CANTERBURY BULLDOGS V NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Venue: Belmore Sports Ground
Date: Sunday 26 July, 11:45am
Referee: Liam Nicholls Touch Judges: Brendan Lucas, Richard Daizli
Teams:
BULLDOGS
1. Jaline Graham 2. Tyrone Phillips 3. Chase Stanley 4. Jacob loko, 5. Corey Thompson, 6. Matt Frawley, 7. Lindon Mcgrady, 8. Antonio Kaufusi, 9. Damien Cook, 10. Danny Fualalo, 11. David Minute, 12. Adam Elliott, 13. Lloyd Perrett, 14. Levi Dodd 15. Pat O’hanlon 16. Herman Ese’ese, 17. Jason Schirnack, 19. Brad Clark, 20. Makahesi Makatoa.
KNIGHTS
1. Nathan Ross, 2. Honeti Tuha, 3. Pat Mata’utia, 4. Chanel Mata’utia, 5. Kerrod Holland, 6. Carlos Tuimavave, 7. Jaelen Feeney, 8. Sam Mataora, 9. George Ndaira, 10. Paterika Vaivai, 11. Lachlan Fitzgibbon, 12. Joseph Tapine, 13. Tama Koopu. Interchange: 15. James Taylor, 16. Brett Jarrett, 17. Ben Tupou, 20. Damien Sironen.
Match Analysis:
The NSW Cup Newcastle Knights are intent on halting the Canterbury Bulldog’s current roll when they come up against the side at Belmore Sportsground on Sunday.
The Knights sit at seventh spot and come up against the Bulldogs two rungs higher at fifth and trail off a winning streak, their latest a 24-10 victory against the Penrith Panthers.
The Knights lost narrowly to the Wyong Roos last Sunday in a local derby match played in Newcastle going down to their opponent in the late stages of the game.
Honeti Tuha has turned heads the last two rounds on the left wing scoring back-to-back hat tricks.
He is again named on the edge and is expected to add X-Factor against the Bulldogs.
The side is also firmed up with forwards Pat Vaivai, Sam Mataora and Joe Tapine returning with valuable NRL experience under their belts.
“Going to Belmore will be a good occasion for these guys,” coach Matt Lantry said.
“It’s a really good opportunity to play in front of a decent atmosphere.”
The reserve grade Knights brace themselves for a tough game up front against the Bulldogs.
“Our forward pack is very similar to what it was last week. It was a really physical game against Wyong and we don’t expect anything different from the Bulldogs,” he said.
“They have a big intimidating type of pack.
“I’d imagine they will be coming at us pretty hard.”
After coming so close to shutting out the Roos, the Knights are motivated to get the right result on Sunday.
“We need to learn from that and manage that last 10 minutes to minimise our yardage errors," he said.
“That hurt us across the course of the game and that will give ourselves a shot at beating anyone.”
Where it will be won:
Up front.
“Their forward pack is big and right through the middle third,” Lantry said.
“They play a bit like their NRL side and have that power game through the middle and have some forwards passing between each other.
“We need to ensure we are good defensively there.
“I’m interested to see how we handle Jacob Loco and Chase Stanley in the centres aswell.
“Pat Mata’utia is one that is aspiring to play NRL so this game will be a big one for him.”
