Knights Vs Roosters - Prelim Final '13

[voltron]

im just pumped to go to this match
first one i'll be able to get to
if we lose, I will be sad and filthy
but that our team got so far i will be bloody proud

 

[RABK]

We'll have to think during the week what do we do when the inevitable happens and we are pressuring the Roosters and they give away a ruck penalty when an overlap is set. And they do it repeatedly. Do we back ourselves to crack them or do we punish with 2 immediately each time.

Maybe getting 4 or 6 easy points will change their mind if we are showing steel in our defence at our end and put them off a bit. Alternatively backing ourselves and crashing over for a couple of tries could really dent their confidence and rattle them.

 

[Swarzey]

I'd take the two. Regardless of where we are on the scoreboard. I don't think we can beat them five or ten out, their goal-line defence is too good. If we can show that we'll take every opportunity we get to earn points, them surely they'll cut the penalties. All our halves then need to do is roll it in and get a repeat set.

If the tactic of making the ref put the whistle away earlier is true, then they'll be forced to give them away deeper in our half and thus, a repeat set and more breathing space for Gagai and BJ to work their magic. Hopefully this will slow their confidence and install some doubt.

 

[Silent Knight]

I'd take the two every single time against the Roosters. This will be a low-scoring, grinding match imo. Punish them for their ill-discipline by taking the 2 while making sure they don't break our defence. I don't fear their halves at all.

 

[Noname36]

I'm not worried about them having a week off or whatever. I'm worried about their massive forward pack rolling us. It's not like the Dogs where their pack is big but lazy and slow. The Chook's pack is massive but they actually use it.

That and scoring points against them worries me.

 

[Chicken_Hunter]

Roosters are gonna choke. It's what Pearce does best

 

[Nuffy]

Trent Robinson and Craig Fitzgibbon were on the plane on Sat, heading to the game.

 

[Albert Rosenfeld]

You guys are amazing, obsessing with Mitchell Pearce.

Have any of you actually watched Sonny Bill Williams play this year? How about Michael Jennings (who replaced B.J. Leilua, may I remind you)? He is lightning fast and has only ever been run down by Shaun Johnson (fastest half in the NRL) and Josh Morris. How about James Maloney, the first choice field kicker and goal kicker? He is immaculate with boot and in creating openings for support players. The wingers are Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Daniel Toupou, two of the best wing talents in the competition. Full back Anthony Minichiello is as safe as a bank in defence and under the high ball.

The forwards with big go forward are Jared Whaerea-Hargreaves and Sam Moa. Backing them up are Luke O'Donnell and Martin Kennedy. The back rowers are terrific, not only the maestro SBW, but also Mitch Aubusson, Aiden Guerra and Frank-Paul Nu'uasala. And the forwards back row may even include the hitherto injured State of Origin debutante Boyd Cordner. Then don't forget the immensely talented hooker Jake Friend, who is arguably one of the top 5 hookers in the NRL. Also watch his sub, the very good Daniel Mortimer.

Fact is that with the Roosters team there is great talent all over the park. It will require all the talents of the two flying Fijians -- Uate and Naiqama -- to keep the Knights even close to the Roosters. To be honest, I can't see even a close game happening.

 

[afinalsin666]

Knights have heart, roosters are a machine. It will be the same as parra dragons 2009 and warriors storm 2011. Heart will win out.

 

[Nuffy]

You guys are amazing, obsessing with Mitchell Pearce.

Have any of you actually watched Sonny Bill Williams play this year? How about Michael Jennings (who replaced B.J. Leilua, may I remind you)? He is lightning fast and has only ever been run down by Shaun Johnson (fastest half in the NRL) and Josh Morris. How about James Maloney, the first choice field kicker and goal kicker? He is immaculate with boot and in creating openings for support players. The wingers are Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Daniel Toupou, two of the best wing talents in the competition. Full back Anthony Minichiello is as safe as a bank in defence and under the high ball.

The forwards with big go forward are Jared Whaerea-Hargreaves and Sam Moa. Backing them up are Luke O'Donnell and Martin Kennedy. The back rowers are terrific, not only the maestro SBW, but also Mitch Aubusson, Aiden Guerra and Frank-Paul Nu'uasala. And the forwards back row may even include the hitherto injured State of Origin debutante Boyd Cordner. Then don't forget the immensely talented hooker Jake Friend, who is arguably one of the top 5 hookers in the NRL. Also watch his sub, the very good Daniel Mortimer.

Fact is that with the Roosters team there is great talent all over the park. It will require all the talents of the two flying Fijians -- Uate and Naiqama -- to keep the Knights even close to the Roosters. To be honest, I can't see even a close game happening.

I also remember reading how Manly were unbeatable in 97 and how Newcastle shouldn't even bother turning up in 2001, Parra were supposed to be that good.

I'll also draw your attention to Sat night when Melbourne were expected to win easily.

How did that end up again.

 

[Jono078]

To be honest, I can't see even a close game happening.

Just like Melbourne and the Dogs right? :lol:

 

[RHCP]

We do a lot better when nobody's giving us a chance than we do when we're favourites.

Which is good, since the Bulldogs were off, the Storm were off and worst of all we're going to be missing Craig 'Joey' Gower.

Roosters by 99. It's been a good run.

 

[Cagey Mac]

The Knights were so much better than the Storm on Saturday evening and the team definitely has the potential to beat the Roosters next week.

I think that you have them covered all over the part with the exception of SBW and even then Smith and Scott are the two best one on one defenders in the game and could help cut down his offloads.

I couldn't figure out Mullen's lower than usual chip kicks but it wouldn't be the first time that I haven't been able to work out what Wayne Bennett's up to.

Newcastle is playing a very different style of footy to the Dragons in '10. Bennett's ability to design a game plan around the players in respective teams is testament to his genius.

Best of luck on going all the way

Enjoy the ride!

 

[Silent Knight]

I'm not afraid of the Roosters as long as I have the ultimate BAMF Jeremy Smith in my team.

BAMF is going to give SBW a freaking huge smackdown. Biatch.

 

[Haffa]

Flying down lunch time on saturday.

Anyone else taking advantage of the $20 tickets?

 

[Rod]

I'm not worried about them having a week off or whatever. I'm worried about their massive forward pack rolling us. It's not like the Dogs where their pack is big but lazy and slow. The Chook's pack is massive but they actually use it.

That and scoring points against them worries me.

These are fair concerns. I would add that since we aren't the greatest wrestlers it might only exacerbate the problem of their great go-forward.

But Wayne will have a plan for this, and ditto scoring points.

 

[Rod]

You guys are amazing, obsessing with Mitchell Pearce.

Have any of you actually watched Sonny Bill Williams play this year? How about Michael Jennings (who replaced B.J. Leilua, may I remind you)? He is lightning fast and has only ever been run down by Shaun Johnson (fastest half in the NRL) and Josh Morris. How about James Maloney, the first choice field kicker and goal kicker? He is immaculate with boot and in creating openings for support players. The wingers are Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Daniel Toupou, two of the best wing talents in the competition. Full back Anthony Minichiello is as safe as a bank in defence and under the high ball.

The forwards with big go forward are Jared Whaerea-Hargreaves and Sam Moa. Backing them up are Luke O'Donnell and Martin Kennedy. The back rowers are terrific, not only the maestro SBW, but also Mitch Aubusson, Aiden Guerra and Frank-Paul Nu'uasala. And the forwards back row may even include the hitherto injured State of Origin debutante Boyd Cordner. Then don't forget the immensely talented hooker Jake Friend, who is arguably one of the top 5 hookers in the NRL. Also watch his sub, the very good Daniel Mortimer.

Fact is that with the Roosters team there is great talent all over the park. It will require all the talents of the two flying Fijians -- Uate and Naiqama -- to keep the Knights even close to the Roosters. To be honest, I can't see even a close game happening.

Thanks for the Roosters team sheet. We already know they have good players.

I like how you spend 3 paragraphs talking up how good they are all across the park, but then pick that the only way to beat them is if our wingers have good games :crazy:.

 

[afinalsin666]

I couldn't figure out Mullen's lower than usual chip kicks but it wouldn't be the first time that I haven't been able to work out what Wayne Bennett's up to.

When Slater is on, he is the best covering player in the game. Bennett would have assumed he would bring his A-game, and if he did, then the usual kicks would not work.

I'm expecting Mullen to dab the ball into the red for repeat sets all game this week. If he can add to the penalties the rosters inevitably give away, and have them defending their line constantly, knights will win. They just need to not panic when the points don't come, and just keep grinding away for the repeats. That will be where the experience and the Bennett factor comes in.

 

[Haffa]

Thanks for the Roosters team sheet. We already know they have good players.

I like how you spend 3 paragraphs talking up how good they are all across the park, but then pick that the only way to beat them is if our wingers have good games :crazy:.

I was more impressed with the restraint he showed in not mentioning Mr Gower.

 

[perverse]

We'll work to frustrate the Roosters, too. The good thing about teams that win all year is that they tend to get flustered when things aren't going their way. Much like the Dogs and the Storm, I expect us to throw absolutely everything at them, and we won't go away. Put them off their game with aggression and heart. You can't manufacture or replace heart... you've either got it, or you don't... and we've got it at the moment.

With any luck the Roosters will have their minds on Souths and Manly and we can ambush them, too. Their coach will be desperate to keep that from being the case, but we'll see. We don't necessarily have to outskill or outmuscle them, we need to be the pest that won't go away... the little guy that won't stay down.

We've got the league world buzzing a bit again... and I never thought I'd see it again, but we're suddenly everyone's second team in this finals series.