Match Discussion: Round 6 vs Newcastle @ McDonald Jones Stadium, New Lambton / Awabakal

[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

 

[Tigerm]

Both sides got their pants pulled down, last game, it will interesting to see who bounces back.
Hopefully we have our 3 starters back, so we are back to full strength.

 

[Tiger05]

We really need to win this game.

 

[TheDefinitionOfMadness]

This is definitely a gettable game and we have a decent record at the ground. I'm feeling good about this one, provided we're back to fullish strength

 

[simmo1]

Should have beaten this mob in round 1. Newcastle will try and get us into a grind again.

Our attack is going much better now than the start of the year, so being a day game and (hopefully) dry track would be to our advantage. We have scored 24+ points in every game since round 1 and I reckon that will be enough to beat the Knights here.

 

[Das Hassler]

Assuming Luai is out then I'm hoping for Douehi at 7 ...he's gone ok there ..is a calm head and gels well with Galvin. This HAS to be a tradesman like win!...Knights are hurt but Ponga has been panned which is not a good thing

 

[Perth Tiger]

Feels like this is a very important game, not so much from the ladder perspective but to get some reward for the relatively good footy we have been playing. If we chalk up another lose then it feels like the regulars might start to get that losing mentality again and drag the new comers down with them.

 

[Pezz70]

Should have beaten this mob in round 1. Newcastle will try and get us into a grind again.

Our attack is going much better now than the start of the year, so being a day game and (hopefully) dry track would be to our advantage. We have scored 24+ points in every game since round 1 and I reckon that will be enough to beat the Knights here.

They got the bulldogs into the grind yesty, it was only injuries that stopped this from being a really close game. Knights were fantastic in defence given their circumstances. This will be a tough game

 

[Tiger05]

They got the bulldogs into the grind yesty, it was only injuries that stopped this from being a really close game. Knights were fantastic in defence given their circumstances. This will be a tough game

I think Newcastle are a good team and Ponga is elite. I'd like to see Luai perform up to Ponga's level and win us the game. My opinion is that is what we are paying him for.

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

I think Newcastle are a good team and Ponga is elite. I'd like to see Luai perform up to Ponga's level and win us the game. My opinion is that is what we are paying him for.

Yep, he needs to step up and have a break-out game.

If he’s not going to lift, I’d be fine with moving him to another position.

Change things up a bit.

Roster wise, they are hanging by a thread and we are powering up.

 

[Tigerm]

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

That’s a pretty solid power up.

Rooster mate at work thinks Terrell is playing his way into Origin atm.

Nadosha back on line soon.

It would be good thing to beat the dogs in a finals match.

 

[Tigerm]

That’s a pretty solid power up.

Rooster mate at work thinks Terrell is playing his way into Origin atm.

Surely no one could disagree with him getting a spot.

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

Surely no one could disagree with him getting a spot.

He’s needs 2 solid games.

Rooster mate says he’s far and away better than Stef.

And chuckled for us.

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

On every metric, Terrell is playing better footy than Stef.

he’s makes almost 3 times the tackles, he’s a more effective tackler 98% passes the ball 7 times more often, makes twice as many hit ups and his post contact metres is 290 v 170.

Richo said we wouldn’t be blinking over stef, there was a line in the sand and we refused to cross it.

It was brutal but it meant that the days of whoring ourselves out had ended.

Richo said that Stef would realise we would have $800k to buy a new player.

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

And of course, life under Lee & Co was abominable, but we did secure the Fainuage.

They had the bring about the end of Tim, but this was a decision they got right.

At great short term cost results wise and we are not out of the woods yet.

 

[Pezz70]

Surely no one could disagree with him getting a spot.

Not at this point and I think May and Haas as NSW props would make NSW extremely tough to beat. Two big athletic fellas that can go for 80 mins would be awesome to see

 

[Tiger05]

On every metric, Terrell is playing better footy than Stef.

It's not even close.

 

[The Rosco]

Phew !!!
Managed to beat rhyno on here. Thankfully, he's still strumming it after pawwa's massive win last week.
I think we'll be continuing our drive towards getting our shit together.
Us by 14.
Canberra by 16.

 

[Someone2]

Phew !!!
Managed to beat rhyno on here. Thankfully, he's still strumming it after pawwa's massive win last week.
I think we'll be continuing our drive towards getting our shit together.
Us by 14.
Canberra by 16.

Was only a couple of weeks ago tigers fans were talking up their chances of 3ws in a row

now it’s going to be 3straight losses than the annual Easter Monday massacre next week