BRISBANE BRONCOS v NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Round 24, NRL Premiership 2014
Date: Saturday August 23
Kick off: 5.30pm
Broadcast: Fox Sports
Referees: Gavin Badger, Chris James
Last time they met:
The Newcastle Knights were defeated by the Brisbane Broncos 32-6 earlier this year in Round 7 at Hunter Stadium. The Knights were in the match with 20 minutes to play and down by two converted tries, before the Broncos sealed the win with three late tries.
Head-to-Head:
Newcastle and Brisbane have each other played 42 times. The Broncos have won 28 of these encounters, to the Knights' 13 and one draw.
Teams:
NEWCASTLE
1. Kurt Gidley (c), 2. Chanel Mata’utia, 3. Dane Gagai, 4. Joey Leilua, 5. Sione Mata’utia, 6. Jarrod Mullen, 7. Tyrone Roberts, 8. Kade Snowden, 9. Adam Clydsdale, 10. Willie Mason, 11. Beau Scott, 12. Robbie Rochow, 13. Jeremy Smith. Interchange: 14. Travis Waddell, 15. Korbin Sims, 17. Adam Cuthbertson, 18. David Fa’alogo, 19. Chris Houston.
BRISBANE
1. Lachlan Maranta, 2. Daniel Vidot, 3. Jack Reed, 4. Justin Hodges, 5. Dale Copley, 6. Ben Barba, 7. Ben Hunt, 8. Josh McGuire, 9. Andrew McCullough, 10. Corey Parker, 11. Alex Glenn, 12. Matt Gillett, 13. Sam Thaiday. Interchange: 14. Jarrod Wallace, 15. Martin Kennedy, 16. Ben Hannant, 17. Corey Oates.
Match Analysis:
Saturday’s match provides the Newcastle Knights another opportunity to challenge a finals-bound opposition, with a win putting Brisbane as high as seventh with two rounds to go pending other results.
The Knights are desperate to finish the season on a positive note while the Broncos need to win to keep their finals hopes alive.
While the Knights go into the match winning sixth of their last eight games and the Broncos winning two of their last eight, the Broncos will take confidence out of their superior record over the Novocastrians.
“With the calibre and experience of players such as Justin Hodges, Corey Parker and Sam Thaiday, you know you are taking on a Brisbane side that will perform at a high standard,” Anthony Quinn explains.
“We will also need to be wary of Ian McCullough around the ruck, who always makes the right decision of when to run the ball.”
Last time the two sides met Ben Barba was at fullback but the Knights will need to contain him in the halves on this occasion.
The Knights will again be intent on sticking to their game plan when they travel north this weekend.
“We need everyone to continue playing their role within the team, which we have been doing well over the last two months,” Quinn added.
“Tyrone (Roberts) and Jarrod (Mullen) will need to direct the team around the park and give the forwards direction so the outside backs can execute our structures.”
Last word:
“I really enjoy going up to Brisbane, for a player that hasn’t played Origin, you sort of use it as that bit of rivalry playing in NSW and going up there,” Adam Cuthbertson told the media this week.
