Match Discussion: Finals Week 1 vs Parramatta @ Browne Park

[League Unlimited News]

NRL 2021 - Finals Week 1
Parramatta Eels v Newcastle Knights
Browne Park, Rockhampton (TICKETS)
Sunday 12 September 2021

NRL kickoff 4:05pm

1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Haze Dunster 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Waqa Blake 5. Blake Ferguson 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Ray Stone 10. Junior Paulo 11. Shaun Lane 12. Marata Niukore 13. Nathan Brown
Interchange: 14. Will Smith 15. Bryce Cartwright 16. Isaiah Papali'i 17. Makahesi Makatoa 18. Ryan Matterson 19. Oregon Kaufusi 20. Tom Opacic 21. Jakob Arthur

1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Enari Tuala 3. Kurt Mann 4. Bradman Best 5. Hymel Hunt 6. Jake Clifford 7. Mitchell Pearce 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Daniel Saifiti 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Mitchell Barnett 13. Connor Watson
Interchange: 14. Sauaso Sue 15. David Klemmer 16. Josh King 17. Brodie Jones 18. Phoenix Crossland 19. Jirah Momoisea 20. Simi Sasagi 21. Jack Johns

Referees: Ashley Klein
Sideline Officials: Phil Henderson, Jon Stone
Video Referees: Grant Atkins​

 

[alexwilliams_66692007]

So excited for this one, hopefully we can get everyone on the park

 

[Yosh]

Hopefully they spent all their finals energy to beat the Storm. I reckon we can win this. It'll be tight. But I see a win. Us by 22-18.

 

[mozza91]

Look at us being finals regulars. Hopefully all our forwards are good to go and can do a job on theirs.
Ponga has to step up here. Needs to make better decisions and put his body on the line in defence.

We’ve been good at winning the tough games of late. There’s no reason we can’t do it here.

 

[alexwilliams_66692007]

Klemmer preparing to bear the pain to face Eels

Injured props David Klemmer, Daniel Saifiti and Jesse Sue are all expected to play on Sunday in Rockhampton.

www.newcastleherald.com.au

David Klemmer will have a light training week but there is a high expectation he will play in Sunday's sudden-death final against the Eels despite battling a painful rib injury.

And to further boost the Knights hopes of upsetting Parramatta at Rockhampton, coach Adam O'Brien expects both Origin prop Daniel Saifiti and veteran forward Jesse Sue to prove their fitness and take their place in the 17-man squad.

 

[Zoidberg]

I don’t know if I can handle this anymore. I’m getting butterflies just thinking about the game now.
I think I’d be an emotional wreck if we ever win a GF again.

 

[Yosh]

I don’t know if I can handle this anymore. I’m getting butterflies just thinking about the game now.
I think I’d be an emotional wreck if we ever win a GF again.

Lucky for you, it's probably a couple of year off at best...

 

[alexwilliams_66692007]

I don’t know if I can handle this anymore. I’m getting butterflies just thinking about the game now.
I think I’d be an emotional wreck if we ever win a GF again.

It's like the other day, I told my missus I'd definitely cry my eyes out when we win our next gf.. She couldn't believe it lol

 

[The Predictor]

I don’t know if I can handle this anymore. I’m getting butterflies just thinking about the game now.
I think I’d be an emotional wreck if we ever win a GF again.

I think Parra fans would be a little more emotional

 

[Old dog]

First thing to do to increase our win chance is make Pearce Captain, second thing is delegate penalty line finder kicks to Clifford, third thing is get Ponga to concentrate on organising his defence and making himself available to attack, fourth, fifth and sixth comes after this win

 

[Knight Tales]

Ponga steps up we win. He is the legitimate X factor in this competition now that Latrell is out. If he wants to be taken seriously he has to aim up. This is his big moment.

 

[Mr_Knightside]

Ponga steps up we win. He is the legitimate X factor in this competition now that Latrell is out. If he wants to be taken seriously he has to aim up. This is his big moment.

Agreed. Ponga needs to get his hands on the ball just about every set and more than once per set in good ball situations.

 

[Burwood]

For me, it’s his defense that is the biggest worry. It’s concerning how many times a try is scored and Ponga is a few steps out of the picture, or throwing his arms out hoping for an intercept or knockdown.

And I know Boyd popularised the tactic years ago, but is there any benefit to Ponga defending in the line all the time? Isn’t it the fullbacks job to organise the defense and make sure the numbers are right? All the opposition do in our 20m is run at him, which tires him out and removes him from properly defending the next play.

As it stands, we’re paying a million dollars for a player who is lucky to even be in the top 5 for his position.

 

[Frederick]

Ponga steps up we win. He is the legitimate X factor in this competition now that Latrell is out. If he wants to be taken seriously he has to aim up. This is his big moment.

Hahahahaha no

This is Tom Turbos league

 

[Burwood]

Hahahahaha no

This is Tom Turbos league

It's amazing that, giving his incredible form and stats over 15 games, we are the only team to have made him look like a mortal.

 

[Frederick]

It's amazing that, giving his incredible form and stats over 15 games, we are the only team to have made him look like a mortal.

One off game in an otherwise brilliant season is excusable


I'm still waiting for us to have an on game

 

[Knight Tales]

Hahahahaha no

This is Tom Turbos league

That's an obvious conclusion. The fact we are yet to play well, as you have said yourself, is where I am approaching this from. If KP decides he is running the show on field then anything can happen. If he doesn't we are going to be hung out to dry. A maverick approach from KP is long overdue. Conservative won't mean anything by fulltime. We can't win that way. We all know that.

 

[slotmachine]

we are the only team to have made him look like a mortal.

Pretty obvious he and DCE weren't having a go to save themselves for Origin.
Plus Keppie thought he was playing for us,.

 

[Burwood]

One off game in an otherwise brilliant season is excusable


I'm still waiting for us to have an on game

Round 16, Cowboys. 24 games, and that's it :/

 

[The Axe of Druss]

It's amazing that, giving his incredible form and stats over 15 games, we are the only team to have made him look like a mortal.

Nah, Melb did a good job on him a few weeks ago