Knights coach Justin Holbrook has explained why he snubbed a Roosters recruit in the halves, instead naming his marquee signing out of position.
Meanwhile, the Bulldogs are sweating on the availability of a pair of flyers.
Read below for all the latest team news in our Early Mail!
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Newcastle Knights vs North Queensland Cowboys at Allegiant Stadium, 1:15pm AEDT
Knights team: 1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Dominic Young 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Fletcher Sharpe 7. Dylan Brown 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Trey Mooney 11. Dylan Lucas 12. Jermaine McEwen 13. Tyson Frizell 14. Sandon Smith 15. Mathew Croker 16. Thomas Cant 17. Pasami Saulo 18. Fletcher Hunt 19. Francis Manuleleua 20. Tyson Gamble 21. Cody Hopwood 22. James Schiller
Players cut:
Early Mail: Knights coach Justin Holbrook has revealed he believes Dylan Brown wearing the No.7 “won’t change the way he plays”. The club’s marquee recruit has started 10 games at halfback in his NRL career, the most recent being Round 12 of the 2024 season. Brown has come away with a win twice in his halfback appearances, with one of those coming against the Panthers in Round 26 of the 2023 season, when a host of players were rested. Regardless, Holbrook is backing a dynamic combination that will see Brown partner Fletcher Sharpe to steer his side to a win in Las Vegas. “Sandon is going to play a heap of halves for us during the year but for round one he’ll come off the bench. We’re going to start with Dylan and Sharpey. I think they’re really dangerous threats and that’s the best make-up for our side for round one,” Holbrook said to the Knights website. “It (wearing the seven) doesn’t change where Dylan plays. Obviously where he’s come from at Parramatta he’s always had a dominant halves partner so he hasn’t had to play that role, but he’s totally comfortable organising the side… from a playing point of view it won’t change the way he plays. We’ll have some unpredictability with him, Sharpey and Kalyn all teaming up at different stages. Style of play won’t change for Dylan.” “He (Sharpe) reminds me a lot of Kurt Gidley. He can play anywhere. For round one I think it’s best for our team he’s in the halves. If he moves around during the year I think that’s a luxury… and that’s why we’ve trained him in different positions in the pre-season.” Elsewhere, Trey Mooney has been named to start in the front row after he was widely tipped to come off the bench.
Cowboys team: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Braidon Burns 3. Jaxon Purdue 4. Tomas Chester 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Jake Clifford 7. Tom Dearden 8. Coen Hess 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Jason Taumalolo 11. Heilum Luki 12. Sam McIntyre 13. Reuben Cotter 14. Soni Luke 15. Thomas Mikaele 16. Harrison Edwards 17. Kai O’Donnell 18. Griffin Neame 19. John Bateman 20. Liam Sutton 21. Matthew Lodge 22. Robert Derby
Players cut:
Early Mail: Heilum Luki will play his first game since the 2024 finals series, having suffered a torn ACL during the 2025 pre-season. Another player who hasn’t featured for an extended period due to injuries, Tom Chester, has also been named in the centres. His path to a starting spot was opened up after Zac Laybutt was handed a two-game ban, having last played in the NRL in Round 17 of the 2024 season. Elsewhere, Panthers recruit Soni Luke could share hooking duties with fellow signing Reed Mahoney.
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‘At home watching movies’ | 04:25
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs vs St George Illawarra Dragons at Allegiant Stadium, 3:30pm AEDT
Bulldogs team: 1. Connor Tracey 2. Jacob Kiraz 3. Bronson Xerri 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Matt Burton 7. Lachlan Galvin 8. Max King 9. Bailey Hayward 10. Samuel Hughes 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Jacob Preston 13. Jaeman Salmon 14. Kurt Mann 15. Sitili Tupouniua 16. Harry Hayes 17. Josh Curran 19. Sean O’Sullivan 20. Jake Turpin 21. Enari Tuala 22. Jonathan Sua 23. Alekolasimi Jones
Players cut:
Early Mail: Originally labelled doubtful for Vegas, wingers Jacob Kiraz and Marcelo Montoya are still racing the clock to be fit. In a big boost, both players took part in the Dogs’ training session at the Raiders’ NFL headquarters, despite missing out in the club’s trial matches. They have been named to start, and it is understood that they are no certainty and could be replaced by Enari Tuala and Jonathan Sua. Meanwhile, Matt Burton (hamstring) has been tracking well and will play in Round 1, despite an almighty injury scare. In the absence of Leo Thompson, Sam Hughes will take his place in the front row.
Dragons team: 1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Christian Tuipulotu 3. Moses Suli 4. Valentine Holmes 5. Setu Tu 6. Kyle Flanagan 7. Daniel Atkinson 8. Emre Guler 9. Damien Cook 10. Toby Couchman 11. Luciano Leilua 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Hamish Stewart 14. Hame Sele 15. Josh Kerr 16. Blake Lawrie 17. Ryan Couchman 18. Lyhkan King-Togia 19. David Fale 20. Jacob Halangahu 21. Mathew Feagai 22. Tyrell Sloan
Players cut:
Early Mail: Announcing their team on Tuesday, the only player under an injury cloud was centre Valentine Holmes. While Holmes will start on Sunday, he has transitioned to the other side of the field and will line-up against Stephen Crichton on the right. The former Cowboy spent the entire 2025 season on the left edge, the side occupied by Christian Tuipulotu on the wing. Therefore, Holmes could forge a partnership with Warriors recruit Setu Tu on the right side of the field.
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