Match Discussion: Round 17 vs Canberra @ McDonald Jones Stadium, New Lambton / Awabakal

[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

 

[ryan.a87]

Can’t see us winning this one, raiders just too good atm

 

[The Axe of Druss]

Been nice to have our young guys step up in the middle the last few weeks but there's no way they are gonna be able to contain the Raiders pack. This could actually get very ugly

 

[alexwilliams_66692007]

Can’t see us winning this one, raiders just too good atm

People said the same about the Dolphins game

 

[Old dog]

With JSaf back along with Frizell up front and a strong bench, Jones, Croker and should include Hetherington based on his comeback Cup game we will only need one of McEwen, ESL and Cant, they have filled in well

 

[mozza91]

Raiders have been up for a long time and struggled after getting a good lead against an average Tigers side. Could be due a loss.

Obviously they’ll be favourites but there’s no reason we can’t make a game of it with our solid defence and improving attack.

 

[Woody90]

The Raiders definitely aren’t unbeatable, but our biggest area of weakness is their biggest strength so we’d have to basically punch extremely above our weight to win.

Shame about Sharpe. The spine was just starting to click. We’re well served with Gamble though (providing he’s picked).

 

[Burwood]

Jones, Croker, Hetherington on bench. Cant gets last spot to cover backrow/backline injury.

Team looks so much more balanced with a genuine 9 at hooker and Phoenix at lock.

 

[slotmachine]

My boy Gamblor had 4 try assists in NSW Cup, surely he's straight back in for Sharpe.

 

[Old dog]

My boy Gamblor had 4 try assists in NSW Cup, surely he's straight back in for Sharpe.

You would think, Gamble V Hastings, no contest

 

[League Unlimited News]

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)

Referee - Gough, Bunker - Butler

NRL TEAMS - 2025 Round 17 » League Unlimited

leagueunlimited.com

 

[Woody90]

Hastings over Gamble is really disappointing although expected. Schiller over Marzhew is wild though. Hopefully some changes come kick off.

Happy Crossland has stayed at 13.

 

[alexwilliams_66692007]

Hastings over Gamble is really disappointing although expected. Schiller over Marzhew is wild though. Hopefully some changes come kick off.

Happy Crossland has stayed at 13.

I'm assuming he'll be a late call up as long he gets through the week okay

 

[perverse]

Hastings over Gamble is really disappointing although expected. Schiller over Marzhew is wild though. Hopefully some changes come kick off.

Happy Crossland has stayed at 13.

Why were people expecting it, and why did the coach do it? Apparently I'm out of the loop. Seems insane to me.

 

[perverse]

I'm assuming he'll be a late call up as long he gets through the week okay

One would hope so. I've been really trying to get on board with Schiller this year, but he just hasn't made a great account of himself all things told. He's very much "there... but not quite" as far as NRL footy goes.

 

[Woody90]

Why were people expecting it, and why did the coach do it? Apparently I'm out of the loop. Seems insane to me.

Toohey posted a couple of days ago he didn’t think Gamble had enough football under his belt and basically all of Toohey’s “opinions” are things he’s heard from the club. That’s why I expected it. Basically anything Toohey “guesses” will happen most often do.

 

[Apey]

Schiller unfortunately manages to make a similar amount of errors to Marzhew without much of the benefits, if any. I'm also not convinced he's anything but average - below average speed for a winger, at which point you have to wonder what he offers. Isn't he meant to be a centre though?

Also I don't think it's that unusual that we've given the halves (particularly Gamble) a few games in NSW Cup before putting them back in firsts? I'd have Gamble but I expected Hastings to be named.

 

[Rod]

I imagine if Marzhew's fit he'll come in - they probably don't want to keep having to name him as a starter and then withdraw him.