Key posts
Your say – Knights or Titans?
Half chances for both sides
A bit of action here with Tino Fa’asuamaleaui getting an offload away for Klese Haas, who spots a gap and charges through. He fires a pass infield for a support player but it’s swooped on by Newcastle’s Fletcher Sharpe, who spins and makes his own carry upfield after the intercept.
Now the Knights get in a successful early challenge, with the bunker overruling an error and giving the hosts a penalty for a strip instead. But the set is a scrappy one, finishing with Phoenix Crossland attempting a grubber from dummy half that travels about a foot before crashing into the legs of the Titans defenders.
Knights lead 2-0 after 14 minutes
Discipline an issue early on for Titans
Yet another penalty against the Gold Coast – that’s three so far, plus a six-again, and they haven’t touched the ball yet – gives Newcastle another shot inside Titans territory.
Dylan Lucas almost gets his nose through the defensive line, and on the next play Kalyn Ponga rolls in a grubber kick but it has a little too much force and trickles over the dead-ball line.
The Titans get seven tackles for their first set, and it’s a decent one but ends with Greg Marzhew bringing down Jayden Campbell’s bomb unchallenged.
But now there’s another chance for the Titans after an error by Kai Pearce-Paul, only for Jojo Fifita to return the favour with an error of his own.
Knights lead 2-0 after eight minutes
Knights fullback Kalyn Ponga.Credit: Getty Images
Ponga gives Knights lead with early penalty
So the Knights get the first attacking shot of the night and they quickly get a repeat set for a ruck infringement too, and then another penalty with Sam Verrills catching Kalyn Ponga high. Ponga opts to take the shot at goal and he converts from right in front.
Knights lead 2-0 after three minutes
Kick-off
And we’re off. Jayden Campbell is back in the Titans side and he kicks off to Jack Cogger, with Jacob Saifiti taking the first hit-up of the game for Newcastle.
It looks like being a no-frills first set before Tino Fa’asuamaleaui catches Leo Thompson high – it actually looks like a head clash – with the Knights receiving a penalty and Fa’asuamaleaui placed on report.
Knights 0-0 Titans after two minutes
Home advantage has been key in this match-up
By Robert Dillon
High stakes for Titans and Des Hasler
A lot of pressure on the Titans tonight with Fox Sports reporting the club could cut ties with coach Des Hasler at the end of the season if the team doesn’t finish inside the top eight – something that has looked a long way off in recent weeks throughout a five-game losing run.
Jayden Campbell is a big inclusion in the No.7 jersey this week, but David Fifita remains outside the 17 and is reportedly being shopped around to other clubs.
Meanwhile Newcastle looked much improved in last week’s win over a very under-strength Souths side, though they’ll probably face tougher competition here. Attack has been their problem for much of the season, but they managed to score a season-high 30 points last week.
The Titans won the first battle between these sides 26-6 at Cbus Super Stadium in round three.
Kalyn Ponga talks with Knights coach Adam O’Brien.Credit: Getty Images
Smith once mocked Latrell, now the two are set to become teammates
By Christian Nicolussi
Brandon Smith once famously mocked Latrell Mitchell on the sideline after Melbourne defeated South Sydney in a golden-point thriller.
Now Smith has declared he and Mitchell have become good friends, and there will be no issues when they are expected to become Souths teammates next week.
In fact, one of the first people Smith reached out to when the Bondi love dried up – and bitter rivals Souths showed interest – was fellow Rooster-turned-Rabbit Mitchell.
On the same day Souths coach Wayne Bennett threw his support behind Mitchell returning to the NSW Origin arena – and how “everyone in Queensland will be happy if he doesn’t play” – Smith said the post-match scenes involving Mitchell after a round-two win in 2022 were well and truly buried.
Everything you need to know about the Perth Bears
By Adrian Proszenko
The big news of the week is a deal was officially struck for Perth to have its own NRL team, which will also honour the heritage of the North Sydney Bears.
The WA NRL Club will be a membership-based, not-for-profit organisation with a board that includes three Western Australians, one of whom will be chair. For the first five years, the club’s sole voting member will be the Australian Rugby League Commission, with control transitioning to grassroots members upon the achievement of on-field and off-field performance milestones.
The ARLC will provide the club with an initial license of five years, to compete in the NRL premiership competition for the first time in 2027 or 2028.
The ARLC will cover the costs associated with running the club for the period of its initial license and ensure its financial viability.
The WA Government will provide $60 million in direct financial assistance over seven years to help get the club off the ground, with $35 million ring-fenced for development, including grassroots. This funding will commence in the 2025/26 financial year.
The WA Government will provide an additional $5.6 million in match-day support and marketing support through Tourism WA, where it delivers a positive return to WA taxpayers.
Your say – Knights or Titans?
How they line up: Knights v Titans
Here are the team lists for tonight’s 6pm game.
Knights
1. Kalyn Ponga 2. James Schiller 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Fletcher Sharpe 7. Jack Cogger 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Leo Thompson 11. Dylan Lucas 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Tyson Frizell.
Bench: 14. Jayden Brailey 15. Mathew Croker 16. Adam Elliott 17. Brodie Jones
Titans
1. Jaylan De Groot 2. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 3. Brian Kelly 4. Phillip Sami 5. Jojo Fifita 6. AJ Brimson 7. Jayden Campbell 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Sam Verrills 10. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 11. Klese Haas 12. Beau Fermor 13. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui.
Bench: 14. Chris Randall 15. Iszac Fa’asumaleaui 16. Arama Hau 17. Josiah Pahulu 18. Tony Francis
