Match Discussion: Round 2 vs Wests Tigers @ McDonald Jones Stadium

[League Unlimited News]

NRL 2022 - Round 2
Newcastle Knights v Wests Tigers
McDonald Jones Stadium, New Lambton (TICKETS)
Sunday 20 March 2022

NRLW (PAR v SYD) 12:00pm -- NRLW (NEW v SGI) 1:45pm - NRL kickoff 4:05pm

1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Dominic Young 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Enari Tuala 6. Jake Clifford 7. Adam Clune 8. David Klemmer 9. Chris Randall 10. Jacob Saifiti 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Lachlan Fitzgibbon 13. Kurt Mann
Interchange: 14. Phoenix Crossland 15. Mitchell Barnett 16. Leo Thompson 17. Jirah Momoisea 18. Mathew Croker 19. Pasami Saulo 20. Tex Hoy 21. Simi Sasagi 22. Brayden Musgrove 23. Dylan Lucas 24. Daniel Saifiti

1. Daine Laurie 2. David Nofoaluma 3. James Roberts 4. Oliver Gildart 5. Ken Maumalo 6. Jackson Hastings 7. Luke Brooks 8. James Tamou 9. Jake Simpkin 10. Stefano Utoikamanu 11. Kelma Tuilagi 12. Luciano Leilua 13. Joe Ofahengaue
Interchange: 14. Tyrone Peachey 15. Alex Twal 16. Zane Musgrove 17. Alex Seyfarth 18. Thomas Mikaele 19. Luke Garner 20. Starford To'a 21. Tukimihia Simpkins 22. Jock Madden 23. Austin Dias 24. Jacob Liddle

Referee: Ben Cummins
Sideline Officials: Darian Furner, Chris Sutton
Video Referee: Ashley Klein

- Lower Grades: NSW Cup & Jersey Flegg U21 - Times AEDT
Newcastle v Wests / Wests Tigers at Morry Breen, Monday
Flegg 5:30pm / Cup 7:15pm​

 

[PhilGould]

Seems like Tigers always burst our bubble after a good win (or we burst our own bubble while the Tigers watch). An early chance to get that monkey off our back in a way.

They were abysmal defending their line against a depleted Storm team. We weren’t too flash attacking the line either so hopefully improvement there.

 

[Knight76]

Simple, play like last week. Win.

 

[aqua_duck]

Tigers were a bogie team for us last year, if we can get a good win then it will be a good indicator of where we are compared to last season

 

[Zoidberg]

These are games we need to win.

 

[Yosh]

Might be premature but I wanna see us put 40 on them.

 

[The Axe of Druss]

Must win, absolutely

Tigers edges are their danger zones where Leilua and Tuilagi can bust teams open. We keep on top of them and the rest should be an easy mop up

 

[Jono078]

This will be a real indicator of where we're at. If we've progressed as a team and want to be taken seriously this year, this is a must win.

Tigers won't be easy and they'll be even more fired up after the loss and coming close to beating the Storm before capitulating at the end.

I imagine we'll be the same 1-17 again?

 

[slotmachine]

Dom Young hat-trick

 

[mozza91]

Dom Young hat-trick

Yes please. I got him at 100-1 for top tryscorer a few weeks ago.

 

[PhilGould]

1. Kalyn Ponga (C)
2. Dom Young
3. Dane Gagai
4. Bradman Best
5. Enari Tuala
6. Jake Clifford
7. Adam Clune
8. David Klemmer
9. Chris Randall
10. Jacob Saifiti
11. Tyson Frizell
12. Lachlan Fitzgibbon
13. Kurt Mann

14. Phoenix Crossland
15. Mitch Barnett
16. Leo Thompson
17. Jirah Momoisea

18. Mat Croker
19. Pasami Saulo
20. Tex Hoy
21. Simi Sasagi
22. Brayden Musgrove
23. Dylan Lucas
24. Daniel Saifiti

No changes 1-17, DSaf on the extended bench

 

[Silent Knight]

What a boost it would be to have DSaf named in the 17 on game day. If he isn't 100% though, I'd rest him for this round and keep him in reserve for the Panthers game in round 3. Because we'll sure as hell need him a lot more for that game compared with the Tigers.

 

[ryan.a87]

I wouldn’t be against dsaf coming off the bench for a short stint

 

[Old dog]

I wouldn’t be against dsaf coming off the bench for a short stint

That’s ok but what if we lose a starting prop early then he would need to play long minutes, give Thompson another crack this week

 

[Jono078]

Too early in the season to be risking the likes of Daniel Saifiti. Obviously no idea what condition he’s in but sounds like a good idea to get another weeks rest in.

As much as I loved our round 1 performance I gotta tell ya I’m super nervous about this one.

 

[Yosh]

Sailor and Tuqiri used to have a friendly rivalry every match to see who would get more metres or hit ups. The rivalry between Jacob and Daniel is also similar. They both play better when they are on the park together. I hope Dan is good enough for 20 minutes off the bench. Getting some metres into his legs before facing the Panthers will be good.

Can Leo Thompson play backrow? A prop rotation of both Saifiti boys, Klemmer and Barney is up there with the best in the comp.

Rotating our 9, 13 and 14 looks like a real positive idea. Brailey, Randall, Crossland, Mann, Sue and Simi could fill those three positions depending on fitness and form.

 

[Knight76]

Sailor and Tuqiri used to have a friendly rivalry every match to see who would get more metres or hit ups. The rivalry between Jacob and Daniel is also similar. They both play better when they are on the park together. I hope Dan is good enough for 20 minutes off the bench. Getting some metres into his legs before facing the Panthers will be good.

Personally I consider that a myth. I can't say I have ever seen any evidence of them one upping eachother when on the park together. Nor have I seen them noticeably lift when the other came on the field.

 

[Knight Tales]

Too early in the season to be risking the likes of Daniel Saifiti. Obviously no idea what condition he’s in but sounds like a good idea to get another weeks rest in.

As much as I loved our round 1 performance I gotta tell ya I’m super nervous about this one.

I saw no evidence to be nervous. You
are going to get the usual suspects writing us off every week out of fear of being wrong, and in the so called experts arena. All last week we heard we were no chance. What happened when we won? Talking around it. Rationalising. Truth is we totally outplayed them and are an equal side. You don’t beat the Roosters by accident.

Out comes the usual Roosters were poor narrative. We will fade is another. On and on it goes. I think we beat the Tigers in every department. If we lose it will be because we beat ourselves first. The Storm were shot and they still could not finish them off. Three players injured and two season ending! No Grant and no Munster either.

 

[Knight76]

Thing is the media and others are right to make those comments. Because we have been a very average club for a long time, so history is unfortunately on their side.

We have won 1 game. We aren't equal to the Roosters they win premierships.

But, hopefully this attitude shown against the Roosters is how they are now, and will play the 80 every week with grit and determination and get over the top of their opponents whether they be Penrith or the Dogs.

As you say, if we lose against the Tigers it will be because we have beaten ourselves, and that is the story for the Knights over the past few years. Can put in quality performances and rise against good opponents, then get smashed by a bottom 4 team.

 

[Silent Knight]

I saw no evidence to be nervous. You
are going to get the usual suspects writing us off every week out of fear of being wrong, and in the so called experts arena. All last week we heard we were no chance. What happened when we won? Talking around it. Rationalising. Truth is we totally outplayed them and are an equal side. You don’t beat the Roosters by accident.

Out comes the usual Roosters were poor narrative. We will fade is another. On and on it goes. I think we beat the Tigers in every department. If we lose it will be because we beat ourselves first. The Storm were shot and they still could not finish them off. Three players injured and two season ending! No Grant and no Munster either.

This is why I only post in the Knights forum now. There is genuine hostility and resentment towards our club in the other weekly gameday thread, like you said from the usual suspects. Our team is not part of the "in" club and never will be. We apparently only have 1 above average player in our team, we only ever win because the other team was poor, blah blah f*cking blah.

In saying that it wasn't the Roosters fans that were downplaying our performance, a lot of them showed class after the game and said we were the better team and deserved our win. I think the Roosters fans on here are a better bunch than some of the other supporter bases. They've never talked down our team, I guess they don't have to considering how much success they've enjoyed over the years.