NRL teams: Canberra Raiders recall Bailey Simonsson to winning side for Knights clash

A virtual Viking clap will be played before kick-off, there will a Canberra ground announcer and Raiders senior staff members will act as ball boys and goal-post padding will be trucked up the Hume Highway for the first "home game" of the coronavirus relaunch.

The Raiders have made just one change to their winning line-up, with Bailey Simonsson recalled to the wing after a leg infection forced him to miss the clash against the Melbourne Storm last week.

John Bateman's comeback is on hold despite hopes his shoulder would be right to go, but the Englishman has still been in the news after being linked to a $3.5 million deal to return to the UK Super League.

A return to England would allow Bateman to be closer to daughter, Millie, who has been unable to visit Canberra since the coronavirus shutdown.

The hard-working forward's Raiders contract doesn't expire until the end of 2021, but the Raiders granted him permission to field offers to test his market value.

Going to the UK Super League would be easier to swallow for Raiders fans than seeing him suit up for a cashed-up NRL rival. But the whole contract process, which first surfaced during the finals run last year, has so far been geared towards maximising Bateman's earnings with the biggest deal.

Bateman's uncertain future hasn't been a distraction for the Raiders so far, brushing aside talk about his contract situation to start the season with three wins from three games.

Beating the Newcastle Knights in western Sydney would lift the Raiders to four wins to start a season for just the fourth time in the club's history.

Simonsson's return means Jordan Rapana moves back to the interchange and Michael Oldfield drops to the extended bench.

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Coach Ricky Stuart has shown faith in the side that has performed well in the opening rounds, making minimal changes despite the two-month gap between games.

The Knights have recalled Kalyn Ponga after the star fullback served his suspension, while Mitchell Pearce has also been named despite being knocked out last weekend.

The Knights will also inject hooker Andrew McCullough, who joined Newcastle two weeks ago after leaving Brisbane.

The Raiders will play home games in Sydney until at least round 10 after the NRL deemed Canberra was not a suitable venue for coronavirus protocols.

It means the Raiders will travel more than any other team this season, although the New Zealand Warriors have uprooted from their Auckland base to settle in Gosford for the time being.

Fans have sent in Viking clap videos to be played before kick-off and the Raiders will fly to Sydney on the morning of the game to give them the best preparation possible before catching a bus home.

"[The travel] is something we just have to get on with," said Elliott Whitehead. "It's not the best scenario for us, but it's something we're not going to moan around.

"We've just got to get on with it and have to make that place a home away from home. We enjoy travelling with each other, so we'll have a lot of that over the next few weeks and if anything we'll use it to our advantage.

"Even if they get some of the members to get [do the Viking clap] to get it on the big screen would be good. Just to have that there to have the fans engaged as well."

NRL ROUND FOUR

Sunday: Canberra Raiders v Newcastle Knights at Campbelltown, 4.05pm.

Raiders team: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Bailey Simonsson, 3. Jarrod Croker, 4. Curtis Scott, 5. Nick Cotric, 6. Jack Wighton, 7. George Williams, 8. Josh Papalii, 9. Josh Hodgson, 10. Dunamis Lui, 11. Joe Tapine, 12. Elliott Whitehead, 13. Corey Horsburgh. Interchange from: 14. Siliva Havili, 15. Emre Guler, 16. Sia Soliola, 17. Jordan Rapana, 18. Tom Starling, 19. Matt Frawley, 20. Kai O'Donnell, 21. Michael Oldfield.

Knights team: 1. Kalyn Ponga, 2. Edrick Lee, 3. Enari Tuala, 4. Bradman Best, 5. Hymel Hunt, 6. Kurt Mann, 7. Mitchell Pearce, 8. David Klemmer, 9. Andrew McCullough, 10. Daniel Saifiti, 11. Aidan Guerra, 12. Sione Mata'utia, 13. Herman Ese'ese. Interchange from: 14. Tex Hoy, 15. Jacob Saifiti, 16. Tim Glasby, 17. Brodie James, 18. Gehamat Shibasaki, 19. Chris Randall, 20. Mason Lino, 21. Pasami Saulo.