Match Discussion: Round 7 vs Cronulla @ McDonald Jones Stadium, New Lambton / Awabakal

[League Unlimited News]

NRL 2025 - Round 7
Newcastle Knights v Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
McDonald Jones Stadium, New Lambton / Awabakal (TICKETS)

Sunday 20 April 2025
NRL kickoff 4:05pm
Live on Nine, 9Now, Kayo & Fox

1. Kalyn Ponga 2. James Schiller 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Fletcher Sharpe 7. Tyson Gamble 8. Tyson Frizell 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Leo Thompson 11. Thomas Cant 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Mathew Croker
14. Jayden Brailey 15. Tyrone Thompson 16. Jermaine McEwen 17. Brodie Jones
18. Kyle McCarthy 19. Paul Bryan 20. Jack Cogger 21. Matthew Arthur 22. Jackson Hastings

In: James Schiller (wing), Tyson Gamble (halfback), Paul Bryan (reserve), Jack Cogger (reserve), Jackson Hastings (reserve)
Changes: Kyle McCarthy (wing to reserve), Phoenix Crossland (halfback to hooker), Tyrone Thompson (front row to bench), Jayden Brailey (hooker to bench), Tyson Frizell (lock to front row), Matthew Arthur (bench to reserve), Mat Croker (bench to lock)

1. William Kennedy 2. Samuel Stonestreet 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Mawene Hiroti 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Oregon Kaufusi 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Cameron McInnes
14. Daniel Atkinson 15. Siosifa Talakai 16. Toby Rudolf 17. Thomas Hazelton
18. Tuku Hau Tapuha 19. Jayden Berrell 20. Hohepa Puru 21. Billy Burns 22. Chris Veaila

Unchanged 1-17
In: Tuku Hau Tapuha (reserve), Jayden Berrell (reserve), Hohepa Puru (reserve), Billy Burns (reserve), Chris Vea'ila (reserve)

Referee: Ashley Klein
Sideline Officials: Matt Noyen, Kasey Badger
Video Referee: Liam Kennedy

HEAD TO HEAD - 1988 - 2024​

	TOTAL	NEW	CRO	DRAWN
ALL MATCHES	62	32	28	2
MCD. JONES	30	18	10	2

LAST FIVE MEETINGS​

YEAR	ROUND	RESULT	VENUE	CROWD
2022	Round 4	CRO 18-0	Pointsbet	8927
2022	Round 25	CRO 38-16	McD. Jones	16808
2023	Round 12	CRO 26-6	C.ex Coffs	10156
2023	Round 26	NEW 32-6	McD. Jones	29423
2024	Round 24	CRO 19-18	Sharks	11503

BIGGEST WINS​

YEAR	ROUND	RESULT	VENUE	CROWD
2002	Round 6	NEW 52-8	EnergyAustralia	26721
2016	Round 10	CRO 62-0	Hunter	16150

NEXT FOUR MATCHES​

	Round 8	Round 9	Round 10	Round 11
NEWCASTLE	WAR (A)	SOU (A)	GLD (H)	PAR (H)
CRONULLA	WST (A)	PAR (H)	MAN (A)	MEL (H)

LAST THREE MATCHES​

	Round 4		Round 5		Round 6
NEWCASTLE	BYE	-	CBY	L 0-20	WST	L 4-20
CRONULLA	CBY	L 6-20	CAN	L 20-24	MAN	W 24-18

STATE OF PLAY: 2025 SEASON​

	POSITION	PLAYED	BYES	W-L-D	FOR	AGAINST
NEWCASTLE	12th	5	1	2-3-0	46	86
CRONULLA	9th	6	0	3-3-0	135	114

 

[Apey]

Hmm no I don't think so.

 

[Woody90]

Hard pass.

 

[Yosh]

I'm telling you guys, we don't need 13+. We ain't scoring more than 8 ever.

 

[slotmachine]

Pain.

 

[NK Arsenal]

Sharks by 50.
We are back to 2016 playing sides in to form

 

[ryan.a87]

But if we loose by 50, we are no chance of winning the premiership

 

[Loose Cannon]

But if we loose by 50, we are no chance of winning the premiership

Fear not!

We will score a Mitchell Pearce inspired, knee-deflected, length of the field runaway try at 46-2 with just less than 90 seconds to go, in order to save our season.

 

[Haffa]

64-14 under threat.

 

[alexwilliams_66692007]

Gamble named at halfback!

Round 7 NRL team list

nib Newcastle Knights NRL Head Coach Adam O'Brien has named a 22-man squad for their Sunday afternoon clash against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks at McDonald Jones Stadium.

www.newcastleknights.com.au

 

[mozza91]

64-14 under threat.

Nah we’re safe. Our goal line defence is actually quite good. We probably won’t get close to the 14 though.

 

[alexwilliams_66692007]

Interesting to see Frizell starting at prop too

 

[Woody90]

Gamble named at halfback!

Round 7 NRL team list

nib Newcastle Knights NRL Head Coach Adam O'Brien has named a 22-man squad for their Sunday afternoon clash against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks at McDonald Jones Stadium.

www.newcastleknights.com.au

NGL, I didn't have Gamble being back and Frizz at prop on my bingo card but I don't hate it lol.
I was sure Marzhew would be dropped. Maybe AOB has decided to reward him for his effort over punishing him for the errors (also slim pickings in terms of alternatives).

 

[The Axe of Druss]

Croker starting for the 1st time ever?

Either way I like it

 

[mozza91]

Croker starting for the 1st time ever?

Either way I like it

He’s a high work rate player. Always has been. Wouldn’t be surprised if he has his best game of FG this week if he gets big minutes.*

*Provided our back 5 can hold onto the f**king ball.

 

[slotmachine]

Reckon Croker has started 5 or 6 times in the past. Once at second row pretty sure.

 

[alexwilliams_66692007]

Reckon Croker has started 5 or 6 times in the past. Once at second row pretty sure.

I feel like he has started at prop once or twice before too

 

[Woody90]

He started at lock a few years back when we played the Raiders too.

 

[Loose Cannon]

Happy to see Gamble is back.

Though, Cogger named in the squad suggests his fitness is less than ideal. Hastings named in the squad suggests Cogger’s ability is less than ideal.

 

[Old dog]

Lot of not sures, unhappy selections but given the missing, JSaf, Lucas, Elliott, Hetherington and the doubtful returning, Cogger and the never to be used, Hastings, leaving us exposed to the inexperienced, Tyrone T, McEwen, put the missing in and it’s Frizell to bench, Cant to Cup, Croker to bench, toss the coin Jones/Hetherington.
Bench is Brailey, Frizell, Croker, Jones/Hetherington
Cup is Cant, Tyrone T, McEwen, Jones/Hetherington.
You cannot improve the side if players are missing due to injuries.
Based on availability we have our strongest side selected with, in my opinion, two surprises, Gamble in hope he is Ok and Elliott out, hope he is ok
Side note Cup side struggling due to injury cover in firsts but some might be back like Hastings and Cogger