Match Discussion: Round 21 vs Canberra @ GIO Stadium Canberra, Bruce / Ngunnawal

[League Unlimited News]

NRL 2025 - Round 21
Canberra Raiders v Newcastle Knights
GIO Stadium Canberra, Bruce / Ngunnawal (TICKETS)

Sunday 27 July 2025
NRL kickoff 2pm
Live on Fox, Kayo

1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Jed Stuart 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Simi Sasagi 5. Xavier Savage 6. Ethan Strange 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papali'i 9. Tom Starling 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Zac Hosking 13. Corey Horsburgh 14. Owen Pattie 15. Noah Martin 16. Morgan Smithies 17. Ata Mariota 18. Manaia Waitere 19. Trey Mooney 20. Joseph Roddy 21. Danny Levi 22. Ethan Sanders

Out: Sebastian Kris (centre)
In: Noah Martin (bench)
Changes: Simi Sasagi (bench to centre)

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

Out: Thomas Cant (bench to reserve)
In: Jack Hetherington (bench)

Referee: Wyatt Raymond
Sideline Officials: Phil Henderson, Matt Noyen
Video Referee: Grant Atkins

HEAD TO HEAD - 1988 - 2025​

	TOTAL	CANBERRA	NEWCASTLE	DRAWN
ALL MATCHES	60	31	27	2
GIO	29	20	8	1

LAST FIVE MEETINGS​

YEAR	ROUND	RESULT	VENUE	CROWD
2023	Round 22	NEWCASTLE 28-6	GIO	15487
2023	Elimination Qualifying Game	NEWCASTLE 30-28	McD. Jones	29548
2024	Round 1	CANBERRA 28-12	McD. Jones	22378
2024	Round 18	NEWCASTLE 16-12	GIO	12553
2025	Round 17	CANBERRA 22-18	McD. Jones	17527

BIGGEST WINS​

YEAR	ROUND	RESULT	VENUE	CROWD
1994	Round 18	CANBERRA 52-16	Marathon	22945
2002	Round 4	NEWCASTLE 52-6	EnergyAustralia	17256

NEXT FOUR MATCHES​

	Round 22	Round 23	Round 24	Round 25
CANBERRA	ST GEO ILLA (A)	MANLY (H)	(BYE)	PENRITH (A)
NEWCASTLE	(BYE)	PENRITH (H)	NORTH QLD (A)	BRISBANE (H)

LAST THREE MATCHES​

	Round 18		Round 19		Round 20
CANBERRA	ST GEO ILLA	W 28-24	BYE	-	PARRAMATTA	W 40-16
NEWCASTLE	BYE	-	MELBOURNE	L 14-32	WARRIORS	L 15-20

STATE OF PLAY: 2025 SEASON​

	POSITION	PLAYED	BYES	W-L-D	FOR	AGAINST
CANBERRA	1st	18	2	15-3-0	502	370
NEWCASTLE	14th	18	2	6-12-0	266	356

LOWER GRADES
Canberra v Newcastle - NSW Cup - GIO Stadium, Sunday 11:40am
Jersey Flegg - bye weekend

 

[Knight Tales]

Do we have to? The only thing I can take from it is we always turn up against this team.

 

[Woody90]

Do we have to? The only thing I can take from it is we always turn up against this team.

We turn up against every team. Can’t win games on that alone though.

Their forwards were too big and strong for us last time…the gastro induced weight loss should make that so much better lol

 

[mozza91]

Hopefully the players have moved on from the loss on Sunday because I sure as shit haven’t.

 

[Haffa]

We just don't have the points in us to beat them at home.

This might be the game which the scoreboard gets away from us.

 

[Zoidberg]

Damn this is a tough month. 4 top 4 teams on the trot. Not much hope with this one.

 

[Mr_Knightside]

Pretty sure we’ve also got Cowboys in Townsville coming up too, a fixture that we haven’t won in 10 years. So at this stage it looks likely that we don’t win another game this year. I think we’ve got Parra away as well so can’t see us getting up there either.

 

[Knight Tales]

I really hope the Raiders go all the way this season. If not them the Dolphins qualify and go on a Parra style 2009 run but Actually go a step further. It can’t just be three clubs dominating. Something has to change. I am all for respecting success but it is getting pretty boring now watching Penrith, Storm
And Roosters win all but one over the last 10 years.

 

[macavity]

Yeah I can't see us getting close. I dont think they will hit 50, but something like 32-6 sounds about right

 

[HarVeeGee]

I really hope the Raiders go all the way this season. If not them the Dolphins qualify and go on a Parra style 2009 run but Actually go a step further. It can’t just be three clubs dominating. Something has to change. I am all for respecting success but it is getting pretty boring now watching Penrith, Storm
And Roosters win all but one over the last 10 years.

They won't. I think their record heavily flatters them.

 

[slotmachine]

Don't mind the side, I'd have Gamblor at 6 and give Arthur a shot at 14 but whatever.

 

[Zoidberg]

Can’t see the halves changing for the rest of the year (minus injury). AOB seems to be off Gamble for whatever reason. I’m assuming he didn’t get much time on Sunday as he was one of the sick ones.

 

[NoSchitSherlock]

We have no hope of reaching the 8. Maybe give some players that are coming through more match time at the expense of those that won't be with us next season.

 

[alexwilliams_66692007]

So Best is in doubt for this weekend's game because of a knee injury.

Can this season just f**king end already? Lol

 

[Mr_Knightside]

Yeah I can’t wait to put this season in the rear view mirror.

 

[Rabbits20]

So Best is in doubt for this weekend's game because of a knee injury.

Can this season just f**king end already? Lol

He’s had rotten luck mate can’t stay fit same as Trell for us both so injury prone made of glass.

I liked the look of young McEwen last week he’s got good potential. Do you think he keeps the starting spot? I noticed last week it was Jones that was named edge but he couldn’t play due to gastro. Also noticed Jones in 21 this week but not named in Cup. Do you think he comes in to start or maybe comes in for JacK Hetherington.

I play NRL Fantasy and McEwen is a potential good option for my side. But of course I would rather him starting than bench.

 

[Woody90]

He’s had rotten luck mate can’t stay fit same as Trell for us both so injury prone made of glass.

I liked the look of young McEwen last week he’s got good potential. Do you think he keeps the starting spot? I noticed last week it was Jones that was named edge but he couldn’t play due to gastro. Also noticed Jones in 21 this week but not named in Cup. Do you think he comes in to start or maybe comes in for JacK Hetherington.

I play NRL Fantasy and McEwen is a potential good option for my side. But of course I would rather him starting than bench.

Hey mate, McEwan likely to keep his starting spot. Our only other 2 edge options are Jones or Frizell and they were apparently two of the worst effected sickness wise and have lost a lot of weight. I say they’ll play limited minutes if at all. Worst case he goes to the bench but more likely he starts.

 

[macavity]

Hey mate, McEwan likely to keep his starting spot. Our only other 2 edge options are Jones or Frizell and they were apparently two of the worst effected sickness wise and have lost a lot of weight. I say they’ll play limited minutes if at all. Worst case he goes to the bench but more likely he starts.

Jones has lost 7kg apparently. Jesus.