Round 8: Newcastle Knights vs Gold Coast Titans

[DIEHARD]

Newcastle Knights vs Gold Coast Titans

Teams.

TITANS

1. Preston Campbell
2. Ben Jeffery
3. Luke O'Dwyer
4. Brett Delaney
5. Matt Petersen
6. Ash Harrison
7. Scott Prince
8. Michael Hodgson
9. Nathan Friend
10. Brad Meyers
11. Anthony Laffranchi
12. Mark Minichiello
13. Josh Graham

14. Aaron Cannings
15. James Stosic
16. Gavin Cooper
17. Brenton Bowen
18. Luke Swain
19. Kris Kahler
20. Ian Donnelly
21. Matthew Cross

KNIGHTS

1. Kurt Gidley
2. James McManus
3. Wes Naiqama
4. Keith Lulia
5. Cooper Vuna
6. Chris Bailey
7. Jarrod Mullen
8. Danny Wicks
9. Danny Buderus (c)
10. Jesse Royal
11. Chris Houston
12. Cory Paterson
13. Zeb Taia.

14. Matt Hilder
15. Ben Cross
16. Daniel Tolar
17. Cameron Ciraldo
18. Junior Sau
19. Adam MacDougall
(two to be omitted).

Knights V Titans Preview

EnergyAustralia Stadium, Saturday 5.30pm

THE Titans might sit proudly atop the NRL ladder heading into this clash but they will know they are up for a tough challenge travelling to EnergyAustralia Stadium to play the sixth-placed Knights.

The Newcastle boys have had the benefit of a bye to rest up while the Titans not only played last Sunday, but have three of their top-liners playing in the City-Country clash less than 24 hours earlier.

Workhorse back-rowers Anthony Laffranchi (Country) and Mark Minichiello (City) will be opposing each other on Friday night, while centre Brett Delaney will also line up for the City boys.

Sure the Knights’ captain Danny Buderus and prop Ben Cross are also playing for Country, but the Titans are still without gun players Luke Bailey (wrist injury) and Matt Rogers (suspension) also.

Considering the workload usually placed on Laffranchi and Minichiello, it will be a tough ask to just back up, let alone feature prominently in the match.

The Knights welcome back Jarrod Mullen to their line-up at halfback, sending Australian representative Kurt Gidley back to fullback, Wes Naiqama back to centre and Adam MacDougall to the bench. Danny Wicks has been named to start at prop, allowing Cross to start from the bench, while Cameron Ciraldo and Junior Sau have bumped out Richard Fa’aoso to join a six-man bench.

Gidley only needs one try to notch up 50 in his career.

The Titans have added Luke Swain, Kris Kahler, Ian Donnelly and Matt Cross as cover on an eight-man bench in case any of their rep stars can’t perform the double.

Watch out Knights: Preston Campbell was on fire last weekend against the Warriors, making breaks up the middle as well as out wide. The diminutive fullback missed out on Country selection and as such is determined to prove selectors erred in leaving him out. He can slot into any part of a backline move with ease and will need to be constantly monitored by the Knights’ defence. If the forwards get lazy up the middle Campbell will pounce.

Watch out Titans: The Knights are coming at your weakest defensive side as it also doubles as their stronger attacking side. The Knights have scored 12 tries this season on the left (only seven on right) and know full well the Gold Coast boys have leaked 12 tries on the left compared to just five on the right.

The Knights also average more offloads than any other side in the NRL with 14.33 a game.

Where it will be won: Goal-line defence. Both these sides have been very effective at scoring tries from close range, meaning the side that muscles up on their goal line will be the one to prove triumphant.

Having played one extra game the Titans have scored 16 tries from 0-10 metres out from the line this year, the most of any team; the Knights have scored 14 from the same distance to be running second in the competition.

The Knights have conceded 10 tries from this range and the Titans eight, giving the visitors an edge. Whichever side keeps the other away from close range will be likely to come out on top.

The History: Played 1; Knights 0, Titans 1. The only match between the two clubs came last year at Gold Coast Stadium where the Titans prevailed 28-22. It is worth mentioning that the Titans away record is still awful – despite beating Parramatta in Sydney a few weeks ago they still have only managed to win three of 14 away games in their history.

Conclusion: The Titans may have won five straight and sit alone atop the NRL ladder but they face a tough hurdle here. If Laffranchi and Minichiello can’t provide their usual service then the ledger falls towards the Knights, even without Buderus, which is expected to be the case.

The Knights will be expecting a result here, and if they miss out on the victory it will see them fall back into the mire that is the middle of a congested NRL ladder. A 50:50 call here… which means it’s usually better to tip the home side.

By the way – if you’re heading out to the game don’t forget to take along a can of food or old blankets for the Knights’ Samaritans Appeal.

Match officials: Referee – Gavin Badger; Sideline Officials – Peter Kirby & Russell Turner; Video ref – Russell Smith.

Televised: Foxsports 2 – Live 5.30pm

* Statistics: NRL Stats.

[DIEHARD]

This is going to be a tough game. It's going to be like we have been talking about, now we need to deal with being the top team and every team lifting and trying to knock us off our pirch.

Of course that also keeps us honest and we should fire consistantly.

[lonegull]

Brian Smith is looking at resting Buderus, got to be a plus for the titans, although we have three backing up from city country and they have 2 including buderus,

[patskE]

prob same team aye but no bowen, i would put 4 forwards on the bench(grahman being ulity) for mini n boof abcking up
any news on odwyer?

[titanstattman]

i think will be right for this game if we can keet that up beat game that we are playing..

I'll be there fot this one.

GO THE TITANS.....

[TITAN PETE]

prob same team aye but no bowen, i would put 4 forwards on the bench(grahman being ulity) for mini n boof abcking up
any news on odwyer?

Chalky should be right for the weekend just got off the phone to one of his mates & it was only a sprained ankle

[TITAN PETE]

i think will be right for this game if we can keet that up beat game that we are playing..

I'll be there fot this one.

GO THE TITANS.....

I'll be with ya mate

[titanstattman]

I'll be with ya mate

We should swap numbers so we can meet up down there where u sitting????

Wat time is kick off??????

[titanstattman]

And where do u get the tickets from as there is none on ticketek just trying to find out how much these are????

[GCT_89]

And where do u get the tickets from as there is none on ticketek just trying to find out how much these are????

http://www.proticket.com.au/



there you go mate........

wish i could make it for this game.........

[Titans Rock]

wont be easy thats for sure especially on the road. i think the Titans can win this and if they do it will prove they are premiership contenders who win on the road as well as at home.

TITANS!!!

[titanstattman]

http://www.proticket.com.au/



there you go mate........

wish i could make it for this game.........

Ur my night n shining arma.....

[DIEHARD]

1. Preston Campbell
2. Ben Jeffery
3. Luke O'Dwyer
4. Brett Delaney
5. Matt Petersen
6. Ash Harrison
7. Scott Prince
8. Michael Hodgson
9. Nathan Friend
10. Brad Meyers
11. Anthony Laffranchi
12. Mark Minichiello
13. Josh Graham

14. Aaron Cannings
15. James Stosic
16. Gavin Cooper
17. Brenton Bowen
18. Luke Swain
19. Kris Kahler
20. Ian Donnelly
21. Matthew Cross

[TITAN PETE]

1. Preston Campbell
2. Ben Jeffery
3. Luke O'Dwyer
4. Brett Delaney
5. Matt Petersen
6. Ash Harrison
7. Scott Prince
8. Michael Hodgson
9. Nathan Friend
10. Brad Meyers
11. Anthony Laffranchi
12. Mark Minichiello
13. Josh Graham

14. Aaron Cannings
15. James Stosic
16. Gavin Cooper
17. Brenton Bowen
18. Luke Swain
19. Kris Kahler
20. Ian Donnelly
21. Matthew Cross

No Conn thats strange as he was almost fit for Sunday

[DIEHARD]

In the wake of three representative selections, Anthony Laffranchi (Country), Mark Minichiello and Brett Delaney (both City), forwards Luke Swain, Kris Kahler, Ian Donnelly and Matt Cross have all been included on an extended interchange bench and will travel to Newcastle as cover should any of the trio be unable to back-up.

Source: Titans.......