Let’s hope the Newcastle Knights can create some magic in Brisbane against the Bulldogs this weekend.
It seems the dogs have been a hoodoo team for the Knights, winning the last six encounters.
Despite that the red and blue will be coming out as favourites against the last placed Dogs.
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We’ve crunched the numbers for the some of juicy matchups.
Ponga v Meaney
Training together just last year, these two young guns should know each other’s games well.
No doubt, former Knight Nick Meaney will be keen to display some form against his old club, but Kalyn Ponga looks to have the upper hand with a few more NRL games to his tally.
Both 21 they rely on their speed and agility to get results.
Ponga has been formidable in the no. 1 with three tries and 64 points, the fourth highest in the NRL.
The Knights fullback is also smashing it in kick metres, at 1094. He’s got 35 tackle breaks; four try assists and 593 kicking metres.
Meaney may find those stats hard to come up against but the young Bulldog can boast a try save, a try assist and a respectable 23 tackle breaks.
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Here comes some inspiring football from the two youngsters
Klemmer v Napa
It’s set to be an emotional battle for David Klemmer but don’t count the big guy out when it comes to causing chaos against his old club.
Both at a new club for 2019, the big men will be out to impress on all fronts.
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Similar in age and NRL games played, it’s not the case for time on field. So far this season Klemmer has smashed out 517 minutes to Napa’s 201. A fair few more!
Notably the Knights enforcer is hard to beat on paper. He’s leading the NRL in post contact metres at 517 and ranking second for run metres at 1431.
Put that with 282 tackles at 97 per cent efficiency and you’ve got a game changer.
Napa on the other hand has found the line on two occasions, recorded a try assist and two line breaks.
Also, get ready for some brutal hit-ups.
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Barnett v Jackson
Josh Jackson is a little bit older, has 100 more NRL games but don’t count out Wingham product Mitch Barnett.
He has more than pulled his weight for the Knights and staged three awesome tries this season. Here’s a rare occurrence… he even kicked a conversion.
While Jackson only has the one try, he’s leading the way in run metres, 250 more than Barnett
But looking at the numbers this matchup is a hard one to sway either way. Seven tackles breaks a piece, Barnett with 269 tackles, Jackson 277 at 89 per cent and 92 per cent respectively.
Let’s see who leads the battle this time.
