Sitting lowly in the bottom five, the Newcastle Knights and Canterbury Bulldogs will be desperate to get a jump on the competition when they meet at McDonald Jones Stadium. Join The Roar from 6pm (AEST) for all the action!
Two weeks ago these sides scored a whopping zero points between them. The Sea Eagles rocked their way to a 36-0 thrashing of the Dogs, while the Knights fell to the Panthers by an embarrassing 40 points.
We’re always told to judge a team on how they respond, and if we’re going by that, then both teams can hold their heads high.
The Bulldogs slogged out a hard-fought, three-point win against the Broncos, with two tries in five minutes to Josh Reynolds and Brad Abbey helping the side to a come-from-behind win. James Graham was enormous, racking up 56 tackles and almost 200 run metres, while monster forwards David Klemmer and Josh Jackson easily had their best games of the year to date.
As for the Knights, they fell agonisingly short of a shock win over 2016 premiers Cronulla, a 78th-minute field goal from James Maloney breaking the Novocastrians’ hearts to seal a one-point win for the Sharks.
There’s no doubt the efforts of the Newcastle side have improved since last year, and even with the injury list continuing to grow, the 17 taking the park each week are certainly heading in the right direction. Offseason recruit Jamie Buhrer seems to be slotting in beautifully and providing some much-needed direction and experience to the youngsters surrounding him.
Hard-running winger Nathan Ross is back for the Knights, while the Dogs finally get back gun half Moses Mbye. Expect a game of a much higher quality than ladder positions may suggest.
Prediction
The Dogs’ pack found form last week, and despite improvements from the Newcastle side, Canterbury will roll on and be too strong.
Bulldogs by 12.
Join The Roar from 6pm for all the live action from this crucial clash in Newcastle!
Shannon Russell
Roar Guru
In a thrilling Friday night contest in Newcastle the Canterbury Bulldogs have emerged victors over the Newcastle Knights to the tune of 10 points. The Knights were first on the board through Nathan Ross, who scored off a high kick in the corner in a superman-like effort over Montoya in a highlight we’ll be sure to see plenty of in the next week. It was all Newcastle in the first half, especially Dane Gagai, who recorded two line breaks and a handful of tackle breaks as he caused headaches for the Bulldog defence. It looked as though the home side would go in leading at halftime, but a lapse in the final minute left a Josh Jackson offload to set up Brenko Lee in the corner right before the siren. The second half was all about momentum swings – early it was well and truly with the Bulldogs, second gamer Matt Frawley lighting up the stadium with a wonderful solo try in the 43rd minute, showing everyone why he’s so highly regarded. Marcelo Montoya followed suit with a try in the 52nd, before Frawley showed his class again, delivering a long ball to Josh Morris to take the lead to 12 points. A Dane Gagai try courtesy of a Brock Lamb line break kicked the Knights back into gear with 10 minutes to go, but when the Knights through Sione Mata’utai crossed again in the 74th minute, elated hearts were soon broken. The video ref overturned the on-field try decision, leaving the Knights a converted try down with 5 minutes remaining. Despite their best efforts too many errors were made, and the Dogs held on to take the victory, Montoya nabbing himself a consolation try in the dying seconds. Dane Gagai was best afield in a losing side, his agility and raw power the catalyst behind many of the Knights’ better plays. The Dogs’ forwards had a big say in the win, mainly skipper James Graham and Aiden Tolman who worked tirelessly all night. Josh Jackson’s influence was also crucial in key moments, especially given the loss of David Klemmer to injury in the first half. Next week the Dogs while host the Rabbitohs while the Knights take on the Roosters. VOTES 3 – Dane Gagai 2 – Matt Frawley 1 – James Graham
chris n
Guest
not for the knights they get the dud calls week after week
Jeff Davis
Guest
Why is it that refs allow absurdly slow play the balls when a team is defending their try line? Near half the tackles made within 10 meters in most NRL games would be a penalty elsewhere on the field. Would be a lot better to watch too.
Shannon Russell
Roar Guru
Canterbury have defeated Newcastle by 10 points at McDonald Jones Stadium. Match report to follow.
Tristan Rayner
Editor
Gotta feel for Newcastle there. The referee calls all balance out in the end, but poor old Knights.
Shannon Russell
Roar Guru
TRY CANTERBURY With 20 seconds to go, Josh Reynolds runs out wide, draws a defender and flicks it out to Lee who sends it to the winger Montoya unmatched on the wing! He grounds the ball with ease. The siren sounds and the Dogs are the victors! Adam Elliot misses the conversion badly, but it won't matter one bit. DOGS WIN! FT Newcastle 12 Canterbury 22
Shannon Russell
Roar Guru
Greg Eastwood places a beautiful grubber kick into the corner which forces Ken Sio to play at the ball and ground it. The Knights try the short drop-out but the Dogs take possession. 80' Newcastle 12 Canterbury 18
Shannon Russell
Roar Guru
Knights go mighty close again! Barnett offloads to Mata'utai - it flies off his knee and sits in goal for Ross to ground. Unfortunately it's seen as a knock-on rather than a kick, and the Bulldogs will get the ball. 78' Newcastle 12 Canterbury 18
Shannon Russell
Roar Guru
Lamb goes high with a kick on tackle 5, where Brett Morris catches it and breaks a few tackles before being taken down. Tupou strips the ball off the next runner and wins the ball back for the Knights! 77' Newcastle 12 Canterbury 18
Shannon Russell
Roar Guru
Josh Starling looks to have been hurt in a crusher tackle. Didn't look too malicious, moreso unfortunate. He's walking off which is a good sign. 76' Newcastle 12 Canterbury 18
danwain
Guest
Gee that was a tough decision, anything looks like a knock on when you show it frame by frame...
Shannon Russell
Roar Guru
Josh Jackson on tackle 5 charges towards the line and allows himself to be tackled about 10m out. 75' Newcastle 12 Canterbury 18
Shannon Russell
Roar Guru
Running east-west Hodkinson finds the gap in the defensive line and places a perfectly weighted kick in line for Sione Mata'utai, who gathers possession, and... LOSES the ball! The video ref has made a HUGE call and overturned this one! Gee, VERY tough call. 74' Newcastle 12 Canterbury 18
Cadfael
Roar Guru
An early but wrong call.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
Looks like he lost it.
Shannon Russell
Roar Guru
TRY NEWCASTLE Hodkinson kick to Sione Mata'utai!! Sensational!! 74' Newcastle 16 Canterbury 18
Shannon Russell
Roar Guru
Repeat set straight away from the Knights! Pete Mata'utai puts a kick in that gets the luckiest of bounces, sitting up on the dead ball line where Brett Morris is forced to take it over - Nathan Ross breathing down his neck! 73' Newcastle 12 Canterbury 18
Shannon Russell
Roar Guru
GOAL NEWCASTLE Hodkinson guides through a ripper from the sideline! 6 points the difference. 71' Newcastle 12 Canterbury 18
Shannon Russell
Roar Guru
Sometimes footy works in funny ways. That try was all set up by what was quite clearly a mistake. An offload missed it's target, and everyone was confused - everyone except Brock Lamb. He pounces on the loose ball, dashes towards the line and breaks into the open field! Gagai in support is a no-brainer. He breaks a lacklustre tackle attempt and grounds in the corner. He's been so, so good. 70' Newcastle 10 Canterbury 18
Shannon Russell
Roar Guru
TRY NEWCASTLE! DANE GAGAI - WHO ELSE?