The Newcastle Knights succumbed to yet another loss on Saturday afternoon, losing by 20 points to the Gold Coast Titans.
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Final score
Knights 6
Titans 26
Things won’t be getting any easier for the Newcastle Knights when they host the Gold Coast Titans who are pushing for the finals in Round 24. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 3pm (AEST).
The Knights have been undergoing a major rebuild and haven’t looked likely all season. After 23 rounds, or 21 matches when the two byes are taken into account, they’ve recorded just a single victory.
Their for and against sits at negative 451 and have conceded an average of 33.9 points per game while scoring only 12.4 points per game.
Unsurprisingly, their recent form is also ordinary. While the Knights have to be given credit for the way they have fought at times, they were beaten 42-6 by the Penrith Panthers last weekend.
Before that, they had a decent game against the Canterbury Bulldogs ‘only’ losing by 14. If they are going to challenge the Titans it will be all down to the play of experienced halves combination Jarrod Mullen and Trent Hodkinson.
On the Gold Coast, it has been Jarryd Hayne-mania over the last couple of weeks, and his first two games for the clubs have been quality. He has been close to their best player in both matches and slotted a field goal last week that helped them sink the Wests Tigers.
Ashley Taylor seemed to recapture his stunning form as well, and with their forwards rolling along they look a very strong team.
It almost makes their loss to the New Zealand Warriors in Hayne’s first game look like a stumbling block, with their form strong, and a chance to make the finals – in saying that a win is almost necessary here if they are.
In team news, the Knights have extended their bench, with Jeremy Smith coming into play lock, the exciting Nathan Ross back onto the wing and Josh King added to the bench – the only player who has been dropped is Chris Adams.
The Titans have made substantially less changes, only adding Leivaha Pulu as their 18th man.
The sides last met in Round 1 when the Titans put 30 points on the Knights, taking an 18 point victory – you would be hardly surprised if they put that many or more on this time.
Prediction
The Titans have it all to play for, the Knights have nothing to play for and the form and talent gap between the sides is enormous.
Titans by 26.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of this match from 3pm (AEST) and don’t forget to add your own comments in the section below.
Follow Scott on Twitter @sk_pryde
Scott Pryde
Expert
Cheers Alex! Thanks for following mate.
Scott Pryde
Expert
» Click here to read the full match report
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Good call Scott.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Full report will follow in due course. Thanks for joining me here this afternoon for The Roar's live coverage of the 2016 NRL season as the Gold Coast Titans got a crucial 20-point victory over the Newcastle Knights. Hopefully you enjoyed the coverage. Be sure to join John Coomer from 5:30pm (AEST) for his live coverage of the rivalry game between the Manly Sea Eagles and Melbourne Storm. I'll be live tomorrow morning from 4:45am (AEST) for the women's gold medal Basketball game and also the NRL featuring the Canberra Raiders and Parramatta Eels at 2pm. Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
The Roar's NRL MVP 3 - Ryan James 2 - Konrad Hurrell 1 - Jarryd Hayne
Scott Pryde
Expert
Statistics Tries: Knights (1), Titans (4) Goals: Knights (1/1), Titans (4/4) Penalty Goals: Knights (0), Titans (1/1) Possession: Knights (43%), Titans (57%) Completions: Knights (28/36), Titans (36/42) All Runs: Knights (158), Titans (192) All run metres: Knights (1425), Titans (1773) Line breaks: Knights (7), Titans (6) Offloads: Knights (19), Titans (9) Tackles: Knights (380), Titans (285) Missed Tackles: Knights (33), Titans (47) Penalties: Knights (9), Titans (12) Errors: Knights (8), Titans (7)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Stats, MVP and report to come. Stay tuned folks.
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME That will do us. Great win for the Titans. Newcastle Knights 6 Gold Coast Titans 26
Scott Pryde
Expert
79' - The Knights go through Mata'utia before Randell goes with a short ball to Barnett and he is held a metre out. Back to the middle from Hodkinson to Smith and he settles. ack to the right through Gagai and he offloads to Korbin Sims before Saifi is held. Last play and Gagai runs before going for a flick pass and it has been called forward before it can get to Elliott. The Knights want to argue the point and give away a penalty. Knights 6 Titans 26
Scott Pryde
Expert
79' - The Knights bring it forward through Jacob Saifiti and then a long spread left through Hodkinson to Barnett and he is held out there. Smith now with a dummy and pass to King at the line who is held a metre out, picking up a penalty. Knights 6 Titans 26
Scott Pryde
Expert
78' - The Titans will work it out of their own end and Ross is very slow back to his feet after a run. Mata'utia brings it left before King cuts back across the ruck. Now Smith to Barnett and he picks up a penalty. Knights 6 Titans 26
Scott Pryde
Expert
77' - The Titans work it back through Shillington before they have a solid set, cross halfway and Bird rolls a kick into the corner and out over the sideline. Knights 6 Titans 26
Scott Pryde
Expert
76' - PENALTY GOAL TITANS, TYRONE ROBERTS Knights 6 Titans 26
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Yep, just protecting the bodies here.
Scott Pryde
Expert
75' - Apparently, even the Titans think this is over. They will take the shot at 2. Knights 6 Titans 24
Scott Pryde
Expert
74' - The Titans coming through the middle and making big metres before there is a penalty called with the markers not square. Is there one more try in the Gold Coast yet? Knights 6 Titans 24
Scott Pryde
Expert
73' - The Knights start this set 35 metres out and bring it forward through Saifiti, before Mataora runs onto a ball underneath. Smith with a poor offload and Mamo recovers before finding Saifiti who takes them forward. Hodkinson to Barnett and then off to Mamo who finds Daniel Saifiti ho is tackled a few out. Smith with a run before Hodkinson kicks and a great take from Don. Knights 6 Titans 24
Scott Pryde
Expert
72' - End to end stuff here with a couple of towering kicks before the Knights get a penalty. Ross goes for the quick tap and is told he took it off the mark. Knights 6 Titans 24
Scott Pryde
Expert
70' - Very solid set from the Titans but it ends with a poor grubber and Newcastle come up with it. Knights 6 Titans 24
Scott Pryde
Expert
69' - The Knights with another full set and Mata'utia with the first run. They go right through Saifiti and then Roberts who has handed it off to Elliott who has crossed the line, reached out and almost scored but lost it at the last moment - to the bunker though and they will rule exactly that. No try. Knights 6 Titans 24