2025 R17 Fri - Newcastle v Canberra @ McDonald Jones

[League Unlimited News]

NRL 2025 - Round 17
Newcastle Knights v Canberra Raiders
McDonald Jones Stadium, New Lambton / Awabakal (TICKETS)

Friday 27 June 2025
NRL kickoff 8pm
Live broadcast Fox, Kayo, Nine, 9Now

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

Out: Fletcher Sharpe (five-eighth), Elijah Salesa Leaumoana (bench to reserve)
In: Jackson Hastings (five-eighth), Jacob Saifiti (front row)
Changes: Mat Croker (front row to bench)

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

Out: Hudson Young (second row)
In: Noah Martin (bench)
Changes: Simi Sasagi (bench to second row)

Referee: Peter Gough
Sideline Officials: Drew Oultram, Jon Stone
Video Referee: Chris Butler

HEAD TO HEAD - 1988 - 2024​

	TOTAL	NEWCASTLE	CANBERRA	DRAWN
ALL MATCHES	59	27	30	2
MCD. JONES	26	16	9	1

LAST FIVE MEETINGS​

YEAR	ROUND	RESULT	VENUE	CROWD
2023	Round 4	NEWCASTLE 24-14	McD. Jones	15106
2023	Round 22	NEWCASTLE 28-6	GIO	15487
2023	Elim Final	NEWCASTLE 30-28	McD. Jones	29548
2024	Round 1	CANBERRA 28-12	McD. Jones	22378
2024	Round 18	NEWCASTLE 16-12	GIO	12553

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 18	Round 19	Round 20	Round 21
NEWCASTLE	(BYE)	MELBOURNE (H)	WARRIORS (H)	CANBERRA (A)
CANBERRA	ST GEO ILLA (H)	(BYE)	PARRAMATTA (H)	NEWCASTLE (H)

LAST THREE MATCHES​

	Round 14		Round 15		Round 16
NEWCASTLE	MANLY	W 26-22	SYDNEY	L 8-12	DOLPHINS	W 26-20
CANBERRA	SOUTH SYDNEY	W 36-12	BYE	-	WESTS TIGERS	W 16-12

STATE OF PLAY: 2025 SEASON​

	POSITION	PLAYED	BYES	W-L-D	FOR	AGAINST
NEWCASTLE	13th	15	1	6-9-0	219	282
CANBERRA	2nd	15	1	12-3-0	412	312

LOWER GRADES
NEWCASTLE	CANBERRA
NSW Cup v Canberra, McDonald Jones Stadium, Friday, 5:30pm Jersey Flegg v Canberra, Newcastle Knights COE, Saturday, 11:00am	NSW Cup v Newcastle, McDonald Jones Stadium, Friday, 5:30pm Jersey Flegg v Newcastle, Newcastle Knights COE, Saturday, 11:00am

 

[Valheru]

I do think Canberra are very close to a loss, whether the Knights have enough to win we will see.

The Knights defence remains stout and is indeed better than the raiders so they will at least keep it a contest most of the way.

 

[This Year?]

This is going to be a fun thread.

 

[Woody90]

Knights v Knights.

 

[Fangs]

Raiders are due.

Knights are due as well. They love to tease their fans at this time of year.

 

[BadnMean]

Evidence so far suggests we are battling big time without Tamale's yards. He's a two'fer, bulk yards + some speed and attacking threat. We've replaced neither aspect- down to our 4th choice winger in what was already the one big hole in our top 30 (a solid winger/centre backup).

I'd like Xav to step up there. Our whole roll and play style is a bit compromised if we don't get rolling early to bash opposition middles and it's them bashing us instead.

Even in their poor period Knights have had the wood on us the last few years. I think we've barely had a win the last 3 years. Ponga is in the DCE category of generally playing a blinder against us. I think Bradman Best has given us a couple of baths too- Kris will need to be spot on with his defence. He doesn't love playing the more physical, big body centres.

Raiders with some things to address as I mentioned. If we can do the above re improved back 3 yards and defend Best, I think we get home. Ponga is a bit of a wildcard.

 

[age.s]

LUs El Classico.

 

[Mr. Shaman]

One of the matches I look forward to the most each season, not for the footy though.

 

[mozza91]

Knights v Knights.

Knights vs Knights Jr

 

[Woody90]

Knights vs Knights Jr

Ricky should tell them to take it easy on us as a thank you for producing so many of his players for him.

 

[Apey]

Big boilover incoming. Of my emotions when we inevitably throw away a game we were in up to our eyeballs.

 

[mongoose]

we got the Knights twice in the remaining rounds. I reckon they will get us this game and we will win the one at GIO

 

[Chief_Chujo]

We were disappointing last week but I'll put that down to hangover from the long coming bye. Massive mismatch in the packs. Knights need to throw the ball around and hope Ponga/Best/Gagai can deliver.

In other words, we're gonna belt the merkins.

 

[Chief_Chujo]

Ricky should tell them to take it easy on us as a thank you for producing so many of his players for himOther than Tarps, who we saved from vile newy culture, all we took was cast offs. Not Sticks fault your club can't develop players. If anything you should be thanking the Raiders for giving a pathway for the region to a legit NRL club.

Other than Tarps, all we took were cast offs. Not Sticks fault your club can't develop players. If anything you should be thanking the Raiders for giving a pathway for the region to a legit NRL club.

 

[mozza91]

Geez Raiders fans are getting smug after half a season of not sucking aren’t they?

 

[Woody90]

Not Sticks fault your club can't develop players.

Yeah the Knights suck so badly at developing players your club literally took basically a third of them for your top 30 after the Knights spent years getting them to the point of being FG ready. I wouldn't expect you to understand that development doesnt start when they're in a first grade squad when your club just takes close to the final product that was already developed.

To be fair we did take Leo Thompson from your juniors...and developed him to the point where you guys wanted to spend 900k to buy him back lol.

 

[Chief_Chujo]

Yeah the Knights suck so badly at developing players your club literally took basically a third of them for your top 30 after the Knights spent years getting them to the point of being FG ready. I wouldn't expect you to understand that development doesnt start when they're in a first grade squad when your club just takes close to the final product that was already developed.

To be fair we did take Leo Thompson from your juniors...and developed him to the point where you guys wanted to spend 900k to buy him back lol.

Other than Tarps, who were you upset at losing?

 

[Cutoutpass]

we got the Knights twice in the remaining rounds. I reckon they will get us this game and we will win the one at GIO

Nope, Raiders slide begins this weekend. They will hold on to a spot in the 8 but mark my words, they’ve hit their peak this year.

 

[Woody90]

Other than Tarps, who were you upset at losing?

None, which is the point. Not that any of them are bad players, but we bring a lot through our pathways so we're hardly shit at development (just a shame very few halves).

In all seriousness you guys have had a great year so far and we've had a shocker so there's not much we can refer to for shit talk right at the moment...so I have to run with you blokes pillaging our juniors lol.

 

[Chief_Chujo]

None, which is the point. Not that any of them are bad players, but we bring a lot through our pathways so we're hardly shit at development (just a shame very few halves).

In all seriousness you guys have had a great year so far and we've had a shocker so there's not much we can refer to for shit talk right at the moment...so I have to run with you blokes pillaging our juniors lol.

Yea that's fair. I was fishing anyway lol