08 :: R8 Sat :: Knights 13 Titans 12 @ EnergyAustralia

[Timmah]

​

NEWCASTLE
1 Kurt Gidley
2 James McManus, 3 Wes Naiqama, 4 Keith Lulia, 5 Cooper Vuna
6 Chris Bailey, 7 Jarrod Mullen
8 Danny Wicks, 9 Danny Buderus (c), 10 Jesse Royal
11 Chris Houston, 12 Cory Paterson, 13 Zeb Taia​

Int - 14 Matt Hilder, 15 Ben Cross, 16 Dan Tolar, 17 Cameron Ciraldo
Res - 18 Junior Sau, 19 Adam McDougall​

GOLD COAST
1. Preston Campbell
2. Ben Jeffery, 3. Luke O'Dwyer, 4. Brett Delaney, 5. Matt Petersen
6. Ash Harrison, 7. Scott Prince
8. Michael Hodgson, 9. Nathan Friend, 10. Brad Meyers
11. Anthony Laffranchi, 12. Mark Minichiello
13. Josh Graham​

Int - 14. Aaron Cannings, 15. James Stosic, 16. Gavin Cooper, 17. Brenton Bowen
Res - 18. Luke Swain, 19. Kris Kahler, 20. Ian Donnelly, 21. Matthew Cross​

Referee
GAVIN BADGER
Sideline Officials: Peter Kirby, Russell Turner
Video Referee: Russell Smith​

Schedule
Gates 1:10pm
NSW Cup 1:25pm
Toyota 3:15pm
NRL 5:30pm​

Related Matches
Toyota Cup Knights v Titans @ EnergyAustralia, Sat 3:15pm
NSW Cup Central Knights v Wests Magpies @ EnergyAustralia, Sat 1:25pm
QLD Cup Tweed Heads v Northern @ Cudgen, Sat 2:00pm
QLD Cup Easts v Ipswich @ Langlands, Sat 3:00pm
SG Ball Knights Season Complete
SG Ball Bulldogs v Titans Qualifying Final (1 v 8) @ OKI Jubilee, Sat 10:30am
Harold Matthews Knights v Rabbitohs Qualifying Final (3 v 6) @ OKI Jubilee, Sat 3:00pm​

 

[Timmah]

Knights to stun everyone and stop GC in their tracks.

 

[Jobdog]

Just as an aside. As of last Tuesday (yes, just 2 days after we beat the Chooks) we'd pre-sold 12k tickets

 

[Kazaf]

CANT WAIT
Newcastle!

 

[Jono078]

Just like going into the Roosters game, im feeling good about getting a win here..

Titans are still a bit questionable away from home, our home form has been good, weve had the BYE to fix problems, get a couple of players back from injury.

Should be a good game, Titans will be high in confidence right now, but I think we can get them.

 

[perverse]

Just like going into the Roosters game, im feeling good about getting a win here..

Titans are still a bit questionable away from home, our home form has been good, weve had the BYE to fix problems, get a couple of players back from injury.

Should be a good game, Titans will be high in confidence right now, but I think we can get them.

i concur. i would say if anything this is a big danger game for the tits. we'll be tough to beat at home with a near packed stadium and our enthusiasm and confidence through the roof.

 

[Apey]

could go either way this one, we have people back from injuries and we're at home. I think it will be close, but i'll tip the Knights of course

 

[macavity]

not a fan of the team smithy has named...

but in the circumstances I guess we couldnt do that much better.

bedsy is 100-1 to play, and his loss will hurt us big. interesting to see if all of the 3 titans reps back up. hoping for our sake they play big minutes and give it a miss.

knights by 4.

 

[Prodigiousman]

odds of Steve Simpson returning? He was due back around now right?

And I know he hasn't been named.

 

[Timmah]

Teams and refs updated.

Steve SimpsonGrade 2 Medial Ligament TearTBA

According to newcastleknights.com, last updated 3rd April.

 

[Jobdog]

Simmo = no chance this week. Maybe next week.

 

[DeeGan]

The bookies will have us favourites though I ain't so confident albeit pleased it's unlikely we are having to deal with Buderus AND Simpson

Our away form as noted is horrible. As I keep saying, if we are going to move from the pretender to the contender catergory, two things have to happen:

1. Win away from home and

2. Consistently win the games we should win (e.g. beating Souths at Skilled Park)

This will be a good test for us. I don't think there are too many tougher road games out there than Newcastle at Newcastle.

I will be at this game (eating in to my GTA4 playing time!) and I look forward to it.

Is Mad Dog injured or has be been dropped???

 

[Jobdog]

Mad Dog is injured .... again.

 

[mxlegend99]

At first i thought a Titans win was a sure thing... but putting my tips in today, i have to back the Knights.

Knights have the home ground advantage, they will fight a lot harder for a win IMO (a win for them means more then it would to the Titans), and i think Knights will handle the players backing up/missing out from City/Country better then the Titans will.

I feel crazy tipping against a team who has only lost 1 game though.

 

[Timmah]

I'm backing the Knights home. Titans aren't terribly great on the road and they've managed 5 home games in the first 7 rounds. Newcastle will be buoyed from their win the other week and will be fresh, I'm tipping them.

 

[skeepe]

I've tipped the Knights with no great confidence... still have memories of last year when some of their Origin players couldn't back up in Brisbane.

 

[Shorty]

I'm tipping the Knights also,Titans are always going to be difficult at Skilled Park but their away form leaves a lot to be desired.
The Knights have already played and beaten the Roosters who are big contenders and I expect them to deal with the Tits the same way.

 

[Jobdog]

I've tipped the Knights with no great confidence... still have memories of last year when some of their Origin players couldn't back up in Brisbane.

Completely different kettle of fish Skeepey boy. Half the team was out injured prior to our origin players not backing up at Suncorp last year in the game you're on about.

 

[keeney]

I think the bye will hurt us, I'll be interested to see how we back up after it, but I expect us to a be a little flat.

 

[perverse]

Completely different kettle of fish Skeepey boy. Half the team was out injured prior to our origin players not backing up at Suncorp last year in the game you're on about.

we're a completely different football team this year. judging this years knights on anything that occured last year is completely moot - origin or not. the more rounds that pass by this year the more confident i am of making the finals.

if we win this game, heads will really start to turn and take notice. not that i want anyone to notice, it's quite nice flying under the radar somewhat at the moment. if we don't win... well then there's still plenty of work to be done. i don't think we'll see the knights best football until the later stages of the year.