NRL Round 5 Preview: Red V journey to Hunter for key clash

Author: Dragons.com.au dragons.com.au
Timestamp: Wed 3 Apr 2024, 09:14 PM

The Dragons will meet the Knights on Friday, April 5th at McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle in Round 5 of the 2024 Telstra Premiership.

The Alex McKinnon Cup will be up for grabs on Friday to pay homage to a career in which the Dragons and Knights were both a part of.

Key Timings

Date: Friday, April 5th
Knock-On Effect NSW Cup: 5:45pm
NRL: 8:00pm
Where: McDonald Jones Stadium
Watch: Nine, 9Now, Kayo & Fox

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Michael Molo earns a spot on the interchange with Hame Sele dropping back onto the reserves list whilst Jack de Belin starts at prop with Blake Lawrie reverting to the interchange.

Tom Eisenhuth has been named to start at lock with Raymond Faitala-Mariner on the interchange after the pair switched prior to kick-off in Round 4.

Christian Tuipulotu - who managed a quartet of tries in the side's Knock-On Effect NSW Cup win over the Sea Eagles - has been named among the reserves along with Viliami Fifita, Toby Couchman, and Ben Murdoch-Masila.

The Knights have made several changes with Jackson Hastings earning a recall at halfback shifting Jack Cogger into the No.6 jersey and Tyson Gamble onto the extended bench.

Leo Thompson returns from suspension to line-up at prop with Daniel Saifiti reverting to the pine and Brodie Jones dropping back to the reserves.

Round 5 - Round 5 - Friday 5 Apr

Full Time

Knights

Dragons

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Knights is number 1 Kalyn Ponga

Fullback for Dragons is number 1 Tyrell Sloan
Winger for Knights is number 2 Thomas Jenkins

Winger for Dragons is number 2 Zac Lomax
Centre for Knights is number 3 Dane Gagai

Centre for Dragons is number 3 Mosese Suli
Centre for Knights is number 4 Bradman Best

Centre for Dragons is number 4 Jack Bird
Winger for Knights is number 5 Enari Tuala

Winger for Dragons is number 5 Mikaele Ravalawa
Five-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Jack Cogger

Five-Eighth for Dragons is number 6 Kyle Flanagan
Halfback for Knights is number 7 Jackson Hastings

Halfback for Dragons is number 7 Ben Hunt

Forwards

Prop for Knights is number 8 Jacob Saifiti

Prop for Dragons is number 8 Francis Molo
Hooker for Knights is number 9 Jayden Brailey

Hooker for Dragons is number 9 Jacob Liddle
Prop for Knights is number 10 Leo Thompson

Prop for Dragons is number 10 Jack De Belin
2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Kai Pearce-Paul

2nd Row for Dragons is number 11 Luciano Leilua
2nd Row for Knights is number 18 Dylan Lucas

2nd Row for Dragons is number 12 Jaydn Su'a
Lock for Knights is number 13 Adam Elliott

Lock for Dragons is number 15 Blake Lawrie

Interchange

Interchange for Knights is number 14 Phoenix Crossland

Interchange for Dragons is number 13 Tom Eisenhuth
Interchange for Knights is number 15 Daniel Saifiti

Interchange for Dragons is number 14 Jesse Marschke
Interchange for Knights is number 16 Jack Hetherington

Interchange for Dragons is number 16 Michael Molo
Interchange for Knights is number 17 Mat Croker

Interchange for Dragons is number 17 Raymond Faitala-Mariner

Reserves

Replacement for Knights is number 22 Thomas Cant

Replacement for Dragons is number 21 Toby Couchman

Match Officials

Referee: Belinda Sharpe
Touch Judge: Peter Gough
Touch Judge: Drew Oultram
Senior Review Official: Adam Gee

Last updated: 9/7/2024 12:25:48 PM

Dane Gagai makes his return to the run-on side with Dylan Lucas making way whilst Jayden Brailey starts at hooker with Phoenix Crossland coming off the interchange.

Newcastle has proven a happy hunting ground for the Dragons over the years with the Red V having nabbed 18 wins from 23 attempts at the venue since 1999.