Josh Mercer previews the Saturday afternoon clash between the Knights and the Roosters.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
Newcastle Knights Vs Sydney Roosters
Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
Date: Saturday, June 17, 3:00 pm
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Knights: 1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Dominic Young 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Enari Tuala 6. Tyson Gamble 7. Jackson Hastings 8. Daniel Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Leo Thompson 11. Dylan Lucas 12. Lachlan Fitzgibbon 13. Adam Elliott 14. Kurt Mann 15. Jacob Saifiti 16. Jack Hetherington 17. Mathew Croker 18. Jack Johns 19. Simi Sasagi 20. Brodie Jones 21. Lachlan Miller 22. Adam Clune
Roosters: 1. Joseph Manu 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Corey Allan 4. Billy Smith 5. Junior Pauga 6. Luke Keary 7. Sandon Smith 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Jake Turpin 10. Nat Butcher 11. Egan Butcher 12. Sitili Tupouniua 13. Naufahu Whyte 14. Drew Hutchison 15. Nathan Brown 16. Terrell May 17. Angus Crichton 18. Siua Wong 19. Zach Dockar-Clay 20. Jaxson Paulo 21. Tuipulotu Katoa 22. Elie El Zakhem
Referee: Grant Atkins
Embed from Getty ImagesMATCHDAY PREVIEW
A team that was most people’s picks as premiership favourites, the Roosters have underperformed this season. They didn’t put up much of a fight against a Nathan Cleary-less Panthers, who scored at will. Currently, they sit at 15th in completion rates for the season with 75% (only the Sharks and Eels are behind them with 74%).
Out of 15 matches, they have only won six and sit at 12th on the ladder. If they want to play finals football, they need to lift, and this is the game to start that off.
The Knights have had some good moments this season but have also lost games they should have won. They had the Broncos on the ropes but couldn’t come up with the knockout blow to win the game.
Since moving back to fullback, Kalyn Ponga seems to have discovered some form and had a blinder last week. If the Knights are to win here, he will have to be at his best. While it’s not a sure victory for them, neither James Tedesco nor Lindsay Collins playing works in favour of the Knights.
LAST TEN MATCHES
Roosters 8, Knights 2.
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Roosters by one point.
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