Knights face crippling forward pack shortage as injuries strike

The Knights could be missing four of last week’s forward pack.

EDITOR | March 20, 2025 - 10:28am

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The Newcastle Knights are set to lose two forwards to injury for this weekend's clash with the Gold Coast Titans.

Already set to be without the suspended Kai Pearce-Paul, the Knights will also now head into the game without both Jacob Saifiti and Dylan Lucas.

Reports floated on Wednesday and later confirmed by the Newcastle Herald suggest Lucas has suffered a hamstring injury at training.

There is no news from the club on the severity of the blow at this stage, but even minor hamstring injuries generally keep players out for a fortnight.

The Knights are also expected to be without prop Jacob Saifiti for the contest with Wide World of Sports' The Mole revealing he will miss the game, although it's unclear what injury he has suffered at this stage.

The Knights had already shuffled their side around with the suspension for Kai Pearce-Paul and injury to Leo Thompson, shuffling Tyson Frizell from his new position at lock back to the second-row, while bringing Adam Elliott into the side. Brodie Jones was parachuted straight in at prop, while Thomas Cant was named as the new man on the bench for this week's game when teams were named on Tuesday.

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The new pair of injuries will likely see the Knights use both of their reserve forwards during the game, with Tyrone Thompson and Jermaine McEwen to come into the side. The other three reserves are winger Kyle McCarthy, spine utility Will Pryce and hooker Matt Arthur, who is behind both Phoenix Crossland and Jayden Brailey.

Mat Croker (prop) and Jack Hetherington (second-row) would be the most likely current players off the bench to come into the starting side for Adam O'Brien's side as they take on the Titans, who fell well short in their season-opener against the Canterbury Bulldogs during Round 2.

The Knights have been in fine form to start 2025, taking wins over the Wests Tigers and Dolphins to get their campaign underway.