Match Discussion: Round 15 vs Penrith @ McDonald Jones Stadium, New Lambton / Awabakal

[League Unlimited News]

NRL 2024 - Round 15
Newcastle Knights v Penrith Panthers
McDonald Jones Stadium, New Lambton / Awabakal (TICKETS)

Sunday 16 June 2024
NRL kickoff 4:05pm.
Broadcast live on Nine, 9Now, Fox, Kayo.

1. Fletcher Sharpe 2. Enari Tuala 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 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. Dylan Lucas 17. Brodie Jones 18. Jack Hetherington 19. Mathew Croker 20. Will Pryce 21. Krystian Mapapalangi 22. David Armstrong

In: Bradman Best (centre), Daniel Saifiti (bench), Will Pryce (reserve), Krystian Mapapalangi (reserve), David Armstrong (reserve)
Changes: Dylan Lucas (centre to bench), Phoenix Crossland (hooker to bench), Jayden Brailey (bench to hooker)

1. Dylan Edwards 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Izack Tago 4. Paul Alamoti 5. Brian To'o 6. Jack Cole 7. Jarome Luai 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Scott Sorensen 12. Luke Garner 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Daine Laurie 15. Lindsay Smith 16. Liam Henry 17. Matt Eisenhuth 18. Luke Sommerton 19. Mavrik Geyer 20. Liam Martin 21. Brad Schneider 22. Jesse McLean

Out: Trent Toelau (bench)
In: Dylan Edwards (fullback), Luke Sommerton (reserve), Mavrik Geyer (reserve), Liam Martin (reserve), Brad Schneider (reserve), Jesse McLean (reserve)
Changes: Daine Laurie (fullback to bench)

Referee: Grant ATKINS
Sideline Officials: Matt NOYEN, Michael WISE
Video Referee: Ashley KLEIN

HEAD TO HEAD - 1988 - 2023​

	TOTAL	NEWCASTLE	PENRITH	DRAWN
ALL MATCHES	55	24	27	4
MCD. JONES	26	11	15	0

LAST FIVE MEETINGS​

YEAR	ROUND	RESULT	VENUE	CROWD
2021	Round 7	PENRITH 24-6	BlueBet	16110
2022	Round 3	PENRITH 38-20	Carrington	11253
2022	Round 14	PENRITH 42-6	McD. Jones	21332
2023	Round 7	PENRITH 16-15	McD. Jones	26084
2023	Round 17	PENRITH 20-12	BlueBet	18589

BIGGEST WINS​

YEAR	ROUND	RESULT	VENUE	CROWD
2001	Round 26	NEWCASTLE 60-18	Marathon	17791
2019	Round 25	PENRITH 54-10	Panthers Stadium	12027

NEXT FOUR MATCHES​

	Round 17	Round 18	Round 19	Round 20
NEWCASTLE	PARRAMATTA (H)	CANBERRA (A)	MANLY (A)	BRISBANE (H)
PENRITH	NORTH QLD (H)	BRISBANE (A)	(BYE)	DOLPHINS (H)

LAST THREE MATCHES​

	Round 12		Round 13		Round 14
NEWCASTLE	(BYE)		CANTERBURY	L 2-32	MELBOURNE	L 28-36
PENRITH	CRONULLA	W 42-0	ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA	L 10-22	MANLY	W 32-22

STATE OF PLAY: 2024 SEASON​

	POSITION	PLAYED	BYES	W-L-D	FOR	AGAINST
NEWCASTLE	13th	13	1	6-7-0	230	277
PENRITH	3rd	13	1	9-4-0	310	200

 

[Haffa]

Knights 13+

Cogger MOM

 

[mozza91]

Play like yesterday and we can be competitive. Play like the Dogs game and we’ll lose by 70.

 

[Knight Tales]

Oh Jesus. On the eve of SOO 2 selection. This could be a long afternoon.

 

[Mr_Knightside]

Oh Jesus. On the eve of SOO 2 selection. This could be a long afternoon.

Are there any Penrith players whose spots are in jeopardy though? I suppose if Edwards plays he might feel like he’s got a chance of being selected over Teddy. But the rest of them are locked into their spots you’d think so I don’t think this week will provide them with any extra motivation…

 

[Knight Tales]

Are there any Penrith players whose spots are in jeopardy though? I suppose if Edwards plays he might feel like he’s got a chance of being selected over Teddy. But the rest of them are locked into their spots you’d think so I don’t think this week will provide them with any extra motivation…

Luai, Yeo and Edwards are not going to chance that possibility. Unlikely yes but the external noise is massive and NSW have a history of panic selections.

 

[Woody90]

Best and DSaf back.

Sharpe named at fullback but Armstrong on the extended bench.

Lucas has been moved to the bench with Friz back starting. Love Friz but not sure how I feel about that, Lucas has been one of, if not our best week in week out.

 

[Old dog]

Think he is cover for Best, don’t like us rushing Best back rather have played Lucas centre and slot someone else onto bench

 

[Yosh]

Huge fan of Lucas. If he keeps improving you guys reckon he will be good enough to play for NSW? Looks like the perfect bench forward that can cover everywhere except the spine?

 

[Frederick]

Calm down Yosh

 

[Rod]

I'm actually with Yosh on this one. Not this year but I expect him to be in the conversation next year.

 

[Yosh]

Sonny Bill Lucas!

 

[Zoidberg]

How many of our guys have been touted as NSW reps in the past only to go downhill after 2 or 3 solid seasons. Plenty.
Still, hope for the best.

 

[mozza91]

f**k NSW. I’m happy for him to just play for us.

 

[Woody90]

I'm actually with Yosh on this one. Not this year but I expect him to be in the conversation next year.

Im with him too. Considering how many outside back injuries NSW always get that we can’t cover for I definitely think he will come into discussion sooner rather than later given he can also cover centre.

 

[ryan.a87]

Remember when Sione was the next SBW?

 

[Knight Tales]

Remember when Sione was the next SBW?

Many have been labelled that. And yet IMO there have been equally if not more gifted forwards since.

 

[Yosh]

Remember when Sione was the next SBW?

Sione Bill Williams.

 

[Burwood]

Was Sione ever the next SBW? He was an outside back all through the juniors and playing for Australia in his first season. It wasn’t until midway through his third season that he moved to the forwards, and by then it was clear that junior success wasn’t going to translate into first grade.

 

[The Axe of Druss]

Siones development was totally mishandled

He should have spent 2 years on the wing before playing elsewhere but was instead constantly moved between wing, centre and fullback. Kid never got a chance to bed down a spot properly