NRL 2025 LIVE: Dragons host Knights to kick off round 13 We’re sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. We’re working to restore it. Please try again later. DismissSkip to sections navigationSkip to contentSkip to footer Our network Open NavigationMenu Brisbane Times Brisbane Times Search Site Show subsections Federal election 2025 Western Australia Show subsections Bulls N' Bears The economy Banking & finance Small business Show subsections North America Middle East South America Show subsections Western Australia Show subsections Show subsections Rugby union Show subsections Tips & advice Show subsections Art & design Live reviews Show subsections Health & wellness Life & relationships Show subsections Destination guides Inspiration Reviews & advice Travel news Good Weekend Sunday Life Show subsections Super & retirement Planning & budgeting Environment Show subsections Conservation Climate change Sustainability Show subsections Video games The Sydney Morning Herald Brisbane Times The Australian Financial Review Commercial Real Estate Advertisement NRL 2025 LIVE: Dragons host Knights to kick off round 13 By Dominic Brock Updated May 30, 2025 — 7.47pmfirst published at 7.22pm Log in, register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size 7.21pmPonga out: The Dragons v Knights team lists 7.21pmWelcome Hide key posts Go to latest Pinned post from 7.37pm Your say – St George Illawarra or Newcastle? Latest posts Latest posts O’Brien explains Ponga’s absence Kalyn Ponga is a big out tonight for Newcastle, ruled out by Knights coach Adam O’Brien after the fullback played for Queensland in Wednesday night’s Origin opener. He’s carrying an ankle problem he picked up a few weeks ago against Parramatta. Knights captain Kalyn Ponga.Credit: Getty Images “Ultimately I took the decision out of his hands, so I’m not the most popular person,” O’Brien told Fox Sports. “He’s done everything he can, it’s just two days after a [Origin and] a really interrupted week – it took him 10 days last week to get ready for Origin. “And we’ve got a Thursday game after this so it’s unrealistic to play all three. So he’s disappointed but it’s my job to protect him from himself, given the position he plays and the amount of kilometres he does at fullback, it’s unrealistic.” Last time they played: How Newcastle downed the Panthers Last time they played: How the Dragons beat the Broncos Advertisement Your say – St George Illawarra or Newcastle? Origin I the most watched show of 2025 By Adrian Proszenko The opening State of Origin match was the most watched TV program of the year after an 11.2 per cent spike in viewership from the corresponding match last year. A national average audience of 3.755 million tuned in to watch NSW take a 1-0 lead in the series – a figure 38 per cent more than the next most-watched program of 2025, ABC’s election coverage. The Blues’ 18-6 victory was the highest-rating interstate clash since 2016 after it secured a national total television reach of 5.449 million. The game broke streaming records for Nine Now, attracting 963,000 viewers, beating the previous record by 11 per cent. That makes it the second-highest rating BVOD (Broadcast Video on Demand) program of all time after a 26.7 per cent rise on last year’s Origin series opener. Ponga out: The Dragons v Knights team lists Former Australian Sevens star Nathan Lawson will make his NRL debut on the wing for the Dragons. Toby Couchman and Blake Lawrie replace Jack de Belin and Luciano Leilua in the starting pack. Valentine Holmes will back up from Origin I. 1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Tyrell Sloan 3. Moses Suli 4. Valentine Holmes 21. Nathan Lawson 6. Lyhkan King-Togia 7. Kyle Flanagan 17. Blake Lawrie 9. Damien Cook 10. David Klemmer 15. Toby Couchman 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Hamish Stewart. Bench: 8. Jack de Belin 11. Luciano Leilua 14. Jacob Liddle 16. Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga Kalyn Ponga is a late out for Newcastle after playing in State of Origin on Wednesday night. Fletcher Sharpe moves to fullback with Jack Cogger joining Tyson Gamble in the halves. 6. Fletcher Sharpe 2. James Schiller 3. Dane Gagai 4. Kyle McCarthy 5. Fletcher Hunt 18. Jack Cogger 7. Tyson Gamble 8. Tyson Frizell 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Leo Thompson 11. Dylan Lucas 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Mathew Croker. Bench: 14. Jayden Brailey 15. Jack Hetherington 16. Brodie Jones 17. Thomas Cant Advertisement Hello and welcome to our coverage of Friday night footy, with St George Illawarra taking on the Knights at Jubilee Stadium. We’ve already had two doses of State of Origin this week, with the NSW men getting the job done in Brisbane on Wednesday before the Queensland women prevailed in Newcastle on Thursday, and now round 13 of the NRL season kicks off with an intriguing battle of two last-start winners. Shane Flanagan’s Dragons had made an impressive start to the season before a three-game losing streak against the Roosters, Tigers and Warriors, but bounced back to stun the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium ahead of last week’s bye. Newcastle meanwhile had lost seven of their past eight games before last week’s win over Penrith in Bathurst. Which of these bottom-eight sides will put together back-to-back wins and get their campaign back on track? The Dragons celebrate during their win against the Brisbane Broncos.Credit: NRL Photos Most Viewed in Sport Advertisement Back to top Brisbane Times Brisbane Times The Sydney Morning Herald The Australian Financial Review Classifieds Commercial Real Estate Brisbane Times Contact & support Advertise with us Newsletters Accessibility guide Photo sales Content licensing Work with us Terms of use Privacy policy Press Council Charter of Editorial Independence AI Editorial Guidelines Products & Services Subscription packages Subscriber FAQs Copyright © 2025