Sitting two wins outside the eight, the Knights will be looking to upset the Storm when Craig Bellamy's men come to town for Round 19.
Newcastle has struggled to find consistency in recent weeks, with their last five games giving them a L-W-L-W-L record, including narrowly going down to ladder leaders the Raiders in their last match before last weekend's bye.
Now expected to be without skipper Kalyn Ponga until the back-end of the season, Newcastle will have their backs to the wall against a Storm side who will welcome back many of their Origin stars.
The Storm come into this match having claimed a hard-fought Round 18 win against the Cowboys, inspired by a two-try effort from Nick Meaney filling in at fullback.
Match: Knights v Storm
Round 19 -
home Team
Knights
13th Position
away Team
Storm
2nd Position
Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
Team News
Knights: Fletcher Hunt comes into the side at fullback with Kalyn Ponga (foot) sidelined while the return of Greg Marzhew from an arm injury pushes James Schiller to the reserves. A boost up front with Leo Thompson back from suspension so Tyson Frizell reverts to lock, Phoenix Crossland goes to hooker and Jayden Brailey to the bench. Thomas Cant drops off the bench to 18th man.
Storm: After being a late withdrawal from the Cowboys game due to calf tightness Ryan Papenhuyzen is good to go at fullback. Nick Meaney returns to centre and Grant Anderson pushes back out to the wing. Blues prop Stefano Utoikamanu has been named on the bench but Maroons skipper Cameron Munster, hooker Harry Grant and lock Trent Loiero have been named among the reserves and may not back up. Jack Howarth is listed as 18th man after recovering from appendicitis.
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Knights is number 1 Fletcher HuntFullback for Storm is number 1 Ryan Papenhuyzen
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Winger for Knights is number 2 Dominic YoungWinger for Storm is number 2 Grant Anderson
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Centre for Knights is number 3 Dane GagaiCentre for Storm is number 3 Joe Chan
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Centre for Knights is number 4 Bradman BestCentre for Storm is number 4 Nick Meaney
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Winger for Knights is number 5 Greg MarzhewWinger for Storm is number 5 Siulagi Tuimalatu-Brown
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Five-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Jackson HastingsFive-Eighth for Storm is number 6 Tyran Wishart
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Halfback for Knights is number 7 Jack CoggerHalfback for Storm is number 7 Jahrome Hughes
Forwards
-
Prop for Knights is number 8 Jacob SaifitiProp for Storm is number 8 Tui Kamikamica
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Hooker for Knights is number 9 Phoenix CrosslandHooker for Storm is number 9 Bronson Garlick
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Prop for Knights is number 10 Leo ThompsonProp for Storm is number 10 Josh King
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2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Dylan Lucas2nd Row for Storm is number 11 Shawn Blore
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2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Kai Pearce-Paul2nd Row for Storm is number 12 Eliesa Katoa
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Lock for Knights is number 13 Tyson FrizellLock for Storm is number 13 Nelson Asofa-Solomona
Interchange
-
Interchange for Knights is number 14 Jayden BraileyInterchange for Storm is number 14 Jonah Pezet
-
Interchange for Knights is number 15 Mat CrokerInterchange for Storm is number 15 Stefano Utoikamanu
-
Interchange for Knights is number 16 Jermaine McEwenInterchange for Storm is number 16 Lazarus Vaalepu
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Interchange for Knights is number 17 Brodie JonesInterchange for Storm is number 17 Ativalu Lisati
Reserves
-
Replacement for Knights is number 18 Thomas CantReplacement for Storm is number 18 Jack Howarth
-
Reserve for Knights is number 19 James SchillerReserve for Storm is number 19 Trent Loiero
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Reserve for Knights is number 20 Tyson GambleReserve for Storm is number 20 Cameron Munster
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Reserve for Knights is number 21 Jack HetheringtonReserve for Storm is number 21 Harry Grant
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Reserve for Knights is number 22 Kyle McCarthyReserve for Storm is number 22 Kane Bradley
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Reserve for Storm is number 23 Moses Leo
-
Reserve for Storm is number 24 Keagan Russell-Smith
Knights Ins
- Fletcher Hunt
- Greg Marzhew
- Jack Hetherington
- Kyle McCarthy
- Leo Thompson
- Tyson Gamble
Storm Ins
- Cameron Munster
- Harry Grant
- Jack Howarth
- Keagan Russell-Smith
- Moses Leo
- Ryan Papenhuyzen
- Stefano Utoikamanu
- Trent Loiero
Knights Outs
- Elijah Salesa-Leaumoana
- Kalyn Ponga
Storm Ins
- Alec MacDonald
- Coby Williamson
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- The Knights have won their last two games against the Storm at McDonald Jones Stadium.
- The Storm have won 12 of their past 14 games against the Knights.
- The Knights have lost six of their past seven games at home.
- The Storm have scored 147 points in their past five games.
- Knights winger Dominic Young has scored 24 tries in his last 24 games at McDonald Jones Stadium.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the
