Sunday’s NRL 2018 Round 12 match is between Newcastle Knights and Cronulla Sharks. The opening kick is set to commence at 14:00 local time with the game to be played at McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle. The away team Cronulla Sharks are the favourites for the match. View our preview and teams for the game between Newcastle Knights and Cronulla Sharks.

When: 14:00 | Sunday 27/05/2018

Where: McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle

Preview:

Odds:

OFFER: Deposit $50 BET with $200 via this link – Ends Soon!

Tip: Cronulla Sharks at $1.56

Value Tip: First Try Scorer: Edrick Lee at $11.00

More Info:

Teams:

Newcastle Knights:

1 Kalyn Ponga, 2 Ken Sio, 3 Sione Mata’utia, 4 Nathan Ross, 5 Shaun Kenny-Dowall, 6 Connor Watson, 7 Jack Cogger, 8 Herman Ese’ese, 9 Slade Griffin, 10 Daniel Saifiti, 11 Lachlan Fitzgibbon, 12 Mitchell Barnett, 13 Aidan Guerra (c)

Interchange: 14 Danny Levi, 15 Chris Heighington, 16 Jamie Buhrer (c), 17 Josh King,

Reserves: 18 Jacob Lillyman, 19 Luke Yates, 20 Cory Denniss, 21 Brent Naden.

Cronulla Sharks:

1 Josh Dugan, 2 Edrick Lee, 3 Jesse Ramien, 4 Ricky Leutele, 5 Valentine Holmes, 6 Matt Moylan, 7 Chad Townsend, 8 Andrew Fifita, 9 Jayden Brailey, 10 Matt Prior, 11 Luke Lewis, 12 Wade Graham, 13 Paul Gallen (c)

Interchange: 14 Joseph Paulo, 15 James Segeyaro, 16 Ava Seumanufagai, 17 Jayson Bukuya, 18 Kurt Capewell

Reserves: 19 Jack Williams, 20 Sosaiai Feki, 21 Braden Uele.

NRL News:

Cronulla captain Paul Gallen is a near-certainty to return against Canterbury as the resurgent Sharks eye a fifth-straight NRL win.

After a month on the sidelines with a grade-two medial ligament tear, Gallen trained well on Thursday night, and coach Shane Flanagan revealed his veteran warhorse “is on track” for Saturday’s home clash.

In another boost, Josh Dugan is a chance to slot back into fullback provided his troublesome foot pulls up well on Friday, while Jayson Bukuya returns from illness to re-take his place in the back row.

But Flanagan said Luke Lewis (calf) and Wade Graham (hamstring) will have to wait another week.

“Luke Lewis is very close, Wade Graham is probably next week as well,” he said.

“Duges trained well yesterday as well so he’s a chance to play, we just need to see how we pulls up today. Those decisions will be made on Saturday.

“Jayson is over his illness which is pleasing. It knocked him around a fair bit – he was in hospital for probably 10 or 12 days. He’s starting to put on a little bit of weight.”

Should Dugan return ahead of schedule it would come at the expense of rookie Valentine Holmes, who’s stepped in while the NSW star mended his broken foot and led the way in last weekend’s courageous defeat of Canberra.

“Val did a really good job there the last couple of weeks … he’s slowly learning his trade,” Flanagan said.

“It hasn’t happened probably as quick as we thought it would, but if he keeps playing the way he did on the weekend it’s going to be hard not to put him at fullback.

“But if Duges does play Duges will go back to fullback.”

Andrew Fifita-inspired Cronulla have got their groove back this past month and are building momentum despite the key injuries.

The Sharks have played it safe with Gallen, unwilling to risk bringing the competition’s oldest player back prematurely.

But barring a setback in the next 24 hours, the 36-year-old will join the Sharks’ forward pack at Southern Cross Group Stadium.

“It’s funny with Gal, the older he’s got the more cautious he is,” Flanagan said.

“When he was younger he’d just rip and tear and get back out there, but he trained well last night and I think he’ll be fine.”