A preliminary final spot is on the line when the Newcastle Knights host the Gold Coast Titans in the first NRLW semi-final.
The Knights won back-to-back matches to surge into third on the ladder and book a home game in the opening week of the finals.
Halfback Jesse Southwell has orchestrated the team's attack all season and led the side past a gritty Dragons squad last weekend.
The Titans also needed a clutch performance from their halfback last week to book a finals berth, with Lauren Brown kicking a golden-point field goal to lift her side past the Raiders and into the top six.
The playmaker knows plenty about delivering in the big moments at McDonald Jones Stadium after she kicked the game-winning field goal in Game Two of the 2024 State of Origin series.
Southwell was the difference when the Knights defeated the Titans in Round 10, the halfback scoring the match-winning try in the 69th minute to break a 22-22 deadlock.
Match: Knights v Titans
Finals Week 1 -
home Team
Knights
3rd Position
away Team
Titans
6th Position
Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
Team News
Knights: Mixed news for the Knights as they prepare to host Gold Coast on Saturday afternoon. Star fullback Bo Vette-Welsh will return to the side, with Lilly-Ann White shifting to the reserves as a result. Winger Mercedez Taulelei-Siala and prop Simone Karpani have both been ruled out after suffering head knocks last week. Keighley Simpson will start on the wing after last week's shock debut, with Tiana Davison starting at prop in place of Karpani. Tayla Predebon has been named in the front row despite picking up a calf injury last Sunday.
Titans: Georgia Grey will line up in the centres for the first time since Round 2 as she makes her return from a concussion suffered in Round 10, having spent eight games on the wing. Grey replaces Estanoa Faitala-Mariner, who has been listed as 18th player. Lily-Rose Kolc has been named at hooker but could again swap with No.14 Brittany Breayley-Nati on gameday, as was the case last week. Jasmine Solia has been selected in the second-row after being cleared of a serious shoulder injury.
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Knights is number 1 Botille Vette-WelshFullback for Titans is number 1 Lailani Montgomery
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Winger for Knights is number 2 Sheridan GallagherWinger for Titans is number 2 Phoenix-Raine Hippi
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Centre for Knights is number 3 Shanice ParkerCentre for Titans is number 3 Georgia Grey
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Centre for Knights is number 4 Tenika WillisonCentre for Titans is number 4 Ivana Lolesio
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Winger for Knights is number 5 Keighley SimpsonWinger for Titans is number 5 Destiny Mino-Sinapati
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Five-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Georgia RocheFive-Eighth for Titans is number 6 Taliah Fuimaono
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Halfback for Knights is number 7 Jesse SouthwellHalfback for Titans is number 7 Lauren Brown
Forwards
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Prop for Knights is number 8 Tayla PredebonProp for Titans is number 8 Sienna Lofipo
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Hooker for Knights is number 9 Olivia HigginsHooker for Titans is number 9 Lily-Rose Kolc
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Prop for Knights is number 10 Tiana DavisonProp for Titans is number 10 Jessika Elliston
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2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Fane Finau2nd Row for Titans is number 11 Jasmine Solia
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2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Yasmin Clydsdale2nd Row for Titans is number 12 Shaylee Bent
-
Lock for Knights is number 13 Kayla RomaniukLock for Titans is number 13 Georgia Hale
Interchange
-
Interchange for Knights is number 14 Jules KirkpatrickInterchange for Titans is number 14 Brittany Breayley-Nati
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Interchange for Knights is number 15 Viena TinaoInterchange for Titans is number 15 Laikha Clarke
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Interchange for Knights is number 16 Sienna YeoInterchange for Titans is number 16 Natasha Penitani
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Interchange for Knights is number 17 Grace GiampinoInterchange for Titans is number 17 Takoda Thompson
Reserves
-
Replacement for Knights is number 18 Joeli MorrisReplacement for Titans is number 18 Estanoa Faitala-Mariner
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Reserve for Knights is number 19 Evah McEwenReserve for Titans is number 19 Megan Pakulis
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Reserve for Knights is number 20 Lilly-Ann WhiteReserve for Titans is number 20 Dannii Perese
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Reserve for Knights is number 21 Leah OllertonReserve for Titans is number 21 Ngatokotoru Arakua
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Reserve for Knights is number 22 Grace KukutaiReserve for Titans is number 22 Sarina Masaga
Knights Ins
- Botille Vette-Welsh
- Grace Kukutai
- Joeli Morris
- Leah Ollerton
- Tayla Predebon
- Viena Tinao
Titans Ins
- Dannii Perese
- Georgia Grey
- Megan Pakulis
- Ngatokotoru Arakua
- Sarina Masaga
Knights Outs
- Mercedez Taulelei-Siala
- Simone Karpani
Titans Ins
- Jasmin Morrissey
Match Officials
- Referee: Belinda Sharpe
- Senior Review Official: Liam Kennedy
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- The Knights have won their last five games against the Titans.
- Titans captain Georgia Hale will make her 50th NRLW appearance.
- Knights winger Sheridan Gallagher has scored five tries in her last three games against the Titans.
- Titans centre Georgia Grey has scored four tries in her last three games.
- The Knights have won five of their six games at McDonald Jones Stadium this season.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the
