Sydney Roosters v Newcastle Knights
Date: Saturday April 30
Venue: Allianz Stadium
NYC: 3.15pm
NRL: 5.30pm
Teams:
KNIGHTS
1. Nick Meaney, 2. Dean Kouka-Smith, 3. Cory Denniss, 4. Kainoa Gudgeon, 5. Matt Soper-Lawler, 6. Nick Newman, 7. Jack Cogger, 8. Tyrone Amey, 9. Josh Morris, 10. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown, 11. Eddy Tuilotolava, 12. Sam Stone, 13. Mitch Casson. Interchange: 14. Zac Hosking, 15. Jake McNamara, 16. Braden Robson, 17. Jayden Butterfield.
ROOSTERS
1. Bradley Mullins, 2. Bernard Lewis, 3. Jake Steadman, 4. Kiah Cooper, 5. Johnny Tuivasa-Sheck, 6. Jayden Nikorima, 7. Jesse Marschke, 8. Poasa Faamausili, 9. Grant Garvey, 10. Ben Thomas, 11. Reuben Porter, 12. Ryan King, 13. Nat Butcher. Interchange: 14. Lachlan Lam, 15. Jarred Anderson, 17. Luke Chalker, 18. Sukamanu Raki, 20. Bayley Faull.
Match Analysis:
The NYC Newcastle Knights aim to link their third consecutive win on Saturday against the Sydney Roosters at Allianz Stadium.
The side faces a five day turnaround after Monday’s seesawing match against the Many Sea Eagles that saw the Knights snatch their first win of the year on home turf.
Hard working half Brock Lamb has been named in an extended bench in the NRL squad this weekend following Jarrod Mullen’s hamstring injury.
This means Nick Newman steps into the number six jersey to partner mainstay Jack Cogger at halfback.
While the Knights emerged victorious in Monday’s ANZAC Day game, coach Todd Lowrie is hoping his side will produce a more consistent game against the Roosters.
“That’s something we have been looking for the last few weeks now. The boys have been good enough to win games, but our whole game performances haven’t been fantastic," he said.
“It’s good to be able to get away with the wins but our 80 minute games haven’t been good and we have a lot to work on.
“We look to pull things together this week to win this one.
“They are feeling pretty good with what they have been doing. In saying that, the Roosters are a really good side.”
The Knights forward pack, featuring starting prop Tyrone Amey, will be the key to the Knights laying a strong platform during the match.
“Tyrone is definitely one of our leaders and has been all year. He is certainly someone the team looks towards to provide some inspiration for us,” Lowrie said.
“In the second half when we really needed something on the weekend, he was the one who was really driving it for us.
“He’s definitely one of our leaders.”
The Roosters head into the match following two losses, but started the season solidly.
“They have had a couple of losses the last few weeks, but apart from that, they are going really well,” Lowrie said.
“They have had a couple guys come back like Jayden Nikorima in particular who has been playing first grade and has come back into their team.
“They are a really good footy team so they have will be a big test.”
Where it will be one:
Team cohesion.
“The main focus will be on us,” Lowrie said.
“With the short turnaround there won’t be much time to go into it too much so will about doing what we do well and working on little things we took from last week that we can do better.
“It will be important to bring our team together because it will be a new team.
“We will be making sure we gel and are all on the same page.”
