Match Discussion: Round 17 vs Bulldogs @ McDonald Jones Stadium

[League Unlimited News]

NRL 2019 - Round 17
Newcastle Knights v Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
McDonald Jones Stadium, New Lambton (TICKETS)
Friday 12 July 2019

Gates 5:30pm / Canterbury Cup 5:40pm / NRL 7:55pm

1. Connor Watson 2. Hymel Hunt 3. Kurt Mann 4. Jesse Ramien 5. Shaun Kenny-Dowall 6. Mason Lino 7. Mitchell Pearce 8. James Gavet 9. Danny Levi 10. Josh King 11. Jamie Buhrer 12. Sione Mata'utia 13. Herman Ese'ese
Interchange: 14. Jacob Saifiti 15. Pasami Saulo 16. Phoenix Crossland 17. Aidan Guerra 18. Tautau Moga 19. David Klemmer 20. Daniel Saifiti 21. Tim Glasby

1. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 2. Nick Meaney 3. Marcelo Montoya 4. Will Hopoate 5. Reimis Smith 6. Brandon Wakeham 7. Jack Cogger 8. Aiden Tolman 9. Michael Lichaa 10. Dylan Napa 11. Josh Jackson 12. Corey Harawira-Naera 13. Chris Smith
Interchange: 14. Adam Elliott 15. Renouf To'omaga 16. Ofahiki Ogden 17. Sauaso Sue 19. Jeremy Marshall-King 20. Fa'amanu Brown 21. Kerrod Holland 22. Danny Fualalo

Referees: Matt Cecchin, Phil Henderson
Sideline Officials: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski, Tim Roby
Video Referees: Ashley Klein, Ben Lowe

Feeder club info
Knights: Newcastle Knights (NSWRL: Canterbury Cup, Jersey Flegg Cup U20s)
Bulldogs: Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (NSWRL: Canterbury Cup, Jersey Flegg Cup U20s)
Match information for all competitions via https://leagueunlimited.com/quick-links​​

 

[Burns]

Must win, no two ways about it.

 

[mozza91]

Must win, no two ways about it.

Not really.

 

[Knight Vision]

Not really.

It's touch and go. We cannot afford to lose against a team like the bulldogs- A gift 2 points.

I have us in the top 4 if we only lose only 2 games with the Storm 1 Roosters 2 and Rabbits 3 above us.

Below is the draw for the rest of the season - 18 points up for grabs -The 8 looking more like a 30 point ( maybe 28 ) cut off given the other teams draw.

Lose 3 games and we finish on 30 and should make the 8 ( at the very least on PD ) Of the teams just above us Manly has a rougher ride home as do Canberra.

Bulldogs
Roosters
Tigers x 2
Manly
Eels
Cowboys
Titans
Panthers

 

[Burns]

Not really.

This is our 'easiest' game for the rest of the year. We are only one win above 10th placed Penrith.

 

[mozza91]

This is our 'easiest' game for the rest of the year. We are only one win above 10th placed Penrith.

It’s still not a must win though. Last game of the year with the winner making the Semis is a must win.

It’s an important game no doubt for the reasons you mentioned but we could lose and still make the finals.

 

[Frederick]

It’s an important game no doubt for the reasons you mentioned but we could lose and still make the finals.

We could, but we'd be making it difficult for ourselves. We need the win so that we could then potentially lose against a more fancied opposition and not have it cost us a spot in the finals.

 

[Mr_Knightside]

It would be very helpful if Ponga and Pearce are in for this game. Not very confident about the forwards backing up though.

 

[Old dog]

Ponga is probably our best chance to play, SOO players could get injury even minor with no recovery time, if we had Sunday game would have been better.

 

[alexwilliams_66692007]

Squad v Dogs:

1. Connor Watson
2. Hymel Hunt
3. Kurt Mann
4. Jesse Ramien
5. Shaun Kenny-Dowall
6. Mason Lino
7. Mitchell Pearce
8. James Gavet
9. Danny Levi
10. Josh King
11. Jamie Buhrer
12. Sione Mata'utia
13. Herman Ese'ese

Interchange:
14. Jacob Saifiti
15. Pasami Saulo
16. Phoenix Crossland
17. Aidan Guerra

18. Tautau Moga
19. David Klemmer
20. Daniel Saifiti
21. Tim Glasby
22. Brodie Jones
23. Chris Randall

 

[PhilGould]

Ponga not named in squad so can't be a late inclusion.

 

[Silent Knight]

Really need Watson out of fullback IMO. I miss Ponga, hopefully just one more week before the champ returns. Stupid Origin.

 

[Frederick]

Squad v Dogs:

1. Connor Watson
2. Hymel Hunt
3. Kurt Mann
4. Jesse Ramien
5. Shaun Kenny-Dowall
6. Mason Lino
7. Mitchell Pearce
8. James Gavet
9. Danny Levi
10. Josh King
11. Jamie Buhrer
12. Sione Mata'utia
13. Herman Ese'ese

Interchange:
14. Jacob Saifiti
15. Pasami Saulo
16. Phoenix Crossland
17. Aidan Guerra

18. Tautau Moga
19. David Klemmer
20. Daniel Saifiti
21. Tim Glasby
22. Brodie Jones
23. Chris Randall

3. Mann
2. Hunt
18. Moga
4. Ramien
5. SKD
6. Lino
7. Pearce
19. Klemmer
9. Levi
20. Daifiti
17. Guerra
12. Matautia
21. Glasby

1. Watson
14. Jaifiti
8. Gavet
13. Ese'ese

Please

 

[alexwilliams_66692007]

3. Mann
2. Hunt
18. Moga
4. Ramien
5. SKD
6. Lino
7. Pearce
19. Klemmer
9. Levi
20. Daifiti
17. Guerra
12. Matautia
21. Glasby

1. Watson
14. Jaifiti
8. Gavet
13. Ese'ese

Please

That's a mean bench

I don't think Guerra will play 80 mins though.

 

[NoSchitSherlock]

Unlikely to be the named 17 I think.
If it is I reckon we’ll spread the load at Dummy Half during the game so Levi gets a break.
I’d rather have Mann at fullback and Moga in centre. Moga reckons he lacks match fitness.

 

[Spot On]

Surely Watson is not going to be asked to play fullback.

 

[Frederick]

That's a mean bench

I don't think Guerra will play 80 mins though.

Ese can play on the edge, jaifiti and gavet will be the middles

 

[Yosh]

Can't see Moga getting a game this year unless there is another 2 or 3 injuries in the backs.

I quite like Gavet to be honest. I'm seem to be a rare breed on here but off the bench he has been great this year. Terrible when he starts though.

Strong in defense, always seems to be third man in but pushes strong to dominate in the tackle. Either runs a hundred miles an hour into the defense or does a weird goose step to beat the first tackle and make another metre or two. What's there not to like to be honest.

14. Watson
15. Gavet
16. JSaifiti
17. Ese'ese

Seems to be a strong bench but is there a way to get Sione into the middle? Maybe Gavet does need to be dropped for something more like:

8. DSaifiti
9. Levi
10. Klemmer
11. Fitzy
12. Barny
13. Glasby

14. Watson
15. JSaifiti
16. Ese'ese
17. Mata'utai

That our strongest forward pack?

 

[Joel-22]

Squad v Dogs:

1. Connor Watson
2. Hymel Hunt
3. Kurt Mann
4. Jesse Ramien
5. Shaun Kenny-Dowall
6. Mason Lino
7. Mitchell Pearce
8. James Gavet
9. Danny Levi
10. Josh King
11. Jamie Buhrer
12. Sione Mata'utia
13. Herman Ese'ese

Interchange:
14. Jacob Saifiti
15. Pasami Saulo
16. Phoenix Crossland
17. Aidan Guerra

18. Tautau Moga
19. David Klemmer
20. Daniel Saifiti
21. Tim Glasby
22. Brodie Jones
23. Chris Randall

Best case scenario

3. Kurt Mann
2. Hymel Hunt
12. Sione Mata'utia
4. Jesse Ramien
5. Shaun Kenny Dowell
6. Mason Lino
7. Mitchell Pearce
19. David Klemmer
9. Danny Levi
20. Daniel Saifiti
11. Jamie Buhrer
17. Aiden Guerra
13. Herman Ese'ese

14. Jacob Saifiti
8. James Gavet
21. Tim Glasby
1. Conor Watson

Although I rate Glasby ahead of Herman, I think for the balance of the side we'd be better off having Glasby coming off the bench to keep our defence tight. Herman is an explosive runner, still not convinced of his D especially his wrestle.

A few other quick points:

- Mann a better fullback than Watson
- Levi a better hooker than Watson (at this stage)
- Gavet is better off the bench
- Josh King has improved but is still miles behind the saifitis, klem, gavet, glasby, herman
- More minutes from Jaifiti this week, we need to expedite his match fitness
- Dan & Klem only expected to play shorter mins this week before Jake and Gavet come on
- If Pearce needs a rest, Watson to 5/8 or fullback with Lino to 7

 

[Joel-22]

We need a specialist centre or (preferably) winger to cover for Edrick. Who have we got available?