Knights' 10-year test
By Barry Toohey
March 22, 2007
IN a stunning statistic which underlines the massive challenge facing Newcastle tomorrow night, it has been almost a decade since the Knights won an NRL game when both Andrew Johns and Danny Buderus have been missing.
That day, they toppled South Sydney 26-8 at the Sydney Football Stadium with Brett Clements at hooker and Leo Dynevor playing halfback.
Since then, Newcastle has played on 12 occasions without their celebrated dynamic duo, losing all 12 matches.
It is a statistic which won't engender a lot of confidence among Knights fans on the eve of the clash with the Dragons at Oki Jubilee Stadium.
While it could be argued they beat the Bulldogs without Buderus and without Johns for all but four minutes of last Sunday's clash, Johns' absence was countered by the fact the Bulldogs played a man short for that same period following Sonny Bill Williams' send-off.
Buderus still has two games to serve on a suspension suffered late last season while Johns is still recovering from the Williams' hit.
Neither player was aware of the statistic last night but both are adamant the Knights have never been in a better position to break the hoodoo citing a pre-season win over the Sharks when both were missing as further evidence.
"The boys have just taken so much confidence out of the Bulldogs game," Buderus said.
"Given what happened, most teams would have crumbled after losing their captain and chief playmaker like that.
"It was a great sign the way they fought back and I just think we are a bit more well-equipped these days to win without key players like Joey.
"We were great out of dummy half and with Kurt (Gidley) and Jarrod (Mullen) there now running the show, we can cover a lot better."
Johns will travel with the team to Sydney tomorrow but says he is no chance of playing against the Dragons because of doctor's orders despite returning to light training duties early yesterday.
He lifted some weights and did a circuit session but claimed he was still feeling the affects of the tackle.
"It's improving all the time I'm slowly getting there but taking things fairly easy," he said. "Given what the boys did in the circumstances to come back against the Bulldogs will give everyone a lot of confidence going in against the Dragons."
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,21422410-5006066,00.html
By Barry Toohey
March 22, 2007
IN a stunning statistic which underlines the massive challenge facing Newcastle tomorrow night, it has been almost a decade since the Knights won an NRL game when both Andrew Johns and Danny Buderus have been missing.
That day, they toppled South Sydney 26-8 at the Sydney Football Stadium with Brett Clements at hooker and Leo Dynevor playing halfback.
Since then, Newcastle has played on 12 occasions without their celebrated dynamic duo, losing all 12 matches.
It is a statistic which won't engender a lot of confidence among Knights fans on the eve of the clash with the Dragons at Oki Jubilee Stadium.
While it could be argued they beat the Bulldogs without Buderus and without Johns for all but four minutes of last Sunday's clash, Johns' absence was countered by the fact the Bulldogs played a man short for that same period following Sonny Bill Williams' send-off.
Buderus still has two games to serve on a suspension suffered late last season while Johns is still recovering from the Williams' hit.
Neither player was aware of the statistic last night but both are adamant the Knights have never been in a better position to break the hoodoo citing a pre-season win over the Sharks when both were missing as further evidence.
"The boys have just taken so much confidence out of the Bulldogs game," Buderus said.
"Given what happened, most teams would have crumbled after losing their captain and chief playmaker like that.
"It was a great sign the way they fought back and I just think we are a bit more well-equipped these days to win without key players like Joey.
"We were great out of dummy half and with Kurt (Gidley) and Jarrod (Mullen) there now running the show, we can cover a lot better."
Johns will travel with the team to Sydney tomorrow but says he is no chance of playing against the Dragons because of doctor's orders despite returning to light training duties early yesterday.
He lifted some weights and did a circuit session but claimed he was still feeling the affects of the tackle.
"It's improving all the time I'm slowly getting there but taking things fairly easy," he said. "Given what the boys did in the circumstances to come back against the Bulldogs will give everyone a lot of confidence going in against the Dragons."
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,21422410-5006066,00.html
I are annoying.
