Match previews

[Guest]

Laurie Daley's round 11 preview

Newcastle v Wests Tigers, EnergyAustralia Stadium, Friday, 7.35pm (EST)

It's a big game for the Tigers given what they went through last week. You would think they would be motivated to play well after that. So the effort will be there but whether the confidence in your own ability has returned we will see. For Newcastle Kurt Gidley and Jarrod Mullen aren’t playing and that takes away a lot of their leadership and guidance and this could be a game they really miss those players. The Tigers, if they can control the football and defend with more commitment than they did last week they should win this one. They have too much talent not to.

 

[triserratops]

holy crap!

daley's on our side!!

was he drunk when he wrote this or is he on the sheens payroll?

laurie is a knob! regardless of who he tipped this week!

 

[NJLM78]

Laurie Daley's round 11 preview

Newcastle v Wests Tigers, EnergyAustralia Stadium, Friday, 7.35pm (EST)

It's a big game for the Tigers given what they went through last week. You would think they would be motivated to play well after that. So the effort will be there but whether the confidence in your own ability has returned we will see. For Newcastle Kurt Gidley and Jarrod Mullen aren’t playing and that takes away a lot of their leadership and guidance and this could be a game they really miss those players. The Tigers, if they can control the football and defend with more commitment than they did last week they should win this one. They have too much talent not to.

Have to agree. Surely they will turn up to play this week.

 

[Brisbane_Tiger]

I hate this bloke….

we are doomed if he is tipping us...

 

[izotope]

he tipped against us last week? and they put 50 points on us, how much more doomed can we get!?

but god he annoys me, can't believe he is NSW selector wow.

 

[Guest]

Knights v Wests Tigers Preview
NRL.comThu, 20 May 2010 9:

EnergyAustralia Stadium
Friday 7.35pm

Friday night football can't come soon enough for the Wests Tigers, as they look to salvage some pride and get back to the winner’s circle after a dreadful past few weeks that culminated in a 50-10 demolition at the hands of the Bunnies.

But if they think they will be given an armchair ride back to form by the Newcastle Knights, they have another thing coming.

Fresh from “sticking it” to their former coach, the Knights are just a win outside the top eight and they know a win here could even see them inside the finals zone despite currently residing in 12th.

It would take them ahead of the Tigers, who are currently running ninth.

However, a loss for the home side would once again see them slipping away from the pack, so it’s no surprise they'll be pumped for a big showing.

They have lost their inspirational captain Kurt Gidley to Origin duties, and his back-up Shannon McDonnell to injury, but still have a reasonable side.

Wes Naiqama moves from centre to fullback and Junior Sa’u returns from injury in the centres. Scott Dureau wins a reprieve at halfback after being dropped last week, while Matt Hilder will play hooker for the injured Isaac De Gois.

Cameron Ciraldo has been named at lock, pushing Mark Taufua to the bench, and George Ndaira replaces Evarn Tuimavave in the reserves list.

The Wests Tigers travel up the F3 knowing they can't afford another loss, as it could plummet them as low as 12th on the table. With further injury worries out of the Rabbitohs game, the side has changed again.

Blake Ayshford is out for an extended period, with Geoff Daniela coming in at centre. Liam Fulton is also out for at least a month, with Mark Flanagan starting in the second row, while Simon Dwyer and Josh Davis are the new bench options.

Watch out Knights: The Wests Tigers might be on a slide, but they still have impressive stats when it comes to scoring up the middle of the park – and considering Newcastle's occasionally brittle ruck defence, you can bet your bottom dollar they'll spend a lot of their focus up the guts.

With 12 tries scored in the middle of the field, the Tigers are the third most prolific team in the NRL, thanks mainly to the direction of hooker Robbie Farah. With his omission from the Origin side still fresh, Farah will be out to prove he belongs in sky blue by sending plenty of traffic against the Knights’ middle men.

Their 15 tries conceded up the middle makes Newcastle the weakest side in the NRL; they must find some steel if they are to challenge for a finals berth. The side must also be aware of long-range attacks, as the Tigers have posted 10 tries from over halfway, the most of any side in the competition.

Watch out Wests Tigers: The Knights play their best footy when they keep the ball alive and create second-phase – and perhaps this is the game to chance their hand even more.

Having seen the Rabbitohs demoralise the joint venture side with enterprising attack last week, the Knights should try to add to their impressive 131 offloads for the season – the third most in the NRL. With the knowledge the Wests Tigers have conceded 113 offloads in 2010 (a high number), the Newcastle juggernaut has been given an open invitation. Cory Paterson is their main man, with 20 offloads already this year, but prop Richie Fa'aoso is also reasonably adept at popping a good pass.

Where it will be won: Building pressure will be the key. Both sides have the strike power and capabilities to break the line and to break it often, so points should come. But they key will be posting back-to-back tries.

Repeat sets will be vital; it will put pressure on both sets of halves to have the ball on a string. Robert Lui and Benji Marshall aren't in top form at the moment, but if they focus on getting the ball back when all-out attack doesn't work, their side will be much better off.

The Knights need a big game from Dureau, who returns after being dropped. Will he fire, or is his confidence now shot?

The history: Played 14; Knights 7, Wests Tigers 7\. The two teams share head-to-head honours but the Wests Tigers have won three of the past four matches between the two clubs. At EnergyAustralia Stadium the Knights have a slender 4-3 advantage.

Conclusion: Both sides are under-strength, but still reasonably matched.

The Knights at home are always tough but the Wests Tigers have the side to get the job done… but do they have the will? Pressure is building around the club and rumours exist of player unrest. If all of this continues to distract the players, their next win could be a long while off.

Meanwhile, if the Knights don't experience a hangover from last weekend's emotional win over the Roosters, they can certainly steal this match – but don't place all of your hard-earned on it.

Match Officials: Referees: Jason Robinson & Alan Shortall; Sideline Officials: Jeff Younis & Daniel Eastwood; Video Ref: Steve Clark.

Televised: Channel Nine – Live 7.30pm (NSW & Qld); Fox Sports – Delayed 10.30pm.

 

[Guest]

Preview: Knights v Wests Tigers
Scott Brooks

VENUE & TIME: EnergyAustralia Stadium, Friday, May 21, 7.35pm (AEST)
COVERAGE: Channel 9
HEAD TO HEADPlayed 14, Knights 7, Tigers 7
LAST TIME: Tigers 26 - Knights 24 at Campbelltown Stadium, Round 7, 2009

WALKING WOUNDED: The Knights were ravaged by injury in the second half against the Roosters last week, losing hooker Isaac De Gois for a couple of weeks with a rib injury, interchange forward Evarn Tuimavave for the season with a ruptured Achilles and full-back Shannon McDonnell (knee). The injured trio joins Jarrod Mullen (ankle), Adam MacDougall (thumb), Zeb Taia (ribs) and James McManus, who are already on the sidelines. NSW Origin duties will rob Newcastle of skipper Kurt Gidley's services, but centre Junior Sa'u will take his place in the side after suffering a groin injury in the warm-up to last Saturday night's game. The Tigers suffered a double injury blow last Sunday at the SCG, with centre Blake Ayshford (groin) and forward Liam Fulton (shoulder) both now out for up to a month. With five other players on the club's casualty list, coach Tim Sheens has resisted the urge for mass changes following last week's humiliating loss to Souths.

FORM: The Knights put their controversial two-point Round 10 loss to the Titans behind them to produce an ultra-spirited performance against the Roosters last Saturday night. Despite losing three players to injury during the second-half, Rick Stone's men refused to wilt under the pressure of having just one man on the interchange bench, emerging comfortable 34-18 winners. It was one of the club's better 80 minute performances of the year. In contrast, the Tigers produced one of their worst 80-minute efforts in years last Sunday when they were pummeled to the tune of 10-50 by the Rabbitohs. After a bright start to the season, the merged club has now lost four on the trot, putting the pressure firmly on the shoulders of coach Tim Sheens, whose poor NRL coaching record over the last 13 years is now under the media microscope.

WHO'S HOT: How good are the Knights wingers? Akuila Uate and Cooper Vuna bagged five meat pies between them last weekend, with Uate's hat-trick catapulting him to the top of the NRL tryscorers list. Vuna will surely be in line for a Kiwi Four-Nations call-up later in the year if he keeps his current form up. The former Warrior would have to be the hardest-running winger in the NRL at present.

WE THINK: If you take into account the Knights' attack and the Tigers' defence over the past three weeks then a comfortable victory for the Novocastrians could well be on the cards here. But the bounce-back factor in rugby league cannot be underestimated and the Tigers will be fielding a strong enough team to do the job, particularly after what should be a grueling and highly-disciplined week at training with an angry Tim Sheens and Steve Folkes leading the charge. The Tigers have won their past three matches in Newcastle, while the Knights have struggled at home this year, winning just one of four games at EnergyAustralia. Tigers by 12.

 

[Poppa]

After last week we need all the WT players to play otherwise this too will be another loss for us.So all the big guns need to turn it on big time,if not, maybe coach Sheens needs to drop some to the NSW Cup for a few rounds,and move some of the West Magpies and BRE blokes up to NRL.One thing we can't do any worse…....
\
\
:sign: :supporter: :brick:

 

[Guest]

Newcastle Knights v Wests Tigers
GREG PRICHARD
May 21, 2010

Friday, EnergyAustralia Stadium, 7.35pm
Referees: Jason Robinson and Alan Shortall
Head to head: Knights 7, Tigers 7
Last clash: Tigers 26-24 at Campbelltown Stadium (rd 7, 2009)
TAB SportsBet: Knights $2.00, Tigers $1.80
FootyTab: Knights +2.5

The Tigers have been on a slippery slide with four straight losses, including a 50-10 flogging from the Rabbitohs at their last start, and now they have to go to Newcastle to face a Knights side that is rejuvenated. The Knights have won three of their last five games, and will be attempting back-to-back wins for the first time this season. The Knights will have had six days to prepare, while the Tigers are on the dreaded five-day turnaround and have to play away on top of that.

But on the negative side for the Knights is the fact their star player - fullback Kurt Gidley - has been lost to State of Origin, with NSW. Coach Rick Stone has named Wes Naiqama at fullback. The Knights are also still without injured five-eighth, Jarrod Mullen. The Tigers have plenty of injuries, but at least they still have star playmakers Benji Marshall and Robbie Farah available. Marshall had a shocker against the Rabbitohs. It's a tricky one. If the Tigers come good, it's game on.