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Knights wary of wounded Tigers
DAVID BENIUK
May 20, 2010 - 5:24PM
AAP
Newcastle are bracing themselves for a fearsome rebound from the wounded Wests Tigers when the NRL rivals do battle at EnergyAustralia Stadium on Friday night.
Embarrassed by last Sunday's 50-10 loss to South Sydney and staring down the barrel of a season-defining fifth straight loss, the Tigers hit the road to redemption early when they got out of Sydney this week.
They headed to Newcastle midweek, avoiding the media amidst reports playmaker Benji Marshall was unhappy, and are certain to come out breathing fire in an attempt to get their season back on track.
The Knights know they will need to meet that fire and maintain the intensity they showed in downing former coach Brian Smith's Sydney Roosters 34-18 last weekend.
"They're going to be a dangerous team, no doubt," Knights coach Rick Stone said.
"Pride is a common denominator in most bounce-back performances from any athlete in most sports.
"Obviously the Tigers' pride's going to be a bit dented after last week and that's something that we're wary of.
"They've played some good footy this year, the last couple of weeks haven't been their best and obviously last week was probably their worst, but I think we'll see a different Tigers team this week."
But Stone downplayed the significance of the Tigers' mini-camp in enemy territory as they seek to regain some form.
"They've got to do what they've go to do and that's not going to interest me too much," Stone said.
He said last week's performance at Bluetongue Stadium, where wing sensation Akuila Uate rocketed to the top of the NRL's leading tryscorers' list, was a good benchmark for the Tigers' clash.
"Our intensity and concentration was pretty good for 80 minutes last week," Stone said.
"A repeat of that will go a long way to winning on Friday night, that's something we definitely need to bring to the table for the Wests Tigers."
Both sides have four wins for the season, a position that would have seemed laughable when the talked-up Tigers jumped out of the blocks at the start of the season.
The Tigers dropped out of the top eight with last week's loss and sit ninth while the Knights are 12th.
Both sides are injury-depleted, but the Tigers have lost no player to State of Origin while Newcastle's spine will be without Jarrod Mullen (back), Isaac De Gois (ribs) and captain Kurt Gidley (NSW).
"It's pretty hard to measure," Stone said of fullback Gidley's loss.
"He does a lot for us both sides of the footy and probably at training, the way he helps prepare the team and keep them on edge, is the important one."
Tigers centre Blake Ayshford (groin) and forward Liam Fulton (shoulder) have joined a long injury list, with Geoff Daniela named to start and Simon Dwyer and debutant Josh Davis added to a five-man bench.
DAVID BENIUK
May 20, 2010 - 5:24PM
AAP
Newcastle are bracing themselves for a fearsome rebound from the wounded Wests Tigers when the NRL rivals do battle at EnergyAustralia Stadium on Friday night.
Embarrassed by last Sunday's 50-10 loss to South Sydney and staring down the barrel of a season-defining fifth straight loss, the Tigers hit the road to redemption early when they got out of Sydney this week.
They headed to Newcastle midweek, avoiding the media amidst reports playmaker Benji Marshall was unhappy, and are certain to come out breathing fire in an attempt to get their season back on track.
The Knights know they will need to meet that fire and maintain the intensity they showed in downing former coach Brian Smith's Sydney Roosters 34-18 last weekend.
"They're going to be a dangerous team, no doubt," Knights coach Rick Stone said.
"Pride is a common denominator in most bounce-back performances from any athlete in most sports.
"Obviously the Tigers' pride's going to be a bit dented after last week and that's something that we're wary of.
"They've played some good footy this year, the last couple of weeks haven't been their best and obviously last week was probably their worst, but I think we'll see a different Tigers team this week."
But Stone downplayed the significance of the Tigers' mini-camp in enemy territory as they seek to regain some form.
"They've got to do what they've go to do and that's not going to interest me too much," Stone said.
He said last week's performance at Bluetongue Stadium, where wing sensation Akuila Uate rocketed to the top of the NRL's leading tryscorers' list, was a good benchmark for the Tigers' clash.
"Our intensity and concentration was pretty good for 80 minutes last week," Stone said.
"A repeat of that will go a long way to winning on Friday night, that's something we definitely need to bring to the table for the Wests Tigers."
Both sides have four wins for the season, a position that would have seemed laughable when the talked-up Tigers jumped out of the blocks at the start of the season.
The Tigers dropped out of the top eight with last week's loss and sit ninth while the Knights are 12th.
Both sides are injury-depleted, but the Tigers have lost no player to State of Origin while Newcastle's spine will be without Jarrod Mullen (back), Isaac De Gois (ribs) and captain Kurt Gidley (NSW).
"It's pretty hard to measure," Stone said of fullback Gidley's loss.
"He does a lot for us both sides of the footy and probably at training, the way he helps prepare the team and keep them on edge, is the important one."
Tigers centre Blake Ayshford (groin) and forward Liam Fulton (shoulder) have joined a long injury list, with Geoff Daniela named to start and Simon Dwyer and debutant Josh Davis added to a five-man bench.
