Check out the match preview and prediction for the round 3 clash between the Newcastle Knights and the Melbourne Storm
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
Newcastle Knights Vs Melbourne Storm
Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
Date: Sunday, March 24, 6:15 pm
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Knights: 1. Kalyn Ponga, 2. Thomas Jenkins, 3. Dane Gagai, 4. Bradman Best, 5. Enari Tuala, 6. Tyson Gamble, 7. Jack Cogger, 8. Jacob Saifiti, 9. Phoenix Crossland, 10. Leo Thompson, 11. Tyson Frizell, 12 Kai Pearce-Paul, 13. Adam Elliott, 14. Jayden Brailey, 15. Daniel Saifiti, 16. Jack Hetherington, 17. Jed Cartwright, 18. Brodie Jones, 19. Will Pryce, 20. Mat Croker, 21. Dylan Lucas, 22. Jackson Hastings
Storm: 1. Ryan Papenhuyzen, 2. William Warbrick, 3. Reimis Smith, 4. Nick Meaney, 5. Xavier Coates, 6. Jonah Pezet, 7. Tyran Wishart, 8. Tui Kamikamica, 9. Harry Grant, 10. Josh King, 11. Joe Chan, 12. Eliesa Katoa, 13. Trent Loiero, 14. Kane Bradley, 15. Tepai Moeroa, 16. Chris Lewis, 17. Alec MacDonald, 18. Grant Anderson, 19. Aaron Pene, 20. Jack Howarth, 21. Sualauvi Faalogo, 22. Shawn Blore
Referee: Grant Atkins
Embed from Getty ImagesMATCHDAY PREVIEW
Knights coach Adam O’Brien has made a significant change to his starting side after the Knights threw away their game against the Cowboys last week. It hasn’t been the start to the season O’Brien would have been looking for after losing to the Raiders in round 2.
Jack Cogger comes into the starting side at halfback, with Jackson Hastings being relegated to the reserves. Cogger returned to the Knights after stints with the Bulldogs and the Panthers; he now gets to make the number seven jersey his own. Greg Marzhew is having surgery on a fractured scaphoid (wrist) and will be out for four to six weeks. Enari Tuala, returning from injury himself, has been named on the wing, while Jayden Brailey returns on the bench.
This is a very winnable game for the Knights due to who the Storm have out, as long as they can play 80 minutes this week.
The Storm were lucky to get away with a win last week, but the try Xavier Coates scored in the dying stages is one of the best scored by a winger. Unfortunately for the Storm, they will be without chief playmaker Jahrome Hughes. He will miss the game after taking a one-match suspension for his contact with referee Chris Butler. Christian Welch will also miss the game after not passing an HIA last week; Tepai Moeroa comes onto the bench.
Tyran Wishart will start at halfback, with Jonah Pezet in the number six jersey. Pezet has shown that he is a capable replacement for the injured Cameron Munster. Because of this inexperience, big names like Harry Grant and Ryan Papenhuyzen must stand up. Speaking of Papenhuyzen, it was great to see him in good form and scoring tries last week.
Even without Hughes, the Storm can still win this game, and coach Craig Bellamy will have a plan in place for his team to win with stars such as Munster and Hughes.
Head-to-head stats can be found at Round 3 Number Crunch.
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Storm by 8 points.
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