Friday’s NRL 2018 Round 10 match is between Newcastle Knights and Penrith Panthers. The opening kick is set to commence at 18:00 local time with the game to be played at McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle. The home team Newcastle Knights are the favourites for the match. View our preview and teams for the game between Newcastle Knights and Penrith Panthers.
When: 18:00 | Friday 11/05/2018
Where: McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
Preview:
I agree with Jonathan Thurston that Kalyn Ponga should be in the number 18 jersey for Queensland rather than in the top 17.
With three games in a series, he’s up to his eyeballs for selection.
At this stage, I feel the backline picks itself which is why I’m saying 18th man.
No doubt he’ll be there real soon.
Have the injury-ravaged Panthers got enough fire power to come over the top of the Knights?
The Panthers must have run over a black cat or walked under a ladder with the luck they’re having.
Losing Trent Merrin last week in the warm-up was a big loss and they’ll be without him for up to eight weeks.
He provides so much go forward and work rate in the middle along with a handy offload.
They have been gallant since the injury toll but at some stage it does catch up with you.
I love watching the Knights play at the moment and the passion they have.
Put them in front of their home fans on a Friday night and I think they will again rise to the occasion and provide an upset.
KEY BATTLE: James Fisher-Harris v Mitch Barnett
My matchup for this one will be between the aggressive young lock forwards, James Fisher-Harris and Mitch Barnett.
Look for these two to get real personal with each other.
The Verdict
Ponga will again be the star of the show in a close victory.
Unibet Odds:
Newcastle at $2.25
Penrith at $1.65
Odds:
OFFER: Deposit $50 BET with $200 via this link – Ends Soon!
Tip: Newcastle Knights at $2.25
Value Tip: First Try Scorer: Ken Sio at $14.00
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 Brock Lamb, 8 Herman Ese’ese, 9 Slade Griffin, 10 Josh King, 11 Lachlan Fitzgibbon, 12 Mitchell Barnett, 13 Aidan Guerra (c)
Interchange: 14 Danny Levi, 15 Chris Heighington, 16 Luke Yates, 17 Daniel Saifiti
Reserves: 18 Jamie Buhrer (c), 19 Jacob Saifiti, 20 Jack Cogger, 21 Cory Denniss.
Penrith Panthers: 
1 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 2 Christian Crichton, 3 Isaah Yeo, 4 Dean Whare, 5 Tyrone Phillips, 6 Tyrone Peachey, 7 James Maloney, 8 Trent Merrin, 9 Peter Wallace (c), 10 Reagan Campbell-Gillard, 11 Viliame Kikau, 12 Corey Harawira-Naera, 13 James Fisher-Harris
Interchange: 14 Sione Katoa, 15 Kaide Ellis, 16 James Tamou, 17 Jarome Luai
Reserves: 18 Wayde Egan, 19 Nick Lui-Toso, 20 Thomas Eisenhuth, 21 Tyrone May.
NRL News:
Newcastle coach Nathan Brown has recalled playmaker Brock Lamb as part of four changes for Friday’s NRL clash against Penrith.
Josh King, Luke Yates and Danny Levi have all been included in the 17, with Jack Cogger, Jacob Lillyman, Jacob Saifiti and co-captain Jamie Buhrer dropped or on the extended bench.
Brown admitted Cogger was unlucky to be axed after impressing over three matches, but was swayed by Lamb’s stronger boot in both general play and kicking goals.
First-choice goalkicker Kalyn Ponga has missed eight of his past 10 attempts on goal, while Ken Sio has nailed four of his seven looks for the season.
Brown said the Knights had missed the kicking of marquee signing Mitchell Pearce and is keen to see how Lamb combines alongside five-eighth Connor Watson.
“Without Mitchell, we’ve suffered with our kicking game. Brock kicks the ball very well. Connor since he’s been back, his form’s been really good,” Brown told reporters on Tuesday.
“Jack’s probably a touch unlucky, truth be told… but the need to kick the ball well and Brock’s a goalkicker as well, which we haven’t been doing so well.
“He’s got some strings to his bow which can certainly help us improve.”
Brown also said the likes of King, Yates and Levi deserved their shot against a big Penrith back after showing strong form in reserve grade.
“We’ve had a few blokes been knocking on the door for a while,” Brown said.
“Yatesy obviously played last two wins we had and wasn’t in on the weekend. Kingy’s been 18th man for whatever number of weeks now. His form in reserve grade’s been very good.
“So those guys have just been rewarded for the form that they’re showing in the lower grades. And obviously we had a performance which we probably weren’t as happy as we’d like to be.”
