Match Discussion: Round 24 vs Gold Coast @ Sunshine Coast Stadium

[League Unlimited News]

NRL 2021 - Round 24
Newcastle Knights v Gold Coast Titans
Sunshine Coast Stadium, Kawana Waters (TICKETS)
Thursday 26 August 2021

NRL kickoff 7:50pm

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

1. Jayden Campbell 2. Phillip Sami 3. Brian Kelly 4. Patrick Herbert 5. Corey Thompson 6. Tyrone Peachey 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Jarrod Wallace 9. Mitch Rein 10. Tino Fa'asuamaleaui 11. Kevin Proctor 12. Beau Fermor 13. Sam McIntyre
Interchange: 14. Erin Clark 15. David Fifita 16. Moeaki Fotuaika 17. Jaimin Jolliffe 18. Toby Sexton 19. Sam Lisone 20. Esan Marsters 21. Greg Marzhew

Referees: Grant Atkins
Sideline Officials: Chris Sutton, Chris Butler
Video Referees: Ashley Klein​

 

[alexwilliams_66692007]

Not looking forward to this one at all, Titans by 30

 

[Zoidberg]

Titans are a bogey team for us.
We’ve overcome a few bogeys this season.
Not confident of overcoming this one unfortunately.

 

[Old dog]

I think Ponga is injured, not a bit but a lot, plays like he doesn’t want to get involved but he is so essential to the success of the team. Rather than play him performing as he has rest him and play Toa at F/b, not Hoy or Mann, and let’s give it a go. We don’t need to win this to finish 7th as we can beat Broncos and do that or other results could work for us

 

[Yosh]

I think Ponga is injured, not a bit but a lot, plays like he doesn’t want to get involved but he is so essential to the success of the team. Rather than play him performing as he has rest him and play Toa at F/b, not Hoy or Mann, and let’s give it a go. We don’t need to win this to finish 7th as we can beat Broncos and do that or other results could work for us

Apparently according to Fittler and Joey, a groin injury isn't something that heals right away. Stays with you for a long time. I think both of them said it was niggling them for something like two years before they were fully over it.

Maybe Ponga isn't confident in his groin? Maybe we are wrapping him up in wool until the finals where hopefully he comes out guns blazing!

 

[Old dog]

This is where we are, lack of information, reports have said that Ponga is suffering from sternum problems now it’s groin problems, could very well be both.
Surely if one or both problems exist our next best f/b, Toa, Hodgson, Hoy, Mann, should be playing as a fully fit replacement has to be as good or better than an injured Ponga and he is not getting better by playing

 

[Rod]

We're slight favourites at the bookies which surprises me a bit, like you all I'm not overly confident with both Klemmer and Dan out. Although we win the forward battle most weeks and it doesn't help so perhaps this week will be the reverse.

 

[Apey]

We're slight favourites at the bookies which surprises me a bit, like you all I'm not overly confident with both Klemmer and Dan out. Although we win the forward battle most weeks and it doesn't help so perhaps this week will be the reverse.

Time to get the old betting account out...

 

[alexwilliams_66692007]

I really hope this doesn't backfire on us lol

 

[perverse]

I can't even see us beating the Titans on current form, got no idea what the punters are thinking right now.

 

[Mr_Knightside]

So has it actually been confirmed that Klemmer is out? I haven’t seen anything apart from speculation on here.

 

[mozza91]

So has it actually been confirmed that Klemmer is out? I haven’t seen anything apart from speculation on here.

Yeah he took the early plea. No point fighting it with our record at the judiciary.

 

[Old dog]

One of my pet hates, admit guilt/concede and get one week, fight it and lose get two.
With two rounds left to semi‘s and needing a win common sense says don’t fight it rather than risk it and play

 

[Tom155]

Frizz back in for Klemmer otherwise no changes

 

[Still Nutty]

Our challenge this week is to keep the Titan's below 16 - their average is 24 points per game against all comers this year. Our attack is comparatively weak (17 points) but our defence has been statistically diabolical by letting in an average of 24 points a game.

While their defence is worse than ours at 26 points a game, we don't win this game by scoring more points that the Titans, we win this game by making sure they score less points than us on Thursday and it looks like our side and bench is balanced that way.

Our defence has been consistently improving over the second half of the season and this is the game where we need to make it count because we won't outscore them in a free flowing game.

If we can grind an ugly win out, running into the finals, that will be more important in our preparation than scoring 5 tries and still going down by 10.

 

[Jono078]

3 victory cigars on the bench this week? Curious to see how AOB utilises them.

 

[Yosh]

I wanted to see some more Sasagi but doesn't seem like he will get a run at all.

Is To'a alright? I really liked what I saw from him in terms of potential. Hope he plays a part in the future.

 

[perverse]

we win this game by making sure they score less points than us on Thursday

 

[Burwood]

what happens if we score more points than the Titans- is that a win or a loss?

 

[Knight Tales]

Kudos to the NRL for not giving the Titans home ground advantage at CBUS which they could have easily done. I like our chances on the SC.