R3 | Titans 18-20 Knights @ CBUS Super | Sun 6.30pm (AEDT)

[Alex28]

Teams announced

Looks like Rick "copy/paste" Stone is at it again

I remember this being our biggest complaint about him before Bennett took over

Because you'd be dropping players after 2 wins...

 

[League_God]

Houston is the only player who I really object to being in the side. Everyone else I can live with.
At 30 years of age and 7 seasons in the nrl (not including 2010 obviously) we know objectively what he offers.
Tapine (20), Finn (23), Vai Vai (23), Sam Mataora (24) are the future and deserve a shot.

 

[Sacrolishes]

They do deserve the shot. You're absolutely right. But I think Stone his plan with all this. He isn't one to name changes on "team naming day" unless he's forced to by injury or suspension. His first change I think will come through Tariq being back, which will most likely drop Houston or fa'alongo and move Smith or Rochow to bench.

Stone will be carefully watching NSW Cup and I think he'll be wanting to see a few successive games by their forwards that dominate teams and win games via Vai Vai, Mataora and Finn and Tapine. I have no doubts that Vai Vai will be a regular by seasons end. It'll be a fight between he and Mataora and Stockwell. But I have really liked Stockwell so far.

2nd note. I think he'll (Stone) bring them in on form to replace a current player in 17 out of form at a home game over an away game, easier to prepare for I feel. So I'm looking at the Penrith or Dragons game we'll see a change - not including Mr T Sims.

3rd note. The new mongrel in our team is awesome. Can you imagine how much more it will grow with Tariq in the squad?!? Boo yaa!!

 

[Noname36]

Since Rochow has been going so good I wouldn't mind us bringing Tariq back from the bench. It's no secret we've had some issues with the bench and Tariq would give us some impact there.

I just hope we don't do something stupid like drop Stockwell for Tariq and keep Houston and Fa'alogo.

I have to admit that Stockwell has made me eat my words. I thought he was a younger version of House based on what I'd seen but he's been doing really well. I'm going to be really disappointed if he's the sacrificial lamb when Tariq comes back.

 

[Yosh]

I think our game play has been based more on defense than attack. House hasn't done anythinh special in attack but hasn't really made a glaring error in defence either. If he contines to shore up the middle, Stone's probably confident that our outside backs can score the tries to win us the game.

Fa'alogo has not played well at all though...

 

[The Showstopper]

Maybe Rick sent the boys out there to make a statement of intent and the scrappiness of our victories is testament to that. We are very physical. We are taking it to other teams and we have clearly pissed them off. About time. This season I wanted us to define ourselves above all else. Get back the brutal edge we are built on. Ironically the expansive days of Johns inc. probably led to us becoming diluted. We won comps on the back of Joey's genius but had we been smart enough to put a rugged pack of no name hard arses in front of him for longer we could have won more titles. His ability to make average backs appear brilliant will never be topped.

 

[Bring it home Knights]

Out of curiosity how many tries have we conceded and how many of them were from kicks? i can't remember the last time I saw us defend so well as a unit!

 

[Chicken_Hunter]

So we are the second most penalised team in the comp so far.

I have concerns for us going into this game that our players are going to be scrutinised by refs a lot more this week for any 'grub' style tactics. I guarantee when beau Scott puts pressure on Sezer and Mortimer he will be penalised. It will be a knee jerk reaction from the refs against us.

 

[Swarzey]

Four tries conceded, two from kicks and literally inches in all of them. Very impressive IMO.

 

[Still Nutty]

So we are the second most penalised team in the comp so far.

I have concerns for us going into this game that our players are going to be scrutinised by refs a lot more this week for any 'grub' style tactics. I guarantee when beau Scott puts pressure on Sezer and Mortimer he will be penalised. It will be a knee jerk reaction from the refs against us.

To be honest, after last years performance, I hope the forwards put pressure on their forwards - Dave Taylor played the best game I've seen him ever play and tore us a new one in this game last year at home.

I know a lot were overawed by the occasion for Alex but I hope they remember that game and return the favour and shut their pack down and run riot in the backs

 

[Frederick]

To be honest, after last years performance, I hope the forwards put pressure on their forwards - Dave Taylor played the best game I've seen him ever play and tore us a new one in this game last year at home.

I know a lot were overawed by the occasion for Alex but I hope they remember that game and return the favour and shut their pack down and run riot in the backs

Yes he did, but he was a forward running at centres and wingers. Biggest coward to ever play the game

 

[Still Nutty]

Yes he did, but he was a forward running at centres and wingers. Biggest coward to ever play the game

No argument - but on that day he was the most effective 'coward' on the field

 

[Noname36]

Wrong thread

 

[Chicken_Hunter]

Game day!

Late mail is same as last week, sione in for Randall. However Randall has traveled with the team.

IMO Randall needs to play. I don't care who's FB. Word is sione has had a bit of a virus too.

 

[Noname36]

To be honest I couldn't care less who out of Sione or Randall plays but we can't keep travelling with both. The one that's not going to get a run needs to still play NSW Cup to keep their match fitness up. It's only round 3. They need game time every week even if it isn't in FG.

If Randall's not playing again I think Stone has been very careless there. He should have let him stay home and play NSW Cup. If Sione's not playing today and he's fit at least give him a run with the 20s.

 

[Chicken_Hunter]

Rick stone will finalise the team an hour before kick off.

Shits me because I had Randall in my fantasy team last week after he scored well in round 1.

 

[Jono078]

I think Randell would be the better option this week, he can come on after 25 and be quick out of dummy half and split the titans forwards.

 

[Zoidberg]

Rain and storms predicted for the Gold Coast today, might make things a bit tougher on our backs (and a bit wetter for me damnit).

 

[Whats Doing]

Poured this morning on the Gold Coast but has stopped and the clouds are light.

I'd say it will be a firm track today by kick off

 

[Tom155]

Team finalised for today

KNIGHTS
1. Kurt Gidley (c)
2. James McManus
3. Dane Gagai
4. Joey Leilua
5. Akuila Uate
6. Jarrod Mullen
7. Tyrone Roberts
8. Kade Snowden
9. Adam Clydsdale
10. Korbin Sims
11. Beau Scott
12. Robbie Rochow
13. Jeremy Smith

Interchange
15 Chris Houston
16. David Fa'alogo
17. Jack Stockwell
18. Sione Mata'utia

http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news/2015/03/22/late_mail_titans_v_k.html