Match Discussion: Round 23 vs Wests Tigers @ McDonald Jones Stadium, New Lambton / Awabakal

[League Unlimited News]

NRL 2024 - Round 23
Newcastle Knights v Wests Tigers
McDonald Jones Stadium, New Lambton / Awabakal (TICKETS)

Sunday 11 August 2024
NRL kickoff 4:05pm
Broadcast live on Nine, 9Now, Fox, Kayo

1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Fletcher Sharpe 3. Dane Gagai 4. Dylan Lucas 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Tyson Gamble 7. Phoenix Crossland 8. Daniel Saifiti 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Leo Thompson 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Adam Elliott 14. Jack Cogger 15. Mathew Croker 16. Jack Hetherington 17. Brodie Jones 18. Thomas Cant 19. Sebastian Su'a 20. Jackson Hastings 21. Will Pryce 22. Krystian Mapapalangi

In: Brodie Jones (bench), Sebastian Su'a (reserve), Jackson Hastings (reserve), Will Pryce (reserve), Krystian Mapapalangi (reserve)

1. Jahream Bula 2. Solomon Alaimalo 3. Solomona Faataape 4. Adam Doueihi 5. Charlie Staines 6. Lachlan Galvin 7. Aidan Sezer 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. David Klemmer 11. Reuben Porter 12. Samuela Fainu 13. Isaiah Papali'i 14. Tallyn Da Silva 15. Alex Seyfarth 16. Fonua Pole 17. Alex Twal 18. Heath Mason 19. Tim Johannssen 20. Josh Feledy 21. Declan Casey 22. Tony Sukkar

Out: Justin Olam (centre), Latu Fainu (halfback)
In: Adam Doueihi (centre), Aidan Sezer (halfback), Fonua Pole (bench), Josh Feledy (reserve), Declan Casey (reserve), Tanous Sukkar (reserve)

Referee: Belinda Sharpe
Sideline Officials: Jon Stone, Kieren Irons
Video Referee: Gerard Sutton

HEAD TO HEAD - 2000 - 2024​

	TOTAL	NEWCASTLE	WESTS TIGERS	DRAWN
ALL MATCHES	37	20	17	0
MCD. JONES	20	11	9	0

LAST FIVE MEETINGS​

YEAR	ROUND	RESULT	VENUE	CROWD
2022	Round 2	NEWCASTLE 26-4	McD. Jones	23214
2022	Round 21	NEWCASTLE 14-10	Campbelltown	9621
2023	Round 2	NEWCASTLE 14-12	Leichhardt	13214
2023	Round 20	NEWCASTLE 34-18	McD. Jones	18470
2024	Round 10	NEWCASTLE 20-14	Scully	10107

BIGGEST WINS​

YEAR	ROUND	RESULT	VENUE	CROWD
2001	Round 10	NEWCASTLE 56-6	Marathon	15105
2019	Round 23	WESTS TIGERS 46-4	Campbelltown	11107

NEXT FOUR MATCHES​

	Round 24	Round 25	Round 26	Round 27
NEWCASTLE	CRONULLA (A)	SOUTHS (A)	GOLD COAST (H)	DOLPHINS (H)
WESTS TIGERS	SOUTHS (H)	MANLY (H)	(BYE)	PARRAMATTA (H)

LAST THREE MATCHES​

	Round 20		Round 21		Round 22
NEWCASTLE	BRISBANE	L 14-30	(BYE)		PENRITH	L 14-22
WESTS TIGERS	SOUTHS	L 28-42	WARRIORS	L 16-28	NORTH QLD	L 30-48

STATE OF PLAY: 2024 SEASON​

	POSITION	PLAYED	BYES	W-L-D	FOR	AGAINST
NEWCASTLE	12th	19	3	8-11-0	332	437
WESTS TIGERS	17th	20	2	4-16-0	367	614

 

[Yosh]

Come on... Let's win this at least lads.

 

[Nuke]

This is the kind of game that I fear more than today's game. Throughout our history, we've turned up against the more fancied teams but will then either lose to the teams at the bottom or win very ugly.

 

[Knight Tales]

The consequence of letting a big opportunity slip yesterday, through our now chronic inability to ice big moments, means our favourable run home means not a great deal.

 

[ryan.a87]

Is cogger our 14 for the rest of the year?

is there someone else I’m not thinking of that we are waiting to come back from injury or something?

 

[Old dog]

With what we have I would rather have 6 Gamble, 7 Cogger, 9/14 Crosslands/Brailey

 

[slotmachine]

Crossland's game yesterday was like every other one of his games at half.

Defends well, kicks OK (although he did end up catching the Hastings chip bomb disease) and offered absolutely nothing with the ball. Is that better than Cogger, not sure tbh. But it's definitely not a long-term option especially with Gamble at 6 who also has his flaws.

 

[perverse]

Crossland's game yesterday was like every other one of his games at half.

Defends well, kicks OK (although he did end up catching the Hastings chip bomb disease) and offered absolutely nothing with the ball. Is that better than Cogger, not sure tbh. But it's definitely not a long-term option especially with Gamble at 6 who also has his flaws.

He's a better option than Hastings right now imo. We undeniably had more energy with the ball yesterday than we have for ages with Jacko in at first receiver. The rest... yeah, 6 one way, half a dozen the other. Both suck.

 

[Knight Tales]

Keep the same side. The effort was great. They seem happier minus Jackson. Frustrated they can’t get it right but they are giving it their all.

 

[Zoidberg]

Only change with the 6/7/9/14 I want to see trialled is
6. Pryce
7. Gamble
9. Crossland
14. Brailey
But it won’t happen.

 

[Woody90]

Crossland's game yesterday was like every other one of his games at half.

Defends well, kicks OK (although he did end up catching the Hastings chip bomb disease) and offered absolutely nothing with the ball. Is that better than Cogger, not sure tbh. But it's definitely not a long-term option especially with Gamble at 6 who also has his flaws.

Both are shit in attack (at halfback) but at least Crossland can tackle so he gets the points over Cogger for mine.

 

[Nuke]

Only change with the 6/7/9/14 I want to see trialled is
6. Pryce
7. Gamble
9. Crossland
14. Brailey
But it won’t happen.

It'd be about the only combination we're yet to try this year. I'd be for it.

 

[Rod]

We can still make it, but now in must win territory obviously.

I can't be confident of beating anyone when we're only scoring 14-16 points per game. But if the attack/Ponga somehow clicks then the defence will be good enough for the win.

 

[perverse]

We can still make it, but now in must win territory obviously.

I can't be confident of beating anyone when we're only scoring 14-16 points per game. But if the attack/Ponga somehow clicks then the defence will be good enough for the win.

Honestly, I don't want to make it anymore.

 

[Zoidberg]

Ponga somehow escaped a charge for his high shot on Tago. Phew!

 

[Yosh]

Honestly, I don't want to make it anymore.

I personally want us to get hammered the last couple of games we got left and then fire AOB already.

 

[Rod]

Honestly, I don't want to make it anymore.

Understandable, but AOB isn't getting fired and whoever ends up making 7th/8th is hardly going to be much better than us.

I guess the worst thing about it would be that our uninspiring style of play had been rewarded.

 

[Zoidberg]

Understandable, but AOB isn't getting fired and whoever ends up making 7th/8th is hardly going to be much better than us.

I guess the worst thing about it would be that our uninspiring style of play had been rewarded.

The worst part would be that inkling of hope we would have if we made the finals. Just to be squashed embarrassingly week 1.

 

[perverse]

Understandable, but AOB isn't getting fired and whoever ends up making 7th/8th is hardly going to be much better than us.

I guess the worst thing about it would be that our uninspiring style of play had been rewarded.

That's pretty much it for me, yeah. There's no joy in winning when it validates this mess in any capacity. AOB firing or not, there's just not a lot of joy in winning under these circumstances. Somehow this team has completely taken the fun out of winning for me.

They're just horrible to watch and insanely difficult to support right now.

 

[Old dog]

Rest of season should be used to trial new ideas, new players, see who will make it and who won’t, few good young players in Cup side