Match Discussion: Round 16 vs Dolphins @ HBF Park, Perth / Whadjuk

[League Unlimited News]

NRL 2025 - Round 16
Dolphins v Newcastle Knights
HBF Park, Perth / Whadjuk (TICKETS)

Saturday 21 June 2025
NRL kickoff 5:30pm (3:30pm AWST)
Live broadcast on Fox, Kayo

1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Jake Averillo 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Jack Bostock 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Francis Molo 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Mark Nicholls 11. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 12. Oryn Keeley 13. Kurt Donoghoe 14. Harrison Graham 15. Connelly Lemuelu 16. Ray Stone 17. Josh Kerr 18. Sean O'Sullivan 19. Max Feagai 20. Aublix Tawha 21. Trai Fuller 22. Peter Hola

Out: Felise Kaufusi (front row), Max Feagai (centre to reserve)
In: Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (fullback), Harrison Graham (bench)
Changes: Jake Averillo (fullback to centre), Mark Nicholls (bench to front row)

1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Dominic Young 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Fletcher Sharpe 7. Jack Cogger 8. Tyson Frizell 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Mathew Croker 11. Dylan Lucas 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Phoenix Crossland 14. Brodie Jones 15. Thomas Cant 16. Jermaine McEwen 17. Elijah Leaumoana 18. James Schiller 19. Jackson Hastings 20. Fletcher Hunt 21. Kyle McCarthy 22. Jack Hetherington

Out: Brock Greacen (bench), Fletcher Hunt (fullback to reserve), James Schiller (wing to reserve), Kyle McCarthy (centre to reserve), Jackson Hastings (five-eighth to reserve)
In: Kalyn Ponga (fullback), Dominic Young (wing), Bradman Best (centre), Fletcher Sharpe (five-eighth), Tyson Frizell (front row)
Changes: Brodie Jones (front row to bench)

Referee: Grant Atkins
Sideline Officials: Matt Noyen, Drew Oultram
Video Referee: Kasey Badger

HEAD TO HEAD - 2023 - 2025​

	TOTAL	DOLPHINS	NEWCASTLE	DRAWN
ALL MATCHES	5	1	4	0
HBF	0	0	0	0

LAST FIVE MEETINGS​

YEAR	ROUND	RESULT	VENUE	CROWD
2023	Round 3	DOLPHINS 36-20	McD. Jones	20093
2023	Round 23	NEWCASTLE 30-28	Optus Stadium	45814
2024	Round 8	NEWCASTLE 18-14	Suncorp	18033
2024	Round 27	NEWCASTLE 14-6	McD. Jones	29433
2025	Round 2	NEWCASTLE 26-12	McD. Jones	18531

BIGGEST WINS​

YEAR	ROUND	RESULT	VENUE	CROWD
2023	Round 3	DOLPHINS 36-20	McD. Jones	20093
2025	Round 2	NEWCASTLE 26-12	McD. Jones	18531

NEXT FOUR MATCHES​

	Round 17	Round 18	Round 19	Round 20
DOLPHINS	SOUTH SYDNEY (H)	BYE	CRONULLA (A)	NORTH QLD (H)
NEWCASTLE	CANBERRA (H)	BYE	MELBOURNE (H)	WARRIORS (H)

LAST THREE MATCHES​

	Round 13		Round 14		Round 15
DOLPHINS	BYE		ST GEO ILLA	W 56-6	NORTH QLD	W 58-4
NEWCASTLE	ST GEO ILLA	L 6-20	MANLY	W 26-22	SYDNEY	L 8-12

STATE OF PLAY: 2025 SEASON​

	POSITION	PLAYED	BYES	W-L-D	FOR	AGAINST
DOLPHINS	6th	14	1	7-7-0	408	262
NEWCASTLE	15th	14	1	5-9-0	193	262

LOWER GRADES
DOLPHINS	NEWCASTLE
Hostplus Cup (Redcliffe) v Tweed (GLD), Kayo Stadium, Saturday, 3:15pm Hostplus Cup (Central) BYE Hostplus Cup (Norths) v Townsville, Jack Manski Oval, Saturday, 5:00pm BMD Premiership Central (DOL v Norths (DOL), Rugby Park, Saturday, 4:00pm	NSW Cup v Parramatta, Commbank Stadium, Sunday, 3:45pm Jersey Flegg v Parramatta, Kellyville Oval, Saturday, 1:00pm

 

[Nuke]

For a rare Knights game over here, I should be more excited than I am, I have to say. Last time was part of the 10 game winning streak, and was the first Knights game in Perth since vs Western Reds at the start of the 1996 season (with the exception of the Perth Nines a few years ago where I was, ironically, on holiday in NSW).

Doesn't help that it's probably going to be a wet game too, and HBF Park has very little rain protection and umbrellas are not allowed into the ground.

I'll be there, decked out head to toe in red and blue, in full voice (which may or may not be a good thing..!), regardless of the weather and the scoreline.

I just hope I don't teach my 9yr old nephew that's coming with me, too many new words and phrases that he takes to school on the Monday..!

Up the Knights!

 

[Zoidberg]

We are now equal last with Titans and Eels, only ahead in for and against.
Titans and eels play each other this week so we will definitely drop down at least 1 spot if we lose (down to bottom if they draw).
Hopefully we do get some players back from injury but Phins are in really good form.

 

[Woody90]

I actually don’t think we’ll get flogged as most are predicting but we definitely can’t outscore them either so I reckon Dolphins by about 12 here.

 

[Apey]

I actually don’t think we’ll get flogged as most are predicting but we definitely can’t outscore them either so I reckon Dolphins by about 12 here.

So we're keeping them under 20?

 

[macavity]

28-12 is my tip

 

[Burwood]

Back 5 makeup will be interesting. Could be Ponga, Best, Gagai, Schiller, Marzhew. Or just as likely Sharpe, Schiller, Dom, Hunt and Gagai.

 

[alexwilliams_66692007]

I'm tipping us to win.
20-16

 

[ryan.a87]

Back 5 makeup will be interesting. Could be Ponga, Best, Gagai, Schiller, Marzhew. Or just as likely Sharpe, Schiller, Dom, Hunt and Gagai.

If full strength it will be ponga, Marzew, best, Gagai, young

 

[Zoidberg]

If full strength it will be ponga, Marzew, best, Gagai, young

…Sharpe, Gamble, Saifiti, Crossland, frizz, KPP, Lucas, Crokes

 

[Yosh]

Schiller was okay but definitely didn't have that explosive speed we sometimes needed coming out of our end. Good to see Dom back.

 

[Rod]

We are now equal last with Titans and Eels, only ahead in for and against.

We're also one win out of the eight, if you wanna look at it that way.

 

[ryan.a87]

…Sharpe, Gamble, Saifiti, Crossland, frizz, KPP, Lucas, Crokes

I’d be tempted to play Crossland at 13 for the rest of the season and maybe try Arthur at 14 if he is ready

 

[mozza91]

We're also one win out of the eight, if you wanna look at it that way.

Nah. The glass is always half empty.

 

[Old dog]

Nah. The glass is always half empty.

Try sipping instead of gulping

 

[NoSchitSherlock]

We'll probably run Friz at prop leaving Crossland to lock.

 

[mozza91]

We'll probably run Friz at prop leaving Crossland to lock.

Happy to give it another go. Saturday was Crossland’s best game in a couple of years.

 

[alexwilliams_66692007]

 

[Knight Tales]

The 2023 backline reunited. Hard to see KP allowing himself to be rested. The good news he can fly straight into the Goldy and rest up till game day.

 

[mozza91]

The 2023 backline reunited. Hard to see KP allowing himself to be rested. The good news he can fly straight into the Goldy and rest up till game day.

Game is in Perth. No flying required.

Side looks much better over all (funny that with 5 First Graders coming back in). Keen as to see that Gags/Dom combination again.