Ponga’s form has reached stratospheric levels. Seriously that move he put on last week to send Brodie Jones over should be put in a Rugby League time capsule. To be able to regain his balance to throw that sublime pass was just off the scale. The bad news for NQ is that once he’s in form he tends to stay in form.
The Knights’s forwards were outstanding last week. On their day they can muscle up against any pack in the competition. However that day doesn’t come around that often. Gagai is in SOO form (previous years anyway). And Fletcher Sharpe has some X factor about him(and some serious pace).
The Knight’s coach…I can’t quite remember his name…that’s right it’s Adam O’Brien. I should know his name. He’s been to 4 grand finals(as an assistant).He knows what it takes to get to one. So if the Knights get beaten it’s not his fault. He was playing mind games during the week on channel 7 news sports report . He said that unlike NQ , the Knights were battle hardened.
The Cowboys have never captured their defensive resolve of 2022. Last week saw an improvement though. The only try they conceded was from a fluke kick. Could just be a dead cat bounce but I think not. They seem to have a production line of big, mobile front rowers who can run good outside in lines. Luki looks like a keeper but will be interested to see if he can back it up in a sudden death match. Clifford has straightened up their attack.
This one is hard to pick. I’ll sit on the fence. Newcastle by a few or the Cowboys by a lot.
