NRL 2023, Newcastle Knights, Melbourne Storm, round 21 preview, official team lists, injuries, updates

Author: NRL.com
Timestamp: Sat 22 Jul 2023, 04:34 PM

The Knights have piled on a century of points in their past two matches and go hunting a big scalp when the Storm arrive in Newcastle on Saturday night.

With Kalyn Ponga and Bradman Best in supreme form out wide and the forward pack muscling up, the Knights have climbed from 14th to 10th across the past month and will fancy their chances of an upset in front of the McDonald Jones Stadium faithful.

The Storm find themselves in familiar territory inside the top four on the back of a dominant win over the Roosters, with Origin stars Harry Grant and Cameron Munster backing up in style to lead Craig Bellamy's side to their 11th win of the season.

With clashes against the Eels (rd 22), Panthers (rd 23), Raiders (rd 24) and Broncos (rd 27) still to come, the Storm have plenty of challenges in the run home and need to make hay against the likes of the Knights and Dragons.

Having negotiated the Origin period and with a relatively healthy squad, the Storm will set sail for the finals, looking to improve on last year's fifth placing to ensure a double chance.

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Team News

Knights: The Knights will start at 1-17 as named, with star centre Dane Gagai returning from the foot injury that has sidelined him since Round 17. He replaces Enari Tuala in the only change to the team that rolled over Wests Tigers in Round 20.

Storm: Coach Craig Bellamy has made a late change to his squad, with Bronson Garlick promoted to the bench and Tyran Wishart named as 18th man. Otherwise, Bellamy has stuck solid with the squad that got the job done against the Roosters. Alec MacDonald retains his spot on the bench.

Round 21 - Round 21 - Saturday 22 Jul

Full Time

Knights

Storm

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Knights is number 1 Kalyn Ponga

Fullback for Storm is number 1 Nick Meaney
Winger for Knights is number 2 Dominic Young

Winger for Storm is number 2 Will Warbrick
Centre for Knights is number 3 Dane Gagai

Centre for Storm is number 3 Reimis Smith
Centre for Knights is number 4 Bradman Best

Centre for Storm is number 4 Justin Olam
Winger for Knights is number 5 Greg Marzhew

Winger for Storm is number 5 Xavier Coates
Five-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Tyson Gamble

Five-Eighth for Storm is number 6 Cameron Munster
Halfback for Knights is number 7 Jackson Hastings

Halfback for Storm is number 7 Jahrome Hughes

Forwards

Prop for Knights is number 8 Daniel Saifiti

Prop for Storm is number 8 Tui Kamikamica
Hooker for Knights is number 9 Phoenix Crossland

Hooker for Storm is number 9 Harry Grant
Prop for Knights is number 10 Leo Thompson

Prop for Storm is number 10 Christian Welch
2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Tyson Frizell

2nd Row for Storm is number 11 Trent Loiero
2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Lachlan Fitzgibbon

2nd Row for Storm is number 12 Nelson Asofa-Solomona
Lock for Knights is number 13 Adam Elliott

Lock for Storm is number 13 Josh King

Interchange

Interchange for Knights is number 14 Kurt Mann

Interchange for Storm is number 15 Tom Eisenhuth
Interchange for Knights is number 15 Jacob Saifiti

Interchange for Storm is number 16 Tariq Sims
Interchange for Knights is number 16 Jack Hetherington

Interchange for Storm is number 17 Alec MacDonald
Interchange for Knights is number 17 Mat Croker

Interchange for Storm is number 18 Bronson Garlick

Reserves

Replacement for Knights is number 20 Brodie Jones

Replacement for Storm is number 14 Tyran Wishart

Match Officials

Referee: Gerard Sutton
Touch Judge: Jon Stone
Touch Judge: Phil Henderson
Senior Review Official: Ben Cummins

Last updated: 12/8/2023 1:10:43 AM

Stat Attack

The Storm have racked up a combined score of 98-6 in their past two games against Newcastle, winning 50-2 last year and 48-4 in 2021.
The Knights have won five of their past seven games at McDonald Jones Stadium.
The Storm have won their past 11 games against the Knights.
Knights winger Dominic Young has scored 16 tries in his past 13 games.
Storm winger Xavier Coates has scored eight tries in his past five games.
Knights star Kalyn Ponga has lost all seven career games against the Storm.
The Knights have racked up 692 tackle breaks this season compared to the Storm's 547. The Broncos have the most tackle breaks with 714 but have played one more match than Newcastle.