2021 NRL – Canberra Raiders vs Newcastle Knights Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
When is Canberra Raiders vs Newcastle Knights taking place? Saturday 8th May, 2021 – 06:00 (UK)
Where is Canberra Raiders vs Newcastle Knights taking place? McDonalds Park, Wagga Wagga
Where can I get tickets for Canberra Raiders vs Newcastle Knights? Click here for ticket information on 2021 NRL matches
What channel is Canberra Raiders vs Newcastle Knights on? Sky Sports Arena will be televising selected NRL games in the UK and you can find their schedule here. For Australian broadcasters, you can find a list here
Where can I stream Canberra Raiders vs Newcastle Knights? If televised on Sky Sports, then subscribers will be able to stream the match live via Sky Go. Alternatively, the match will be available to subscribers of Watch NRL
THE TEAM NEWS
CANBERRA RAIDERS
Starting 13: Aekins, Simonsson, Kris, Scott, Rapana, Wighton, G. Williams, Papalii, Starling, Guler, Harawira-Naera, Whitehead, Sutton – Interchanges: Havili, Young, Horsburgh, Tapine – Reserves: S. Williams, James, Timoko, Lui
Unavailable: Harley Smith-Shields (Injured), Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (Injured), Albert Hopoate (Injured), Semi Valemei (Injured), Josh Hodgson (Injured), Jarrod Croker (Injured)
- Canberra Raiders’ poor run of form continued as they suffered a fourth successive loss in the NRL with South Sydney Rabbitohs the latest side to get the better of them and if things do not improve soon, head coach Ricky Stuart is likely to come under increasing scrutiny.
- The Raiders were hampered by the loss of halfback George Williams in the warm-up and while they were still able to post 20 points, their defensive efforts once again came up short as they shipped 34 points, meaning they have conceded over 31 points per game on average in those four defeats.
NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Starting 13: Ponga, Musgrove, Tuala, Best, Hunt, Mann, Crossland, Klemmer, Brailey, D. Saifiti, Frizell, Barnett, Watson – Interchanges: Sue, J. Saifiti, Jones, Saulo – Reserves: Fitzgibbon, To’a, King, Hoy
Unavailable: Edrick Lee (Injured), Jirah Momoisea (Injured), Bailey Hodgson (Injured), Mitchell Pearce (Injured), Dom Young (Injured), Chris Randall (Injured), Blake Green (Injured)
- Newcastle Knights lost for the fifth time in six matches as they proved to be no match for Sydney Roosters last week and the pressure is beginning to ramp-up on head coach Adam O’Brien with his side lacking direction.
- The Knights folded under the pressure last week as they managed just a solitary try in response to the Roosters’ seven and if the Knights are to have any aspirations of finishing in the top eight, they will need to start competing in matches like this.
THE PREDICTION
Both Canberra Raiders and Newcastle Knights have struggled to begin this NRL season and the pressure is on the pair to come out on top of this clash. Defeat here is likely to put the losing coach under the spotlight but neither have shown much of late to suggest that they can prevail here. The pair have struggled defensively recently and with them generally being involved in high-scoring contests, this one should be no different with over 42.5 points likely.
