Round 4 vs Knights

[getsmarty]

Lawrie ready for Knights challenge
St George Illawarra Dragons forward Blake Lawrie says the Dragons have done their research on the new look Knights line-up.

https://www.dragons.com.au/news/2019/04/04/lawrie-ready-for-knights-challenge/

 

[getsmarty]

Dufty keen to hit the ground running in return to St George Illawarra starting lineup

• Cameron Mee

Local Sport

Comfortable: Matt Dufty training in the rain with Corey Norman on Thursday. Picture: Adam McLean.
Heading into the 2019 season, Matt Dufty knew he was set for a reduced role within the Dragons squad.

The off-season arrival of Corey Norman had created a selection headache for Paul McGregor and Dufty became the unlucky man in St George Illawarra's game of musical chairs and moved to the bench. Or, as was the case last weekend, out of the 17 altogether.

While disappointed, it was a role he had accepted.

Suddenly, everything has changed for the 23-year-old. A serious injury to Gareth Widdop has seen Dufty thrust back into St George Illawarra's starting side and into the fullback position.

And he's ready, he said on Thursday, to hit the ground running against Newcastle on Sunday Knight.

"I'm very excited to get back out there and can't wait to play," Dufty said.

"I thought this year was going to be a bit different, there would be a few ins and outs and I wouldn't know what I was really doing. But now we get a chance to practice for next year a year early.

"I'll be looking to hit the ground running, just getting around the ball, having lots of carries, lots of touches, just buzzing around doing my thing. That's what I bring to the team, I bring some energy and that's what I'll be doing on Sunday."

Dufty faces a challenging one-on-one battle in his return to the team, with Kalyn Ponga moving to his preferred fullback position for the Knights.

Having played against each other throughout their junior careers, Dufty knows what to expect from Ponga.

"He's a great threat wherever he plays. Going through the 20s and last year, we've had a few battles and they've been good ones. I'm looking forward to getting out there and battling against him.

"He's just dangerous wherever he plays. He's a bit like Roger [Tuivasa-Sheck] with his feet and he just pops up anywhere. It will be a hard matchup for the team this week."

With Widdop set to miss the next four to five months, the responsibility to lead the Dragons around the park will fall on halves Norman and Ben Hunt.

For Norman, it's a challenge he's looking forward to embracing.

"Me and Hunty, we're definitely going to have to step up now," Norman said. "It was Gaz's team and he's not playing at the moment. Ben's been here for a year now, I'm definitely going to have to step up and help Hunty. There's a bit of experience there, we know what we need to do."

Read more: Frizell edging closer to Dragons return

With Dufty out of the starting lineup through the opening three weeks of the season, Norman has spent very little time playing with his new fullback. He has no concerns, however, that they will struggle to form a combination.

"We've still got our same structures. We play the same if Matt was there, or me, or Gaz. It's just business as usual.

"He came off the bench in the first couple of games and I'm excited to be playing with him, he's a speedster. Our structures are the same, our gameplan's the same, it's just Dufty back there."


https://www.illawarramercury.com.au...as-dragons-prepare-for-newcastle-test/?cs=302

 

[getsmarty]

Host enjoying increased minutes on the field
St George Illawarra Dragons forward Jacob Host talks to the media ahead of their round 4 clash with the Newcastle Knights on Sunday.

https://www.dragons.com.au/news/2019/04/04/host-enjoying-increased-minutes-on-the-field/

 

[getsmarty]

Knights v Dragons - Round 4
Kalyn Ponga and Matt Dufty return to their fullback roles as Newcastle Knights and St George Illawarra Dragons play the last game of Round 4 at McDonald Jones Stadium. Sam Squiers and Jamie Soward preview the matchup

https://www.dragons.com.au/news/2019/04/04/knights-v-dragons---round-4/

 

[getsmarty]

The Lab: The edges leaking bulk tries; Cleary’s unlucky streak against ex-clubs
NRL Premiership

• April 3, 2019 4:55pm
• by Staff writers with Fox Sports Lab
• Source: FOX SPORTS

Fox Sports Lab Round 4 preview.Source: FOX SPORTS
The Warriors and the Dragons have some real issues with their defence heading into must win games in Round 4.

Meanwhile former Tigers coach turned Panthers mentor Ivan Cleary goes into Friday’s clash with his former club with an unenviable record against former teams.

Fox Sports Lab has put together all of the numbers and records that matter for Round 4.


Newcastle Knights v St George Illawarra Dragons at McDonald Jones Stadium (6.10pm)

— The Dragons have won their past two and 20 of their past 26 games against the Knights, dating back to 2004. The Dragons 26 wins against the Knights is their most against any other team and their 70.3% win rate is their second best against any current side (Warriors - 75%).

— Newcastle has lost back-to-back and seven of its past nine games. The Knights have lost three of their past four games in Newcastle, including a 24-14 loss to the Dragons in Round 25 last season.

— Edrick Lee is one try away from his 50th NRL try. He has scored a try in each of his past two games against the Dragons, but lost his past six against them, with his only win coming in his first match against them - Round 17, 2012.

— Kalyn Ponga will move back to fullback for the first time since Round 22 last season. At fullback, Ponga averages 118 run metres, 5.4 tackle busts and one linebreak assist (25 games). In his three games at five-eighth this season, he has averaged 56 metres per game and

failed to make a linebreak.

— Ben Hunt has 16 try assists against the Knights, his most against any opponent.


https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nr...g/news-story/7a73e113a0bc471a1d6ca04c390982e2

 

[Wittenberg]

Gee if we use the Brisbane win last week as our yardstick the Knights should beat us well because the Broncos are pathetic tonight. Jack Bird has been soft in defence and dropped the ball over the line. You know he could fit into our backline the way he is tackling in this game. Although to be fair he has Milford on one side of him and Corey ‘I will misread everything ‘ Oates on the other side. The Roosters have made Brisbane look second rate. Hopefully the Broncos are playing poorly because of how strong we were........ hopefully

 

[rednwhites]

Anzac Day is not going to be fun.

 

[Wittenberg]

Anzac Day is not going to be fun.

That will be our real test. Maybe Frizz will be back and they might take us too easy.

 

[Alec’s-saints]

Roosters never show up on Anzac Day

 

[rednwhites]

That will be our real test. Maybe Frizz will be back and they might take us too easy.

McGregor's team used to be pretty good defensively. He had that in his favour. I feel while our attack has improved in recent years we've developed some obvious deficiencies on our edges and Roosters will have a field day.

In conclusion, sack Mary.

 

[to_ddeath]

Pretty shit attitude. Regardless of how I feel about our coach, I will never reach the point where I hope we lose because we "need a smashing"

I want to win every single game

Was referring to the board and coach, not the players. Those in charge overseeing this mess are the ones who deserve the smashing.

 

[possm]

That will be our real test. Maybe Frizz will be back and they might take us too easy.

Hopefully after the game against the Knights, we will have Lomax, Pearson, Frizell in the 13 and Robson on the bench. Only with these changes can we give it our best shot to defeat the Roosters on ANZAC Day.

 

[Brutalitops]

Hopefully after the game against the Knights, we will have Lomax, Pearson, Frizell in the 13 and Robson on the bench. Only with these changes can we give it our best shot to defeat the Roosters on ANZAC Day.

Pearson isn't pushing down the door in CC. Rava isn't setting the world alight but I think he deserves 2 more games before we look at dropping him. He's not been as diabolical as made out to be, just a few scrappy elements to his game which will be ironed out with time

 

[True_Believer]

Pearson isn't pushing down the door in CC. Rava isn't setting the world alight but I think he deserves 2 more games before we look at dropping him. He's not been as diabolical as made out to be, just a few scrappy elements to his game which will be ironed out with time

I'm with you as far as giving him another couple of games. The issue I have is not the scrappy elements (as they should be easily rectified), but his knowledge of the game. I've seen a couple of things to suggest that at times he doesn't know what he's meant to be doing.

The problem we have in here is the baying for players to be included in the team and then they don't perform to expectation in the first game and then there's calls for them to be dropped. Unless of course you're a forum favourite. Rava is already being called a Mary favourite and he's only 3 games into his career!!

My view is that if we are willing to blood a new player, you have to give them ample opportunity to find their feet.

 

[possm]

I'm with you as far as giving him another couple of games. The issue I have is not the scrappy elements (as they should be easily rectified), but his knowledge of the game. I've seen a couple of things to suggest that at times he doesn't know what he's meant to be doing.

The problem we have in here is the baying for players to be included in the team and then they don't perform to expectation in the first game and then there's calls for them to be dropped. Unless of course you're a forum favourite. Rava is already being called a Mary favourite and he's only 3 games into his career!!

My view is that if we are willing to blood a new player, you have to give them ample opportunity to find their feet.

When purchasing/signing a player, club officials justify their actions in terms of the quality of talent they have landed. Rava was lauded as a big, strong winger with lots of speed and the ability to take a high ball. We have no idea really as we don't get to Rava's performance during off-season training.

For personal/family reasons, we did not see anything of Pearson during the trials and so it was Rava who moved forward into first grade. For me I can agree with most posters who say Rava needs further development and may very well turn out to be a good first grade winger in time however, I have seen enough to say he is not ready and because of this we need to take a look at an alternative winger in order to see if he is a better option.

Next cabs of the rank are Pearson, Maranta and maybe Field. Saab has still a fair way to go but will be eligible for selection after June 30.

 

[41yearsaint]

Would have loved to see Rava hold onto that intercept. Hopefully he gets into the open this week and shows what hes got.
Im backing him to improve each game.

 

[jeffdragon]

The Lab: The edges leaking bulk tries; Cleary’s unlucky streak against ex-clubs
NRL Premiership

• April 3, 2019 4:55pm
• by Staff writers with Fox Sports Lab
• Source: FOX SPORTS

Fox Sports Lab Round 4 preview.Source: FOX SPORTS
The Warriors and the Dragons have some real issues with their defence heading into must win games in Round 4.

Meanwhile former Tigers coach turned Panthers mentor Ivan Cleary goes into Friday’s clash with his former club with an unenviable record against former teams.

Fox Sports Lab has put together all of the numbers and records that matter for Round 4.


Newcastle Knights v St George Illawarra Dragons at McDonald Jones Stadium (6.10pm)

— The Dragons have won their past two and 20 of their past 26 games against the Knights, dating back to 2004. The Dragons 26 wins against the Knights is their most against any other team and their 70.3% win rate is their second best against any current side (Warriors - 75%).

— Newcastle has lost back-to-back and seven of its past nine games. The Knights have lost three of their past four games in Newcastle, including a 24-14 loss to the Dragons in Round 25 last season.

— Edrick Lee is one try away from his 50th NRL try. He has scored a try in each of his past two games against the Dragons, but lost his past six against them, with his only win coming in his first match against them - Round 17, 2012.

— Kalyn Ponga will move back to fullback for the first time since Round 22 last season. At fullback, Ponga averages 118 run metres, 5.4 tackle busts and one linebreak assist (25 games). In his three games at five-eighth this season, he has averaged 56 metres per game and

failed to make a linebreak.

— Ben Hunt has 16 try assists against the Knights, his most against any opponent.


https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nr...g/news-story/7a73e113a0bc471a1d6ca04c390982e2

Bris scored two tries from our errors not defence,They were 50/50.
I bet if it was the other way round we wouldn't have been given them.
Friz back expecting a win.

 

[Slippery Morris]

Browny is a smart cookie and will have a plan to target Ravalawa. Watch all the tries go through that side of the field. Ponga will have a field day. Mary will then wake up after it is too late and replace him with Lomax. That is my prediction for this game.

 

[Dragsters]

Would have loved to see Rava hold onto that intercept. Hopefully he gets into the open this week and shows what hes got.
Im backing him to improve each game.

You mean just like Pearson did in the CC vs the Panthers?

Rava has potential and deserves a few more games to show he can keep improving but it is nice to know that Pearson is pushing his case as well...

 

[Dragonsamy]

Next cabs of the rank are Pearson, Maranta and maybe Field. Saab has still a fair way to go but will be eligible for selection after June 30.

Saab has not even had a run in the CC cup.
He has played Jersey Flagg and had not been setting the world on fire yet.
He is a least a year or 2 away.
Pearson had a good game last week but that was his only one.
His attitude to training needs to improve.
Maranta is going ok but way off NRL standard.
Must get better in defense as well.
Field is field either brilliant or very average.
Watch the lower grades then you would know why they are not in nrl.