The Knights are hunting a fifth-straight win on Friday night when they host the Bulldogs at McDonald Jones Stadium (8pm AEST).
Fresh off the bye, the Knights are boosted by the return of Daniel Saifiti from suspension and replaces Jack Hetherington on the bench.
They have zero players selected for State of Origin, but have still had to plug a hole with Bradman Best (hamstring) sidelined. Krystian Mapapalangi will start in the centres in what’s his first NRL appearance since 2022.
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But there’s no doubt that the Knights have suffered less from Origin and injury absences than Canterbury-Bankstown, who are without captain Stephen Crichton and the influential Matt Burton due to their Blues selections.
The latter left the Bulldogs fuming, given Burton was named as NSW’s 18th man for the third time in 12 months, something coach Cameron Ciraldo conceded left him “frustrated”. The Bulldogs are also missing Viliame Kikau (finger) as their injury list mounts.
Drew Hutchison comes in at five-eighth to make up a new-look halves pairing with Toby Sexton.
Meanwhile, in two late changes made by Ciraldo, Bailey Hayward will start at lock with Kurt Mann dropping back to the bench. And 22-year-old Lipoi Hopoi will make his NRL debut off the bench after impressing in New South Wales Cup.
The Dogs, who battered the Dragons last time out, have a strong record in Newcastle, with seven wins from the last nine — and beat the Knights 36-12 when the teams met last month.
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TEAMS
Knights: 1. David Armstrong 2. Enari Tuala 3. Dane Gagai 4. Krystian Mapapalangi 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Jack Cogger 7. Jackson Hastings 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Leo Thompson 11. Kai Pearce-Paul 12. Dylan Lucas 13. Adam Elliott 14. Phoenix Crossland 15. Tyson Frizell 16. Daniel Saifiti 17. Brodie Jones. 18th man: 18. Thomas Cant
Bulldogs: 1. Connor Tracey 2. Blake Wilson 3. Bronson Xerri 4. Jacob Kiraz 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Drew Hutchison 7. Toby Sexton 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Samuel Hughes 11. Jacob Preston 12. Jaeman Salmon 14. Bailey Hayward 13. Kurt Mann 15. Josh Curran 16. Kurtis Morrin 19. Lipoi Hopoi. 18th man: 22. Harry Hayes
Source Agencies
