Knights v Wests Tigers: Mann bounces back; Joey Leilua out
The Knights have every right to feel good about themselves heading into Mitchell Pearce's 300th NRL match.
The former Rooster has seen just about everything in the game. What better way to celebrate a milestone than to play a starring role in helping the Knights continue their winning start to 2021.
Newcastle will face a Wests Tigers side that had a very unhappy day against the Roosters last weekend. A 40-6 loss means they've now conceded 70 points over their opening two matches.
If Michael Maguire's men are serious about reaching the finals, avoiding an 0-3 start is crucial.
Knights v Wests Tigers
Match: Knights v Wests Tigers
Round 3 -
home Team
Knights
8th Position
away Team
Wests Tigers
13th Position
Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
The rundown
Team news
Knights: Englishman Dominic Young will make his NRL debut in the centres following Saturday's withdrawal of Bradman Best due to an elbow injury.
Young's promotion into the starting side sees Gehamat Shibasaki moved onto the wing and Starford To'a joining Pasami Saulo as the two players left out an hour before the match.
In another late reshuffle, Sauaso Sue will start at lock with Connor Watson on the interchange bench.
Five-eighth Kurt Mann (knee) is set to make a swift return after his late withdrawal from the side to play the Warriors.
His replacement Phoenix Crossland was suspended for a crusher tackle.
Newcastle's injury ward will begin to empty over the coming weeks with Edrick Lee (foot) expected back next week, Kalyn Ponga (shoulder) in round four or five, and veteran playmaker Blake Green (knee) somewhere between rounds five and eight.
As well as Best, Nathanael Sasagi was left out 24 hours before the match.
The Knights outscored Wests Tigers 86-28 across two clashes in 2020.
Wests Tigers: Michael Maguire's side will start 1-17 with Michael Chee-Kam and Russell Packer the two players left out an hour before kik-off.
Maguire confirmed after the loss to the Roosters that James Roberts (shoulder) would return and the centre has been named.
Joey Leilua is the man to make way, paying the price for an abject defensive display on the left edge. It remains to be seen whether Maguire will move Roberts from the right to help plug-up their defence.
Zane Musgrove will return from suspension to a place in the front row with off-season recruit Joe Ofahengaue dropping back to the bench and Michael Chee Kam joining Joey Leilua in the reserves.
Hooker Billy Walters (knee) and back-rower Shawn Blore (wrist) will not be back before round six at the earliest.
Joey Leilua and Alex Seyfarth were the two players left out on the eve of the match.
Wests Tigers have won three of their past four games at McDonald Jones Stadium.
Match: Knights v Wests Tigers
Round 3 -
home Team
Knights
away Team
Wests Tigers
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Knights is number 1 Tex HoyFullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Daine Laurie
-
Winger for Knights is number 5 Hymel HuntWinger for Wests Tigers is number 2 David Nofoaluma
-
Centre for Knights is number 3 Enari TualaCentre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Tommy Talau
-
Centre for Knights is number 32 Dominic YoungCentre for Wests Tigers is number 4 James Roberts
-
Winger for Knights is number 18 Gehamat ShibasakiWinger for Wests Tigers is number 5 Asu Kepaoa
-
Five-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Kurt MannFive-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Adam Doueihi
-
Halfback for Knights is number 7 Mitchell PearceHalfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Luke Brooks
Forwards
-
Prop for Knights is number 8 David KlemmerProp for Wests Tigers is number 8 Zane Musgrove
-
Hooker for Knights is number 9 Jayden BraileyHooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Jacob Liddle
-
Prop for Knights is number 10 Daniel SaifitiProp for Wests Tigers is number 10 James Tamou
-
2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Tyson Frizell2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Luke Garner
-
2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Mitchell Barnett2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Luciano Leilua
-
Lock for Knights is number 14 Sauaso SueLock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Alex Twal
Interchange
-
Interchange for Knights is number 13 Connor WatsonInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Joe Ofahengaue
-
Interchange for Knights is number 15 Jacob SaifitiInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Thomas Mikaele
-
Interchange for Knights is number 16 Josh KingInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Stefano Utoikamanu
-
Interchange for Knights is number 17 Brodie JonesInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Moses Mbye
Match Officials
- Referee: Gerard Sutton
- Touch Judge: Belinda Sharpe
- Touch Judge: Chris Butler
- Senior Review Official: Henry Perenara
Last updated:
Key match-up
Daniel Saifiti v Joe Ofahengaue. The questions that were asked when Saifiti was first picked to play for NSW aren't being asked anymore as he has become one of the best front-rowers in the game.
There appears no reason why Ofahengaue can't play at the same standard as the man he'll line up against on Sunday.
Making the man: The people who shaped Pearce’s career
Stat attack
Joseph Leilua was credited with seven missed tackles and three ineffective tackles while completing just nine tackles against the Roosters. That's a tackle efficiency rate of 47.4%.
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