Look who's back as Knights head west in bid to kickstart push for finals
DOM Young is back for the Red and Blue and so are several big names as the Knights head west in a bid to kickstart a push for the NRL finals.
Young, who completed a mid-season transfer from the Roosters on Monday, has been named on the right wing for the clash against a red-hot Dolphins in Perth on Saturday.
The 23-year-old Englishman, who spent three seasons with the Knights from 2021, made a seamless return to the group at training on Tuesday.
"I'm really close with Dom and am really happy to have him back," Knights utility Phoenix Crossland said. "He is a great lad and a great player. It's good that he is home."
Young scored a club-record 25 tries for the Knights in 2023 and will add a new dimension to an attack that has struggled to score points this campaign.
"Dom is a great kick target - he is eight feet tall - and is very fast," Crossland said. "Everyone knows what he can do."
As well as Young, strike centre Bradman Best, forward leader Tyson Frizell and game-breaker Fletcher Sharpe return from injury.
Captain Kalyn Ponga, baring a mishap, will back up after playing for Queensland in the second State of Origin in Perth on Wednesday night.
Frizell will pack down at prop, Best comes in at left centre and Sharpe resumes at five-eighth.
Brodie Jones drops back to the interchange bench. Schiller, Kyle McCarthy, Jackson Hastings, Fletcher Hunt and Jack Hetherington will travel to Perth.
The inclusion of the key men could not be more timely.
An L-plate Knights outfit was unlucky to go down to the Roosters, but the loss made the finals equation that bit more difficult.
"The boys coming back have experience and know what to do," Crossland said. "We have a good foundation with the youth. It's about feeding off the energy the young boys provide.
"I think the [senior] players will fit back in seamlessly. I think the young boys will inspire them to go after it."
If not for a hamstring injury, Best could have been lining up for the Blues in Peth on Wednesday night.
The powerhouse centre had scored three tries, provided two assists and charged an average 164 metres in nine appearances before a hamstring injury in round 10 against the Titans on May 9.
"Bradman is a great player," Crossland said. "Touch wood, you don't want anyone in the NSW team to get injured. If they do, I know Bradman is ready to go again and will prove that this weekend."
Best scored a try in the Knights' 26-12 over the Dolphins in round 2 (March 9).
The Knights have managed just three wins since.
Newcastle are in 15th place on 12 points with 10 games remaining.
Teams have needed an average of 12 wins to get in the top eight, based off the ladders of the past 15 seasons.
That means the Knights would need to win seven of their last 10 games of the regular season
Luckily for them, there's a big separation between the top and bottom teams this year. So while they're third last, they've got only one win less than eighth place (Roosters)
However in a potential hurdle, seven of their remaining games this year are against sides in the top eight as the ladder stands. One of their other games is against four-time defending premiers, Penrith.
Teams have twice since 2020 snuck into the top eight with 10 wins.
The Knights have gone in similar winning runs to sneak into the finals in recent years.
A win on Saturday could be the catalyst for a repeat.
However, they face a big challenge against a Dolphins side that has racked up 158 points in consecutive wins over Cowboys (58-4), Dragons (56-6) and Bulldogs (44-8).
"They have a great team and are led by the halfback (Isaiya Katoa), who is in great form," Crossland said. "We will look at him and come up with a plan to minimise the impact he has on the game. We expect everything to come off him.
"They are in good form and we are not so much. It is a great challenge for us to get over to Perth and get the job done."
DOM Young is back for the Red and Blue and so are several big names as the Knights head west in a bid to kickstart a push for the NRL finals.
Young, who completed a mid-season transfer from the Roosters on Monday, has been named on the right wing for the clash against a red-hot Dolphins in Perth on Saturday.
The 23-year-old Englishman, who spent three seasons with the Knights from 2021, made a seamless return to the group at training on Tuesday.
"I'm really close with Dom and am really happy to have him back," Knights utility Phoenix Crossland said. "He is a great lad and a great player. It's good that he is home."
Young scored a club-record 25 tries for the Knights in 2023 and will add a new dimension to an attack that has struggled to score points this campaign.
"Dom is a great kick target - he is eight feet tall - and is very fast," Crossland said. "Everyone knows what he can do."
As well as Young, strike centre Bradman Best, forward leader Tyson Frizell and game-breaker Fletcher Sharpe return from injury.
Captain Kalyn Ponga, baring a mishap, will back up after playing for Queensland in the second State of Origin in Perth on Wednesday night.
Frizell will pack down at prop, Best comes in at left centre and Sharpe resumes at five-eighth.
Brodie Jones drops back to the interchange bench. Schiller, Kyle McCarthy, Jackson Hastings, Fletcher Hunt and Jack Hetherington will travel to Perth.
The inclusion of the key men could not be more timely.
An L-plate Knights outfit was unlucky to go down to the Roosters, but the loss made the finals equation that bit more difficult.
"The boys coming back have experience and know what to do," Crossland said. "We have a good foundation with the youth. It's about feeding off the energy the young boys provide.
"I think the [senior] players will fit back in seamlessly. I think the young boys will inspire them to go after it."
If not for a hamstring injury, Best could have been lining up for the Blues in Peth on Wednesday night.
The powerhouse centre had scored three tries, provided two assists and charged an average 164 metres in nine appearances before a hamstring injury in round 10 against the Titans on May 9.
"Bradman is a great player," Crossland said. "Touch wood, you don't want anyone in the NSW team to get injured. If they do, I know Bradman is ready to go again and will prove that this weekend."
Best scored a try in the Knights' 26-12 over the Dolphins in round 2 (March 9).
The Knights have managed just three wins since.
Newcastle are in 15th place on 12 points with 10 games remaining.
Teams have needed an average of 12 wins to get in the top eight, based off the ladders of the past 15 seasons.
That means the Knights would need to win seven of their last 10 games of the regular season
Luckily for them, there's a big separation between the top and bottom teams this year. So while they're third last, they've got only one win less than eighth place (Roosters)
However in a potential hurdle, seven of their remaining games this year are against sides in the top eight as the ladder stands. One of their other games is against four-time defending premiers, Penrith.
Teams have twice since 2020 snuck into the top eight with 10 wins.
The Knights have gone in similar winning runs to sneak into the finals in recent years.
A win on Saturday could be the catalyst for a repeat.
However, they face a big challenge against a Dolphins side that has racked up 158 points in consecutive wins over Cowboys (58-4), Dragons (56-6) and Bulldogs (44-8).
"They have a great team and are led by the halfback (Isaiya Katoa), who is in great form," Crossland said. "We will look at him and come up with a plan to minimise the impact he has on the game. We expect everything to come off him.
"They are in good form and we are not so much. It is a great challenge for us to get over to Perth and get the job done."
DOM Young is back for the Red and Blue and so are several big names as the Knights head west in a bid to kickstart a push for the NRL finals.
Young, who completed a mid-season transfer from the Roosters on Monday, has been named on the right wing for the clash against a red-hot Dolphins in Perth on Saturday.
The 23-year-old Englishman, who spent three seasons with the Knights from 2021, made a seamless return to the group at training on Tuesday.
"I'm really close with Dom and am really happy to have him back," Knights utility Phoenix Crossland said. "He is a great lad and a great player. It's good that he is home."
Young scored a club-record 25 tries for the Knights in 2023 and will add a new dimension to an attack that has struggled to score points this campaign.
"Dom is a great kick target - he is eight feet tall - and is very fast," Crossland said. "Everyone knows what he can do."
As well as Young, strike centre Bradman Best, forward leader Tyson Frizell and game-breaker Fletcher Sharpe return from injury.
Captain Kalyn Ponga, baring a mishap, will back up after playing for Queensland in the second State of Origin in Perth on Wednesday night.
Frizell will pack down at prop, Best comes in at left centre and Sharpe resumes at five-eighth.
Brodie Jones drops back to the interchange bench. Schiller, Kyle McCarthy, Jackson Hastings, Fletcher Hunt and Jack Hetherington will travel to Perth.
The inclusion of the key men could not be more timely.
An L-plate Knights outfit was unlucky to go down to the Roosters, but the loss made the finals equation that bit more difficult.
"The boys coming back have experience and know what to do," Crossland said. "We have a good foundation with the youth. It's about feeding off the energy the young boys provide.
"I think the [senior] players will fit back in seamlessly. I think the young boys will inspire them to go after it."
If not for a hamstring injury, Best could have been lining up for the Blues in Peth on Wednesday night.
The powerhouse centre had scored three tries, provided two assists and charged an average 164 metres in nine appearances before a hamstring injury in round 10 against the Titans on May 9.
"Bradman is a great player," Crossland said. "Touch wood, you don't want anyone in the NSW team to get injured. If they do, I know Bradman is ready to go again and will prove that this weekend."
Best scored a try in the Knights' 26-12 over the Dolphins in round 2 (March 9).
The Knights have managed just three wins since.
Newcastle are in 15th place on 12 points with 10 games remaining.
Teams have needed an average of 12 wins to get in the top eight, based off the ladders of the past 15 seasons.
That means the Knights would need to win seven of their last 10 games of the regular season
Luckily for them, there's a big separation between the top and bottom teams this year. So while they're third last, they've got only one win less than eighth place (Roosters)
However in a potential hurdle, seven of their remaining games this year are against sides in the top eight as the ladder stands. One of their other games is against four-time defending premiers, Penrith.
Teams have twice since 2020 snuck into the top eight with 10 wins.
The Knights have gone in similar winning runs to sneak into the finals in recent years.
A win on Saturday could be the catalyst for a repeat.
However, they face a big challenge against a Dolphins side that has racked up 158 points in consecutive wins over Cowboys (58-4), Dragons (56-6) and Bulldogs (44-8).
"They have a great team and are led by the halfback (Isaiya Katoa), who is in great form," Crossland said. "We will look at him and come up with a plan to minimise the impact he has on the game. We expect everything to come off him.
"They are in good form and we are not so much. It is a great challenge for us to get over to Perth and get the job done."
DOM Young is back for the Red and Blue and so are several big names as the Knights head west in a bid to kickstart a push for the NRL finals.
Young, who completed a mid-season transfer from the Roosters on Monday, has been named on the right wing for the clash against a red-hot Dolphins in Perth on Saturday.
The 23-year-old Englishman, who spent three seasons with the Knights from 2021, made a seamless return to the group at training on Tuesday.
"I'm really close with Dom and am really happy to have him back," Knights utility Phoenix Crossland said. "He is a great lad and a great player. It's good that he is home."
Young scored a club-record 25 tries for the Knights in 2023 and will add a new dimension to an attack that has struggled to score points this campaign.
"Dom is a great kick target - he is eight feet tall - and is very fast," Crossland said. "Everyone knows what he can do."
As well as Young, strike centre Bradman Best, forward leader Tyson Frizell and game-breaker Fletcher Sharpe return from injury.
Captain Kalyn Ponga, baring a mishap, will back up after playing for Queensland in the second State of Origin in Perth on Wednesday night.
Frizell will pack down at prop, Best comes in at left centre and Sharpe resumes at five-eighth.
Brodie Jones drops back to the interchange bench. Schiller, Kyle McCarthy, Jackson Hastings, Fletcher Hunt and Jack Hetherington will travel to Perth.
The inclusion of the key men could not be more timely.
An L-plate Knights outfit was unlucky to go down to the Roosters, but the loss made the finals equation that bit more difficult.
"The boys coming back have experience and know what to do," Crossland said. "We have a good foundation with the youth. It's about feeding off the energy the young boys provide.
"I think the [senior] players will fit back in seamlessly. I think the young boys will inspire them to go after it."
If not for a hamstring injury, Best could have been lining up for the Blues in Peth on Wednesday night.
The powerhouse centre had scored three tries, provided two assists and charged an average 164 metres in nine appearances before a hamstring injury in round 10 against the Titans on May 9.
"Bradman is a great player," Crossland said. "Touch wood, you don't want anyone in the NSW team to get injured. If they do, I know Bradman is ready to go again and will prove that this weekend."
Best scored a try in the Knights' 26-12 over the Dolphins in round 2 (March 9).
The Knights have managed just three wins since.
Newcastle are in 15th place on 12 points with 10 games remaining.
Teams have needed an average of 12 wins to get in the top eight, based off the ladders of the past 15 seasons.
That means the Knights would need to win seven of their last 10 games of the regular season
Luckily for them, there's a big separation between the top and bottom teams this year. So while they're third last, they've got only one win less than eighth place (Roosters)
However in a potential hurdle, seven of their remaining games this year are against sides in the top eight as the ladder stands. One of their other games is against four-time defending premiers, Penrith.
Teams have twice since 2020 snuck into the top eight with 10 wins.
The Knights have gone in similar winning runs to sneak into the finals in recent years.
A win on Saturday could be the catalyst for a repeat.
However, they face a big challenge against a Dolphins side that has racked up 158 points in consecutive wins over Cowboys (58-4), Dragons (56-6) and Bulldogs (44-8).
"They have a great team and are led by the halfback (Isaiya Katoa), who is in great form," Crossland said. "We will look at him and come up with a plan to minimise the impact he has on the game. We expect everything to come off him.
"They are in good form and we are not so much. It is a great challenge for us to get over to Perth and get the job done."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Age
7 hours ago
- The Age
‘Think how it would affect your kids': Champion's call against vile abuse
Upon her unveiling as the Brisbane Broncos co-captain, Ali Brigginshaw has issued a palpable message to those who have taken to social media in a series of vile attacks on players. 'My message is if you're writing a comment, think about how it would affect your kids or your partner at home, because they're the people it's affecting,' Brigginshaw warned. 'I can cop most things and try not to read them, but when you go home and see your family upset that's when it hits home.' This was the first chance Brigginshaw had taken to address the abuse she received following Queensland's defeat in the women's State of Origin series, with her wife revealing the family had received messages to 'kill themselves'. Incidents of threatening comments issued to New South Wales star Liam Wright and Newcastle winger James Schiller have followed, as Brigginshaw lamented 'it does happen to every player'. Loading The 35-year-old revealed she removed herself from social media for five weeks following the attacks, claiming it was 'probably the best five weeks I've had' and admitting she will likely do the same throughout the NRLW season. 'You can be flying and nothing will affect you, and then that day you wake up when things aren't going your way it can really affect you,' Brigginshaw said. 'I didn't expect to feel the way I did – I always see myself as quite a tough player and am able to cope with most challenge. But in the pressure and the moment I was in, it hit me hard.'
Sydney Morning Herald
7 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Think how it would affect your kids': Champion's call against vile abuse
Upon her unveiling as the Brisbane Broncos co-captain, Ali Brigginshaw has issued a palpable message to those who have taken to social media in a series of vile attacks on players. 'My message is if you're writing a comment, think about how it would affect your kids or your partner at home, because they're the people it's affecting,' Brigginshaw warned. 'I can cop most things and try not to read them, but when you go home and see your family upset that's when it hits home.' This was the first chance Brigginshaw had taken to address the abuse she received following Queensland's defeat in the women's State of Origin series, with her wife revealing the family had received messages to 'kill themselves'. Incidents of threatening comments issued to New South Wales star Liam Wright and Newcastle winger James Schiller have followed, as Brigginshaw lamented 'it does happen to every player'. Loading The 35-year-old revealed she removed herself from social media for five weeks following the attacks, claiming it was 'probably the best five weeks I've had' and admitting she will likely do the same throughout the NRLW season. 'You can be flying and nothing will affect you, and then that day you wake up when things aren't going your way it can really affect you,' Brigginshaw said. 'I didn't expect to feel the way I did – I always see myself as quite a tough player and am able to cope with most challenge. But in the pressure and the moment I was in, it hit me hard.'
Perth Now
7 hours ago
- Perth Now
Origin duo backed to go full-throttle in Perth
The Dolphins' and Newcastle Knights' respective coaches have vowed their State of Origin stars will be in full flight for Saturday's NRL clash at HBF Park. In the battle of sixth vs 15th, both Dolphins coach Kristian Woolf and his Newcastle counterpart Adam O'Brien backed their Queensland Origin starters Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Kalyn Ponga to back up after their mid-week heroics against NSW. Woolf said Tabuai-Fidow, who scored two first-half tries in the Maroons' heart-stopping 26-24 win at Optus Stadium, had been bouncing off the walls after linking up with his club teammates in Perth. 'He came into camp with a real smile on his face and that's always a great sign for 'Hammer',' he said. 'I liked the way he was moving out there as well, I probably expected him to be a little bit tentative but he's moving around really quick and he's ready to go. 'They performed really well and made some real improvements from what they did in the first game. They all looked like a really happy group; he's certainly come into camp that way and it's great for us.' Ponga started at full-back for the Maroons and O'Brien said the Port Hedland-born star had pulled up well following the grueling clash. Kalyn Ponga. Credit: Scott Gardiner / Getty Images 'Kalyn will play. He looks great. It's an extra day from what it was from Origin one, so that helps, and then he just stayed on, didn't have to travel.' The Knights will bring back Bradman Best, Fletcher Sharpe and Tyson Frizell following injuries and O'Brien said his side needed to be prepared for the exciting Tabuai-Fidow and his fellow Dolphins outside backs. 'They move the ball great, they play to their strengths. With a few of their forwards out, they rely on getting the ball to their outside backs, who are quite athletic,' he said. 'We understand we have to be very good defensively because you're going to face a lot of shift, a lot of shape, particularly in parts of the field you're not normally used to.' Following their thumping 58-4 win over North Queensland last week, Woolf said his team could not afford to put the cart before the horse ahead of the Newcastle match. 'We've just got ourselves into the top eight and we've had to work really hard to do that after a slow start,' he said. 'More concerning for us at the moment is the week-to-week performance and making sure we continue on the right direction.'
