Newcastle back rower Asu Kepaoa is sent off during a NSW Cup game for an alleged homophobic slur, with the match review committee to review the incident on Monday.
Meanwhile, in the NRL, Dolphins halfback Isaiya Katoa is missing for the Dolphins’ showdown with the Tigers due to a knee injury, while Kulikefu Finefeuiaki is the only one of their five Origin players backing up.
Later, the Panthers are on the Gold Coast to face the Titans, before the Bulldogs take on Manly.
Follow all the action in our live blog below, check out all the stats in the full ScoreCentre, and tune in to our live radio coverage.
Sat 20 Jun 2026 at 3:32pm
Sat 20 Jun 2026 at 3:32pm
25′ Chaos ball and the Phins go close
The high kick goes up and once again Jack Bostock comes down with it cleanly.
He keeps his legs moving and is just ankle tapped by Taylan May, managing to throw a behind-the-back offload as he goes to ground. He misses his target but Kodi Nikorima arrives later and toes it ahead. He’s taken out by Api Koroisau (legally according to the officials) and it dribbles towards the dead-ball line, shepherded by Starford Toa.
Ray Stone arrives late and tries to bat it back into Toa, but he’s the last one to touch it as they go dead.
So, it’s a 20m tap to the Tigers.
Got all that?
Sat 20 Jun 2026 at 3:28pm
Sat 20 Jun 2026 at 3:28pm
23′ The Tigers are in but it’s called back for a forward pass!
My word, Jarome Luai goes within centimetres of scoring a try, but the play is called back for a forward pass from the Sione Fainu offload. I’ve got to say, if that’s forward, scratch off 60 per cent of the passes thrown in any attacking position.
To make matters worse, Jock Madden is hit after passing by Morgan Knowles in a head clash that leaves the Tigers halfback bloodied. No penalty AND Madden has to go off for an HIA.
Brutal for the Tigers.
Sat 20 Jun 2026 at 3:20pm
Sat 20 Jun 2026 at 3:20pm
Beautiful footy from the Dolphins to hit back
The Dolphins are missing two or three of their best attacking weapons, but still have plenty of strike and they show it off to send Herbie Farnworth over on the left.
Connelly Lemuelu runs a hard unders line as Brad Schneider throws the ball out the back to Kodi Nikorima. The Dolphins are up flat and it leaves Patrick Herbert and Sunia Turuva having to guess, and Nikorima hits Farnworth short to stroll over untouched.
Sat 20 Jun 2026 at 3:17pm
Sat 20 Jun 2026 at 3:17pm
14′ Shocking call from the referee
Jack Bostock is chasing a high cross-field kick and Jarome Luai weaves like thread on a loom to get in his way. Bostock runs into his back and bundles him over, and somehow it’s a penalty for the Tigers?
Sat 20 Jun 2026 at 3:15pm
Sat 20 Jun 2026 at 3:15pm
12′ Another error
The Dolphins have completed just 2/4 sets after Oryn Keeley drops the ball cold one off the ruck.
The middles look exhausted but they get a gift of a penalty after Trai Fuller catches Api Koroisau’s grubber, which richocheted off the upright.
Sat 20 Jun 2026 at 3:10pm
Sat 20 Jun 2026 at 3:10pm
The Tigers are in!
I thought Jarome Luai was done, down with a shoulder injury after an off-ball shot by Oryn Keeley, but he gets back into the line after the Tigers get a set restart ON THE LAST and rolls in the grubber for Sione Fainu to reach out and ground the ball.
Sat 20 Jun 2026 at 3:06pm
Sat 20 Jun 2026 at 3:06pm
4′ The Dolphins go close
The Dolphins skin the Tigers for numbers on the left, then go right to Jamayne Isaako, who hits them with a goosey and almost creates enough space, but just steps on the sideline as he tries an audacious putdown.
Sat 20 Jun 2026 at 3:04pm
Sat 20 Jun 2026 at 3:04pm
2′ Turuva lucky to dodge major blunder
The first kick of the afternoon for the Dolphins goes up relatively innocuously, but Sunia Turuva still makes a meal of it, overrunning it and bobbling it off his shoulder. He does a great job of regathering before it hits the ground.
The kick came from his old Penrith teammate Brad Schneider, who’s stepping in for Isaiya Katoa as the Dolphins’ halfback.
Sat 20 Jun 2026 at 3:02pm
Sat 20 Jun 2026 at 3:02pm
Kick-off in Campbelltown
The Tigers and Dolphins are off and running at Campbelltown Stadium, with the Tigers making it through their first set without any trouble.
Sat 20 Jun 2026 at 2:57pm
Sat 20 Jun 2026 at 2:57pm
Knights player sent off for homophobic slur
Newcastle back rower Asu Kepaoa was sent off during Friday night’s NSW Cup game for an alleged homophobic slur.
It occurred in the final minutes of the first half against the Dragons.
“The incident will be reviewed by the NSWRL match review committee on Monday,” a NSWRL spokesperson said.
Sat 20 Jun 2026 at 2:43pm
Sat 20 Jun 2026 at 2:43pm
About last night
Look away now, Dragons fans …
Sat 20 Jun 2026 at 2:38pm
Sat 20 Jun 2026 at 2:38pm
LATE MAIL: Izzy playing? No, ‘e isn’t.
(Supplied: NRL.com)
Big news for the Dolphins is the injury to halfback Isaiya Katoa, with the superstar ruled out at captain’s run yesterday.
In better news, Kulikefu Finefeuiaki is backing up after only playing a few minutes in Origin II on Wednesday night, although we’ll see how much (if at all) he plays off the bench. Max Plath, Tom Flegler, Selwyn Cobbo and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow aren’t backing up.
Sat 20 Jun 2026 at 2:31pm
Sat 20 Jun 2026 at 2:31pm
Welcome to NRL action
Hello and welcome to the 16th Saturday of the NRL season.
We’ve got a full slate of games for you, with the Tigers and Dolphins up first from 3pm.
After that, the Titans host the mighty Penrith Panthers, before the Bulldogs and Manly face off at Homebush.
Stick with us as we bring you every moment.