Hooker for Knights is number 9 Jayden Brailey

Hooker for Titans is number 9 Sam Verrills
Prop for Knights is number 10 Leo Thompson

Prop for Titans is number 10 Jaimin Jolliffe
2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Dylan Lucas

2nd Row for Titans is number 11 David Fifita
2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Brodie Jones

2nd Row for Titans is number 12 Beau Fermor
Lock for Knights is number 13 Adam Elliott

Lock for Titans is number 13 Chris Randall

Interchange

Interchange for Knights is number 14 Will Pryce

Interchange for Titans is number 14 Josiah Pahulu
Interchange for Knights is number 15 Mat Croker

Interchange for Titans is number 15 Isaac Liu
Interchange for Knights is number 16 Jack Hetherington

Interchange for Titans is number 16 Erin Clark
Interchange for Knights is number 17 Thomas Cant

Interchange for Titans is number 17 Klese Haas

Reserves

Replacement for Knights is number 18 Kyle McCarthy

Replacement for Titans is number 18 Tanah Boyd
Reserve for Knights is number 19 Sebastian Su'a

Reserve for Titans is number 19 Keenan Palasia
Reserve for Knights is number 20 Jackson Hastings

Reserve for Titans is number 20 Joe Stimson
Reserve for Knights is number 21 David Armstrong

Reserve for Titans is number 21 Arama Hau
Reserve for Knights is number 22 Thomas Jenkins

Reserve for Titans is number 22 Jaylan De Groot

Bradman Best
David Armstrong
Jackson Hastings
Kyle McCarthy
Thomas Jenkins
Thomas Cant

Arama Hau
Jaylan De Groot
Joe Stimson
Josiah Pahulu
Phillip Sami

Kai Pearce-Paul
Tyson Frizell

AJ Brimson

Match Officials

Referee: Gerard Sutton
Touch Judge: Liam Kennedy
Senior Review Official: Matt Noyen

Last updated: 8/27/2024 8:16:01 AM

Stat Attack

The Knights have won four of their past five games against the Titans.
The Titans have not won at McDonald Jones Stadium since 2016.
Knights winger Fletcher Sharpe has scored five tries in three games at McDonald Jones Stadium.
Titans winger Alofiana Khan-Pereira has scored 43 tries in 42 NRL games.
Knights fullback Kalyn Ponga has scored six tries in eight games against the Titans.

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