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The St George Illawarra Dragon were a class above the Newcastle Knights on Saturday, running out the winners by 12 points.
REPORT: DRAGONS TOO GOOD FOR BATTLING KNIGHTS
Final score
Newcastle Knights 18
St George Illawarra Dragons 30
WHAT’S NEXT? FOLLOW OUR SHARKS VS WARRIORS LIVE BLOG
The hapless Newcastle Knights will look to pick up only their second victory of the season in the Alex McKinnon Cup when they host the St George Illawarra Dragons, who must improve their attack. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 3pm (AEST).
McKinnon of course suffered terrible spinal injuries in 2014 that made him a quadriplegic. Having spent his career playing for the Dragons and then the Knights, a cup in his name was created.
The Knights have been woeful this season and after 14 matches sit dead last on the table with a win, a draw and a bye. Their for and against is a ridiculous negative 329 and they haven’t even been competitive.
While they had a bye last week, it was the Warriors running up 50 points on them in Round 14.
Their defence in particular has just been dreadful, conceding an average of 35 points per game, and 140 overall more than the Wests Tigers, who are the second worst defensive team.
The Dragons on the other hand might be sitting in 11th place and just two points behind the 6th placed Canterbury Bulldogs, but it is questionable whether they deserve to be there.
Their attack has been shocking, scoring less than 13 points per game. That must improve, although there seemed to be a little bit of improvement last week when they played a Melbourne Storm side – granted though, they were almost a reserve grade side.
In team news, Peter Mata’utia returns to face his old club, with Brendon Elliot shifting from centre to wing and Jake Mamo sitting out due to an ankle injury. Nathan Ross and Robbie Rochow are also penciled in for a return, with Pauli Pauli, Josh King and Chanel Mata’utia all on a seven man bench.
The Dragons will be without new recruit Tariq Sims, who isn’t allowed to play his old club with Dunamis Lui taking his spot. Tyson Frizell and Josh Dugan were both not named, even though it is rumored they will play.
This comes down to the ability of the Dragons to score points. Newcastle have the worst defence in the competition so if If Gareth Widdop and Benji Marshall can’t put on a display in this one then they never will.
On the other hand, the Knights seem to have improved fractionally in recent times, and their attack is capable of a few things from long-range, with some exciting players such as Nathan Ross. The Dragons defence is generally pretty good.
Prediction
Gareth Widdop and Benji Marshall should improve for this match, and with a possible Josh Dugan inclusion it’s hard to see the Knights winning.
Dragons by 10.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of this Round 16 match from 3pm (AEST) and don’t forget to add your own comments in the section below.