Welcome to the last game of Super Saturday this Easter long weekend as the Newcastle Knights play host to the St George Illawarra Dragons at Hunter Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 7:30pm (AEDT).
Newcastle is the only remaining undefeated team in the competition with wins over the Cowboys, Titans, Warriors and Panthers.
St George meanwhile has steadied the ship to be 2-2. Following two consecutive losses to start the season, they managed to overcome the Raiders and Sea Eagles in their past two outings.
The Knights have made a couple of changes to their side from last week. James McManus returns which sees Sione Mata’utia slide onto an extended bench whilst Tariq Sims packs down in the back-row.
No changes for the Dragons with only Rory O’Brien grabbing a spot on an extended bench.
These two sides have met 29 times since the merger with the Dragons holding a 19-10 advantage. They are yet to draw a match.
Last year they met in round 26 which saw Newcastle run over the top of the Dragons, 40-10.
Newcastle have been very impressive this season and are unexpectedly sitting atop the NRL ladder after four rounds.
Coach, Rick Stone, has done away with the grinding game plan instituted Wayne Bennett and has allowed the side more freedom which has seen Jarrod Mullen seemingly play with more freedom.
St George started very slowly with questions over their creativity with just a combined eight points scored in their opening two rounds.
However, they rallied against the Canberra Raiders to score a 22-20 win before managing to grind out a 12-4 win against Manly last week.
The Knights, so far, have been impressive both home and away. Their forward pack has been brutal against the opposing halves. See Beau Scott harassing Johnathan Thurston.
Their back-line contains plenty of points via the services of Jarrod Mullen and Tyrone Roberts and it’s clear how much confidence Rick Stone has in his charges when he can drop a player of Mata’utia’s quality and replace him with Akuila Uate.
The Dragons will be up against it. Their previous two wins haven’t been pretty, their forwards have been bullied on occasions and they have struggled to score points in three of their four games
Their back-line does have plenty of skill in it with the likes of Josh Dugan, Gareth Widdop, Benji Marshall, Eto Nabuli and Jason Nightingale but without a dominant forward pack, they can be easily contained.
Join me live at 7:30pm (AEDT) for all the live scores and opinions.
Craig Watson
Guest
Three on the trot Dragons. Do we long time faithful dare to believe. This 2015 roster may be unknown to many of us but as long as they wear the famous Red V they will always be my team. There is plenty of steel in the forwards that was missing in the first two games, There is also much more starch in the defence. There is also way too many mistakes. Discipline Dragons. Wins you as many games as tries and goals. Gareth Widdop is working his magic again. Keep giving him plenty of ball.
Ross Geoghegan
Guest
Early days I know but there must be a lot of so called experts scratching their heads at the moment! Their defence presently reminds me of 2010 and if that remains they are going to worry a lot of sides but as I said, long way to go yet! Go Dragons!!
Muzz
Guest
Yesterdays game was a freaking battle ground and some say the game has gone soft.
SpongeBob
Guest
Lol! After Beau Scott I'm not sure you can get suspended short of killing someone. No doubt all will be playing.
Scott Pryde
Expert
I don't know but its been pretty impressive.
Scott Pryde
Expert
When do Grand Final tickets go on sale? :P
Scott Pryde
Expert
Very much so. Looking at the Bulldogs next week though and I mean they should be without Brett Morris, Josh Morris, Sam Kasiano, James Graham, David Klemmer and Tim Lafai plus I heard a rumour about Lichaa being in doubt. Should be able to beat them based on what I saw tonight.
Muzz
Guest
That was very impressive Scott. Anzac Day clash is starting to shape up.
Muzz
Guest
Who's the Dragons D coach or did they off-load him too?
SuperEel22
Roar Guru
FULL TIME Knights 0 Dragons 13 That's it from Hunter Stadium. Knights held scoreless by a determined Dragons defensive effort. A rather scrappy match with Newcastle unable to cash in on any of their pressure. Incredibly poor last tackle options from the Knights really cost them in a wet and windy game. The Dragons held firm and took their couple of chances. Newcastle never really looked like scoring and shot themselves in the foot plenty of times with cheap turnovers. The Dragons did seem to drag Newcastle back into the game a number of times with turnovers on their own line but Newcastle seemed out of ideas and incredibly disorganised. They looked far from the side that had won four in a row.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Defence was awesome.
SpongeBob
Guest
Finally! Newcastle haven't looked that good yet were 4-0. Must have ended up about 60 plays inside the Dragons 20 with zero tries to show for it. Not sure if great defense or horrible attack, bit of both.
jamesb
Guest
Well, well, well, Dragons three in a row now.
SuperEel22
Roar Guru
78min Knights 0 Dragons 13 Rein throws a forward pass from dummy-half on the last.
SuperEel22
Roar Guru
77min Knights 0 Dragons 13 Dugan gets a head knock in trying to tackle Uate and he's going off for a concussion test.
SuperEel22
Roar Guru
Mullen with a poor kick, it hits the deck in front of Uate, Gagai spills the ball trying to pick it up and St George get the ball back.
SuperEel22
Roar Guru
73min Knights 0 Dragons 13 Farrell deals with a poor pass from Marshall on the last by kicking the ball into touch 15m from the Knights line. Newcastle handed a penalty off the scrum due to a high shot on McManus.
SuperEel22
Roar Guru
70min Knights 0 Dragons 13 FIELD GOAL- Marshall snaps it from right in-front and 15m out.
SuperEel22
Roar Guru
Mata'utia now drops the ball 12m out from his own line. St George have the chance to put the game to bed now.
jamesb
Guest
SuperEel Do you know Dragons record head to head in Newcastle. They do have a good record at the Hunter and it looks like continuing tonight.