Newcastle Knights will host the Wests Tigers in Round 21 at McDonald Jones Stadium 6pm Friday.
TEAM FORM GUIDE
Newcastle Knights
The Knights blew an 18-6 lead last round against the struggling Cowboys, going down 20-18. Since Mitchell Pearce returned, their play has been more direct, and the Knights had won the previous two games before last weeks loss.
Wests Tigers
The Tigers were on track for a late season charge for a top 8 position with two successive brilliant wins against ladder leaders Dragons and then Rabbitohs. Last weeks loss brought the Tigers crashing back to earth with an uninspired effort against the lowly ranked Bulldogs 16-4.
SQUAD NEWS
Newcastle Knights
Connor Watson (groin injury) won’t play with Jack Cogger (No.20) named to start at five-eighth.ย Cory Denniss replaces Nathan Ross at centre, while JJ Felise makes his club debut on the bench, with Herman Ese’ese starting at prop and Jacob Lillyman dropping out. Newcastle young gun Kalyn Ponga will have to pass a final fitness test before being cleared.
Wests Tigers
Only change for the Tigers is Robbie Rochow comes into the team, on the bench for Chris McQueen. Benji Marshall will line up, after receiving some sad news during the week of the loss of his Grandfather. The Tigers would be hurting after their loss last week, with a lackluster showing with a top 8 spot still a chance.
PREVIEW
When these two teams met back in round 7, both teams were riding high on the NRL table, and were surprising the league with their exciting play. The Knights, got the win that night at Scully Park in Tamworth 22-20. It was in this game that Mitchell Pearce injured his pectoral, and was out until round 18.
As it stands in round 21, the Tigers are still a chance to sneak into the top 8 sitting in 9th position, while the Knights season is done sitting in 11th spot though only two points behind the Tigers. With Pearce back, and young sensations Kalyn Ponga, andย Lachlan Fitzgibbon they can continue building on this seasons success in planning for 2019. Shaun Kenny-Dowall will play hisย 250th match.
The Tigers were flat last week, their previous two games, required massive efforts, and may have sapped their energy. To beat the Knights they need to go back to the game plan that was successfulย for them against the Rabbitohs and Dragons, and dominate the Knights forward pack.
Farah and Marshall need to step up, as they did against the Rabbitohs in round 19 and guide the Tigers attack, while their defence needs to also step up to that level to shut down Pearce who is the key player for the Knights if they are to win.
KEY STAT
The Tigers beat the Knights at McDonalds Jones Stadium last year round 17 to move away from the dreaded wooden spoon, which the Knights picked up for the 3rd successive season.
SQUADS
Newcastle Knights
1 Kalyn Ponga, 2 Ken Sio, 3 Sione Mata’utia, 4 Cory Denniss, 5 Shaun Kenny-Dowall, 6 Connor Watson, 7 Mitchell Pearce (c), 8 Herman Ese’ese, 9 Danny Levi, 10 Daniel Saifiti, 11 Lachlan Fitzgibbon, 12 Mitch Barnett, 13 Aidan Guerra
Interchange:ย 14 Jamie Buhrer (c), 15 Chris Heighington, 16 Josh King, 17 JJ Felise
Wests Tigers
1 Moses Mbye, 2 David Nofoaluma, 3 Esan Marsters, 4 Kevin Naiqama, 5 Corey Thompson, 6 Benji Marshall, 7 Luke Brooks, 8 Russell Packer, 9 Robbie Farah, 10 Ben Matulino, 11 Michael Chee Kam, 12 Luke Garner, 13 Elijah Taylor (c)
Interchange:ย 14 Alex Twal, 15 Suaso Sue, 16 Robbie Rochow, 17 Matt Eisenhuth
THE IMPORTANT DETAILS
Date: Friday 3rd August
Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium
Kick-off: 6PM
Referee: Grant Atkins, Matt Noyen
WHO WILL WIN?
Wests Tigers would have learnt from their loss last week, and still have a slim chance to make the top 8.
Wests Tigers should win by 2
https://nothingbutleague.com/2018/08/01/nrl-predictions-round-21/
