Who will win?
Who has this one in the bag? Will Newcastle respond without their marquee man Kalyn Ponga? Or will Wayne Bennett’s Dolphins light it up on their return home?
Have your say in the poll below.
Player to watch: Isaiya Katoa
The young Dolphins halfback has hit top form in just his second season in the NRL.
After missing the opening round defeat to the Cowboys, when he was overlooked in favour of Sean O’Sullivan, the 20-year-old has taken the reins of the side and been in top flight.
Isaiya Katoa.Credit: Getty
His kicking game has been controlled and measured, while in his five appearances he has been credited with five try assists and six line break assists.
The growth of Katoa’s running game has also been a focal point, averaging 77m an outing.
Watch for the former Penrith junior to give rookie fullback David Armstrong a tough time.
Injuries turn fullback battle into clash of the rookies
Newcastle’s loss of star No.1 and skipper Kalyn Ponga for the next three months with a Lisfranc injury has put a huge dent in his side’s finals hopes, while their rivals remain without Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow with a hamstring concern.
Instead, the clash of the custodians will be between two NRL recruits, with Trai Fuller playing just his third game for the Dolphins and David Armstrong making his first-grade debut on the other side of the halfway line.
Knights fullback Kalyn Ponga will be out of action for 12 weeks.Credit: Getty
Armstrong has been prolific in the lower grades, scoring five tries from five games this season while averaging 136 running metres and five tackle busts a game.
Meanwhile, Fuller dazzled last week against Parramatta – scoring a try and busting seven tackles en route to running 191m.
Dolphins seek to return to top four
Welcome to our live blog of the Dolphins’ clash with the Newcastle Knights, a contest in which the hosts will seek to push themselves back into the top four at Suncorp Stadium.
Fresh off a thumping win over Parramatta in Darwin, coach Wayne Bennett’s men are riding high and have adapted without a host of key players – Felise Kaufusi, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Herbie Farnworth and Thomas Flegler among them.
Wayne Bennett has the NRL’s newest side flying high in their second season.Credit: Getty
Newcastle will look to prove life without Kayln Ponga – sidelined for the next three months – still has hope, but on the back of a poor start to the season in which they have won just twice, they will need to undergo a rapid turnaround.
Follow all the action as it happens here from 2pm.
