NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS v BRISBANE BRONCOS
Round 11, 2015 Holden Cup
Date: Monday May 25, 4.45pm
Venue: Hunter Stadium
Last time they met:
The last time the two side’s met was in Round 24 of the 2014 season when the Broncos defeated the Knights 36-16 at Suncorp Stadium.
Teams:
KNIGHTS
1. Dylan Phythian, 2. Fuaimamao Uta, 3. Josh Birch, 4. Braden Robson, 5. Ken Tofilau, 6. Brock Lamb, 7. Jack Cogger, 8. Jacob Saifiti, 9. Danny Levi, 10. Daniel Saifiti, 11. Bradie Smith, 12. Luke Yates, 13. Faitotoa Faitotoa. Interchange: 14. Jake McNamara, 15. Ben Stone, 16. Josh King, 17. Sam Apthorpe, 18. Scott Tofa-Timoteo, 19. Bryce Donovan.
BRONCOS
1. Paul Byrnes, 2. Jonus Pearson, 3. Jordan Drew, 4. Jarryd Dodd, 5. Jack Tuttle, 6. Jayden Nikorima, 7. Will Brimson, 8. Sam Lavea, 9. Jayden Berrell, 10. Lindsay Collins, 11. Jaydn Su’a, 12. Alex Barr, 13. Jai Arrow. Interchange: 14. Kalolo Saitua, 15. Keegan Hipgrave, 16. George Fai, 17. Lachlan Lanskey.
Match analysis:
The NYC Newcastle Knights head into Monday night's match against the top-of-the-table Brisbane Broncos as underdogs, not that it bothers the home side.
With the Broncos running hot with an eight win, two loss record leading into Round 11, strength and conditioning coach Mick Reid says the Knights are prepared for a grueling match.
“Going off last week’s game, Brisbane beat the Cowboys and the Cowboys gave us a drumming,” Reid admitted.
“We are expecting for those guys to not take it lightly on us.
“We just have to step up to the plate and be more aggressive and more on the front foot with a lot of things.
“If you take it to them, a lot of teams don’t like that.
“We need to rip in from the get go.”
Dylan Phythian and Danny Levi return richer to the NYC Knights after playing with the Club’s NSW Cup side in Round 10.
“They certainly enjoyed the experience up there and Dylan enjoyed playing in the halves after playing for us at fullback,” he said.
“It will be good to see him back there at fullback for us and giving us a bit more direction and firepower in attack.
“While for Danny, it’s given him a bit more of a view of where the Club is going with him.”
While the score line hurt, Reid says the side’s Round 10 loss to the Wests Tigers wasn’t all gloom.
“Statistically when you look at it, we won everything over the game,” he said.
“With time and possession, we won the amount of ball that we had and rate of possession right across the board.
“When we got down our end, our ends of sets weren’t as clinical as we would have liked.”
A number of team’s kicks ended up in the opposition’s hands, which resulted in long-range tries coupled with Knights errors which the Tigers also converted into points.
This week the emphasis is on reducing errors.
“Physiologically when you run the length of the field and you have to come back to the try line, it takes a fair divot out of you,” he said.
“You have to have a certain number of players on the paddock who can get you up.”
On Monday, the side will turn to its senior members in Luke Yates, Levi, Josh Birch and Bradie Smith for motivation and leadership.
“When you go through our pack many of those guys have been there for a while and have some older heads that can take the initiative and assertiveness on the field," he said.
The NYC Knights have also worked on developing improved communication on the field.
“We’ve been working on our defence leading on the inside and also on marker work," Reid added.
“We have the players to get the job done.
“Hopefully we get it right this week and with a little bit more rest, we will be ready to go on Monday.”
Where it will be won:
Control in the halves.
“Our halves have learned a lesson from last week when the Wests Tigers halves were really good," Reid said.
“The Broncos have good halves as well, so hopefully our boys will take it to them.
“Jack Cogger and Brock Lamb will be looking to get the boys around the park well and lead the side."
Newcastle Knights v Brisbane Broncos
Gates open: 4.30pm
NYC kick off: 4.45pm
NRL kick off: 7pm
Venue: Hunter Stadium
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