Hunter Stadium is the venue where Canterbury Bulldogs will be hoping to keep their top four chances alive as they take on former half Trent Hodkinson for the first time since he left the club at the end of last year.
LAST TIME OUT
Newcastle traveled to Brookvale Oval to take on the improvers from the bottom eight in Manly Sea Eagles. It was a horrible start for the Knights who continued on from their second half capitulation at Southern Cross Group Stadium a week earlier to be behind 14-0 after eighteen minutes and 36-0 after fifty minutes. Manly dropped in intensity for the final thirty minutes which gave Newcastle a chance to restore some respectability into the scoreboard. The highlight was Brendan Elliot’s spectacular dive in the corner which ended proceedings, Manly running out winners 36-16.
Canterbury hosted a desperate St George-Illawarra Dragons at ANZ Stadium. Dragons fans again frustrated by lack of attacking options thrown at a solid Bulldogs defence. At half time thanks to tries by Sam Kasiano and Josh Reynolds, the Dogs lead 13-0. That would be the end of their scoring fore the night as the Dragons put up a good fight with tries through Kurt Mann and Euan Aitken on the hour. Canterbury holding on for a narrow victory. It was Josh Reynold’s trip on Joel Thompson and Tyson Frizell’s touching of the ref that drew debate post-match. Both were charged and took the early guilty plea, however Frizell was the only one to serve a ban.
KEY BATTLES
The halves battle will provides the most interest in this game. Hodkinson and the return of Jarrod Mullen facing up against Josh Reynolds and Moses Mbye. Hodkinson’s kicking game is so important for the Knights as they try to make the Bulldogs work it out from their line. It’s something that Reynolds and Mbye haven’t quite been able to craft. But what the Bulldogs pairing have in general over the Knights is a big forward pack who create the go-forward to give the outside backs opportunities in attack.
If Newcastle are to avoid a club-record fourteenth straight loss, it’s their forward pack that must respond. Leadership from Jeremy Smith is needed and Korbin Sims needs to step up. But Pauli Pauli is the player who’s on the improve and his battle with Josh Jackson will be a good guide as to where in his career the Knight is in relation to the NSW rep.
PREDICTION
The margin this week depends on what Bulldogs side turns up. If like last week their standards fall to the same level of their competitors, Newcastle will have a chance of an upset. Given they pushed Melbourne Storm all the way three weeks ago at Hunter Stadium, that’s the most likely outcome.
Bulldogs by 8.
SQUADS
Knights: 1 Jake Mamo 2 Nathan Ross 3 Dane Gagai 4 Peter Mata’utia 5 Brendan Elliott 6 Jarrod Mullen 7 Trent Hodkinson 8 Sam Mataora 9 Danny Levi 10 Daniel Saifiti 11 Korbin Sims 12 Pauli Pauli 13 Jeremy Smith. Interchange: 14 Chris Adams 15 Pat Mata’utia 16 Jacob Saifiti 17 Mickey Paea 18 David Bhana
Bulldogs: 1 William Hopoate 2 Brett Morris 3 Josh Morris 4 Curtis Rona 5 Sam Perrett 6 Josh Reynolds 7 Moses Mbye 8 Aiden Tolman 9 Michael Lichaa 10 James Graham 11 Joshua Jackson 12 Raymond Faitala 13 David Klemmer. Interchange: 14 Sam Kasiano 15 Danny Fualalo 16 Tony Williams 17 Tim Browne
