2024 R5 Fri - Newcastle 30-10 St Geo Illa @ McDonald Jones

[League Unlimited News]

Download or read 'The Front Row' match programme HERE

NRL 2024 - Round 5
Newcastle Knights v St George Illawarra Dragons
McDonald Jones Stadium, New Lambton / Awabakal (TICKETS)

Friday 5 April 2024
NRL kickoff 8:05pm.
Broadcast live on Nine, 9Now, Fox, Kayo.

1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Thomas Jenkins 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Enari Tuala 6. Jack Cogger 7. Jackson Hastings 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Leo Thompson 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Adam Elliott 14. Phoenix Crossland 15. Daniel Saifiti 16. Jack Hetherington 17. Mathew Croker 18. Dylan Lucas 19. Jed Cartwright 20. Brodie Jones 21. Tyson Gamble 22. Thomas Cant

In: Dane Gagai (centre), Jackson Hastings (halfback), Leo Thompson (front row), Jed Cartwright (bench), Thomas Cant (reserve)
Changes: Dylan Lucas (centre to bench), Tyson Gamble (five-eighth to reserve), Jack Cogger (halfback to five-eighth), Phoenix Crossland (hooker to bench), Daniel Saifiti (front row to bench), Jayden Brailey (bench to hooker), Brodie Jones (bench to reserve)

1. Tyrell Sloan 2. Zac Lomax 3. Moses Suli 4. Jack Bird 5. Mikaele Ravalawa 6. Kyle Flanagan 7. Ben Hunt 8. Francis Molo 9. Jacob Liddle 10. Jack de Belin 11. Luciano Leilua 12. Jaydn Su'A 13. Tom Eisenhuth 14. Jesse Marschke 15. Blake Lawrie 16. Michael Molo 17. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 18. Hame Sele 19. Christian Tuipulotu 20. Viliami Fifita 21. Ryan Couchman 22. Ben Murdoch-Masila

In: Michael Molo (bench), Christian Tuipulotu (bench), Viliami Fifita (reserve), Toby Couchman (reserve), Ben Murdoch-Masila (reserve)
Changes: Blake Lawrie (front row to bench), Raymond Faitala-Mariner (lock to bench), Tom Eisenhuth (bench to lock), Jack De Belin (bench to front row)

Referee: Belinda Sharpe
Sideline Officials: Peter Gough, Drew Oultram
Video Referee: Adam Gee

---

H2H: 43 matches, St Geo Illa 29 Newcastle 14
At McDonald Jones: 23 matches, St Geo Illa 18 Newcastle 5
Last met: 2023 R27 at Kogarah: Newcastle 32-12

Biggest wins:
Newcastle 54-6 (2006 R5 at WIN)
St Geo Illa 48-2 (2004 R4 at WIN)

Next up:
Newcastle v Sydney (McDonald Jones)
Wests Tigers v St Geo Illa (Campbelltown)​

 

[This Year?]

It's going to be one for the purists. Either side by 4 or less. Draw wouldn't surprise me either.

 

[mozza91]

Weather is gonna be miserable. Like either of these sides need any excuse to put on a shitty game of footy.

 

[GongPanther]

Many years ago, had a lawnmower which was a merkin to get started. Tried for half an hour until I realised the mower's spark plug needed cleaning. Knights are that mower.

Dragons are riding on a wave ATM, and should account for this disappointing Newcastle side by 22-12.

 

[perverse]

Many years ago, had a lawnmower which was a merkin to get started. Tried for half an hour until I realised the mower's spark plug needed cleaning. Knights are that mower.

Dragons are riding on a wave ATM, and should account for this disappointing Newcastle side by 22-12.

Did the mower still get the grass cut?

If it did, it was doing better than us.

 

[JamesRustle]

Dragons are: W-L-L-W
Knights are: L-L-W-L

So obviously it is Dragons for the W this week.

Our inspirational winger will be the difference.

 

[Ruby Roundhouse]

Lomax playing for a new team, expect a big performance!

 

[I Bleed Maroon]

If it's raining, this one will be a slog to forget.

Tipping Newy without much confidence.

 

[Speedy Gonzales]

Dragons are riding on a wave ATM, and should account for this disappointing Newcastle side by 22-12.

Must be a weak ass wave. A ripple you mean?

dragons got pumped by the phins and cowgirls then scraped home against manly who made like 100 errors

 

[Someone2]

Knights by 4

 

[Apey]

It's going to be one for the purists. Either side by 4 or less. Draw wouldn't surprise me either.

No way. Dragons are my favourite team to watch outside my own. I try not to miss their games.

 

[jargan83]

This has to be the Channel 9 Program director who asked for these two sides on a Friday night:

 

[mozza91]

This has to be the Channel 9 Program director who asked for these two sides on a Friday night:

In their defence we were actually playing entertaining football last year. No idea where the f**k it is this year.

 

[kit66]

Frizell out, heavy track, Saints have a 78% success rate at this ground and a bit of bad blood between the sides.
Should be a gripping spectacle in the wet.

Saints by 7.

 

[lockyno1]

Rava to put on a catching clinic for the laughs

 

[This Year?]

In a low scoring contest, goal kicking could be the difference.
Lucky we have someone who wants to do the best he can and is committed.

 

[yobbo84]

Hunt's long kicking game vs Ponga could be the deciding factor

 

[Valheru]

I've changed my tip to dragons. Think they have a coach who can develop a suitable game plan for the conditions and a half to execute the game plan.

 

[Ruby Roundhouse]

I've changed my tip to dragons. Think they have a coach who can develop a suitable game plan for the conditions and a half to execute the game plan.

Everytime you say you tip us we lose.

f**k you man

 

[Valheru]

Everytime you say you tip us we lose.

f**k you man

Not true

Tipped them with confidence in round 1, tipped against them in round 2.

Only time I have tipped them to win and they lost is the cowboys game.