2024 R27 Sun - Newcastle v Dolphins @ McDonald Jones

[League Unlimited News]

NRL 2024 - Round 27
Newcastle Knights v Dolphins
McDonald Jones Stadium, New Lambton / Awabakal (TICKETS)

Sunday 8 September 2024
NRL kickoff 4:05pm
Broadcast live on Nine, 9Now, Fox, Kayo

1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Fletcher Sharpe 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Jack Cogger 7. Phoenix Crossland 8. Daniel Saifiti 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Leo Thompson 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Dylan Lucas 13. Adam Elliott 14. Tyson Gamble 15. Mathew Croker 16. Jack Hetherington 17. Brodie Jones 18. Thomas Cant 19. Will Pryce 20. Jackson Hastings 21. Sebastian Su'a 22. Kai Pearce-Paul

In: Tyson Frizell (second row), Tyson Gamble (bench), Jackson Hastings (reserve), Sebastian Su'a (reserve), Kai Pearce-Paul (reserve)
Changes: Brodie Jones (second row to bench)

1. Trai Fuller 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Jack Bostock 6. Jake Averillo 7. Sean O'Sullivan 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Max Plath 10. Tevita Pangai Junior 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Connelly Lemuelu 13. Kenny Bromwich 14. Jeremy Marshall-King 15. Ray Stone 16. Mark Nicholls 17. Kodi Nikorima 18. Lachlan Hubner 19. Isaiya Katoa 20. Oryn Keeley 21. Kurt Donoghoe 22. Tesi Niu

In: Jesse Bromwich (front row), Kodi Nikorima (bench), Oryn Keeley (reserve), Kurt Donoghoe (reserve), Tesi Niu (reserve)
Changes: Mark Nicholls (front row to bench), Lachlan Hubner (lock to reserve), Kenny Bromwich (bench to lock)

Referee: Ashley Klein Sideline Officials: Liam Kennedy, Chris Sutton; Video Referee: Gerard Sutton

HEAD TO HEAD - 2023 - 2024​

	TOTAL	NEWCASTLE	DOLPHINS	DRAWN
ALL MATCHES	3	2	1	0
MCD. JONES	1	0	1	0

LAST THREE 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

BIGGEST WINS​

YEAR	ROUND	RESULT	VENUE	CROWD
2023	Round 3	DOLPHINS 36-20	McD. Jones	20093
2024	Round 8	NEWCASTLE 18-14	Suncorp	18033

FINALS?​

NEWCASTLE - win and in, winner takes 8th. However, a draw will see the winner of Dragons-Raiders take 8th.
DOLPHINS - win and in, winner takes 8th. However, a draw will see the winner of Dragons-Raiders take 8th.

LAST THREE MATCHES​

	Round 24		Round 25		Round 26
NEWCASTLE	CRONULLA	L 18-19	SOUTH SYDNEY	W 36-16	GOLD COAST	W 36-14
DOLPHINS	CANTERBURY	L 10-30	MELBOURNE	L 6-48	BRISBANE	W 40-6

STATE OF PLAY: 2024 SEASON​

	POSITION	PLAYED	BYES	W-L-D	FOR	AGAINST
NEWCASTLE	9th	23	3	11-12-0	456	504
DOLPHINS	8th	23	3	11-12-0	571	564

 

[Dragon Slayer]

Definitely the hardest game to pick this round.

Knights have the home ground advantage.

Dolphins have the coaching advantage.

 

[Woody90]

Pretty funny that after all the media talk last week about the Dragons or Broncos being certainties to make the finals it’s come down to these 2.

If the Dolphins play like they did on Saturday I don’t think we can match them at the moment, but I also wouldn’t be surprised if they’re a bit flat given how much they were up for it.

 

[Vic Mackey]

Draw after fulltime, let the chaos begin!

 

[Sime_11]

fitting if this game goes to Golden Point

 

[Valheru]

Dolphins were more impressive last week IMO but being in Newcastle makes it 50/50.

Dolphins by 2

 

[Someone2]

Dolphins by 12

 

[JamesRustle]

Draw after fulltime, let the chaos begin!

Knights have been involved in 2 of the last 3 draws, and it would be nice for the Dolphins to get their first draw here.

FT: 29-29
ET: 29-29, with 18 missed FGs and 6 tries gone begging because focus on taking shot for FG

 

[Warrimoo3]

A few interesting sub plots in this game. Bennett leaving the Knights in a rabble when he was in charge and missing out on Ponga when recruiting for the Dolphins by asking him whether he wanted to be a rock star or be remembered for his football. Apparently it didn’t go down well. Averillo in the halves is not sustainable in the long term so I expect Nikorima to be in the run on side. Getting the Dolphins into the 8 with the roster he has would be superior to guiding those star studded Broncos’ teams their premierships . Players don’t care about how much you know as a coach until they know how much you care. This is what Wayne does better than anyone.


Bostock has had a superb season and Herbie is in career best form. The Dolphins played for 80 minutes for the first time this year last week. They would have a good intimidation factor if Flegler was available. Wayne likes what Kafusi brings to the table saying that opposition players are reluctant to take that extra metre when he’s on the field.

It’s hard to get a take on Newcastle. On their day their forwards can match it with anyone but that day doesn’t happen that often. Gamble is a gamble. Either rocks or diamonds. As they say in the classics forwards win the big matches and the backs determine by how much . Dolphins by 6 overcoming a Kafusi sin bin . Really looking forward to this one. Hopefully we aren’t talking about the officials after the match .

 

[Seiffert Oval]

I'm about to lose $100 on a draw for the Raiders to make the Top8.

 

[Diesel]

AOB’s got this.has been to 4 GFs

 

[Diesel]

Definitely the hardest game to pick this round.

Knights have the home ground advantage.

Dolphins have the coaching advantage.

Harder to pick than a broken nose but if I had to choose, Wayne will have the THE’s up for this game

 

[Fangs]

Dolphins here the story is too good.

 

[Grapple]

Dolphins 13+

 

[Bobby DIGital]

Draw.

 

[blocka]

So pumped for this game, I think the Dolphins are firing at the right time and may even go deeper into the finals than people think

 

[JamesRustle]

Draw.

Despite the Dragons season being ended by a ginger, pants pissing, ghoul faced whinger yesterday, I really hope we see a high scoring draw here.

Expecting lots of Raiders shit-posting here, which is the main thing I'm looking forward to.

 

[Diesel]

What is Kaufasi’s long game with this hairstyle?

 

[Diesel]

Every neutral fan wants golden point

 

[JamesRustle]

What is Kaufasi’s long game with this hairstyle?

Comb over