2025 R6 Sun - Newcastle 4-20 Wests Tigers @ McDonald Jones

[League Unlimited News]

NRL 2025 - Round 6
Newcastle Knights v Wests Tigers
McDonald Jones Stadium, New Lambton / Awabakal (TICKETS)

Sunday 13 April 2025
Kickoff 4:05pm AEST
Live on Nine, 9Now, Fox, Kayo.

1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Kyle McCarthy 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Fletcher Sharpe 7. Phoenix Crossland 8. Brodie Jones 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Leo Thompson 11. Thomas Cant 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Tyson Frizell 14. Matthew Arthur 15. Tyrone Thompson 16. Jermaine McEwen 17. Mathew Croker 18. Paul Bryan 19. Jackson Hastings 20. Riley Jones 21. Francis Manuleleua

Out: James Schiller (wing), Jack Cogger (halfback), Jacob Saifiti (front row), Adam Elliott (lock), Jack Hetherington (bench)
In: Kyle McCarthy (wing), Brodie Jones (front row), Kai Pearce-Paul (second row), Matthew Arthur (bench), Tyrone Thompson (bench), Paul Bryan (reserve), Jackson Hastings (reserve), Riley Jones (reserve), Francis Manuleleua (reserve)
Changes: Phoenix Crossland (hooker to halfback), Tyson Frizell (second row to lock), Jayden Brailey (bench to hooker)

1. Jahream Bula 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Adam Doueihi 4. Starford To'a 5. Jeral Skelton 6. Lachlan Galvin 7. Jarome Luai 8. Terrell May 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. Fonua Pole 11. Samuela Fainu 12. Alex Seyfarth 13. Alex Twal 14. Tallyn Da Silva 15. Royce Hunt 16. Jack Bird 17. Sione Fainu 18. Tony Sukkar 19. Heath Mason 20. Luke Laulilii 21. Brent Naden 22. Kit Laulilii

Out: Latu Fainu (halfback)
In: Jeral Skelton (wing), Jarome Luai (halfback), Samuela Fainu (second row), Heath Mason (reserve), Brent Naden (reserve), Kit Laulilii (reserve)
Changes: Tony Sukkar (bench to reserve), Luke Laulilii (wing to reserve), Jack Bird (second row to bench)

Referee: Gerard Sutton
Sideline Officials: Matt Noyen, Chris Sutton
Video Referee: Grant Atkins

HEAD TO HEAD - 2000 - 2025​

	TOTAL	NEW	WST	DRAWN
ALL MATCHES	39	22	17	0
MCD. JONES	21	12	9	0

LAST FIVE MEETINGS​

YEAR	ROUND	RESULT	VENUE	CROWD
2023	Round 2	NEW 14-12	Leichhardt	13214
2023	Round 20	NEW 34-18	McD. Jones	18470
2024	Round 10	NEW 20-14	Scully	10107
2024	Round 23	NEW 34-18	McD. Jones	22183
2025	Round 1	NEW 10-8	Campbelltown	13160

BIGGEST WINS​

YEAR	ROUND	RESULT	VENUE	CROWD
2001	Round 10	NEW 56-6	Marathon	15105
2019	Round 23	WST 46-4	Campbelltown	11107

NEXT FOUR MATCHES​

	Round 7	Round 8	Round 9	Round 10
NEWCASTLE	CRO (H)	WAR (A)	SOU (A)	GLD (H)
WESTS TIGERS	PAR (H)	CRO (H)	SGI (H)	MEL (A)

LAST THREE MATCHES​

	Round 3		Round 4		Round 5
NEWCASTLE	GLD	L 6-26	BYE	-	CBY	L 0-20
WESTS TIGERS	DOL	W 30-18	WAR	L 24-26	BRI	L 24-46

STATE OF PLAY: 2025 SEASON​

	POSITION	PLAYED	BYES	W-L-D	FOR	AGAINST
NEWCASTLE	9th	4	1	2-2-0	42	66
WESTS TIGERS	11th	5	0	2-3-0	118	106

 

[Vic Mackey]

Hard to judge the knights off yesterday, losing 2 guys in the first 90 second is something any team would struggle to come back from. AOB said they’ll get KPP back but not confident on anyone else. Likely missing 3 from yesterday + numerous guys on report, sheesh that ain’t pretty.

We’ll hopefully get Luai, Skelton and Samuela back who all improve us. I didn’t feel we were anywhere near as bad as the Scoreline showed against Brisbane.

We’ve seemingly our worst performances of the last few years for the knights and warriors and round 1 is the worst game we’ve played this year, hoping for a turn around but wanting to see the teams before I tip.

 

[Tigerm]

 

[This Year?]

Didn't we already do this a month ago?
Anyway I think Tigers win in a close one this time.

 

[Tigerm]

Didn't we already do this a month ago?
Anyway I think Tigers win in a close one this time.

Agree, such a strange draw, with so many other teams available, TBF, I haven't checked if other teams are required to do similar.

 

[macavity]

Expecting a Tigers statement win.

Knights are absolutely cooked, out of players and out of form.

 

[mozza91]

We’ll play better at home but can’t see us winning with so many injuries and our attack being total dogshit.

 

[King hit]

We’ll play better at home but can’t see us winning with so many injuries and our attack being total dogshit.

It must be frustrating beyond words seeing a backline with Ponga, Best, Gagai, Sharpe and Marzhew absolutely splutteting.

 

[JamesRustle]

1st edition of this 2025 match up was deplorable. This better not be a repeat.

Tigers 13+

 

[perverse]

Knights have completely forgotten how to hold onto and move the ball in the past 2 games. If that continues we get lapped by 30+ here. Might be too many injuries and suspensions to overcome too. Our depth chart is heavily weighted towards kids and rookies at the moment... which hopefully pays off down the track, but it's a bit painful now.

Tigers 13+ is the "safe" money.

 

[alexwilliams_66692007]

Knights by 1 with Sir Phoenix kicking the match winning field goal

 

[Woody90]

Knights have completely forgotten how to hold onto and move the ball in the past 2 games. If that continues we get lapped by 30+ here. Might be too many injuries and suspensions to overcome too. Our depth chart is heavily weighted towards kids and rookies at the moment... which hopefully pays off down the track, but it's a bit painful now.

Tigers 13+ is the "safe" money.

We’ve only held it for one half of football the entire year and we scored points but the rest has just been error after error. We’re making over 15 errors a game and can’t see it improving sadly.

I loaded up on the Tigers when we were short favourites. I still can’t believe we’re favourites with all the injuries and errors. Tigers have a much better side on paper and are at full strength. They really weren’t that bad against the Broncos.

 

[mozza91]

Tigers were $2.57 earlier this week. Still great value now at $2.22.
If they’re fair dinkum they beat us quite comfortably considering our form and missing players.
Keen to see a few of our young blokes get a game though and the lack of Cogger is a welcome out.

 

[Speedy Gonzales]

We played extremely conservative in our first match up which was frustrating to watch as a fan, but apart from that game we’ve resembled somewhat of a decent footy team.

I think if Luai plays last week the score doesn’t blow out as much

Anyways back to full strength now and knights missing a few so I’m confident we’ll bottle it and play like shit somehow

 

[Grapple]

Ponga's probably due a blinder and i'm sure Tigers will give him enough space to open it up but Wests are a lot better this year and Newcastle seemed to have faded a bit. They were decent before playing Gold Coast but seem to have fallen away and injuries aren't helping.

 

[Fangs]

Knights attack is a complete abomination. Remarkably disappointed against the Dogs coming off a bye. The circus will continue and they'll snag a win at home.

Just can't back the Tigers yet. 5 more rounds then I'll start picking them.

 

[Someone2]

Tigers by 14

 

[Rudy]

Would like Wests to win this one. 8 points the difference.

 

[Tigerm]

Tigers by 14

Get the f**k off our wagon.

 

[Rabbit toes]

Tigers by 8