The St George Illawarra Dragons find themselves with a 4-0 record after taking a comfortable win against Newcastle on Sunday.
Final score
Dragons 30
Knights 12
The Easter bunny has gifted us one of the games of the round marking a blockbuster Easter Sunday, as the St George Illawarra Dragons come up against the Newcastle Knights in what is set to be a great test for either side. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage of the match, starting from 4:10pm AEDT.
The Red V of St George can do no wrong coming into Round 4, sitting only with the New Zealand Warriors as the two unbeaten sides atop the NRL ladder.
Strong starts can be deceptive however, just ask the Dragons of 2017. This Dragons outfit does indeed look different, with Ben Hunt and Gareth Widdop forming a dynamic tandem and the likes of James Graham, Tariq Sims and Paul Vaughan showing promising signs through the early portion of the year.
The Dragons have named an unchanged side to take on the Knights in Wollongong.
Newcastle come off a tough 30-point thrashing at the hands of the Roosters, in what many anticipated to be a much closer affair.
Nathan Brown will be eager to see his young side improve and will look to Mitchell Pearce to find the form that he entered the opening rounds of the season with.
Brock Lamb comes into the Newcastle outfit replacing Connor Watson as Pearce’s halves partner and Chris Heighington returns to the bench for the Knights.
Depending on how many times the whistle gets blown and how many shots at penalty goal are taken, expect to see some highly entertaining razzle dazzle football from both sides.
The matchup of the forwards will be key with the Dragons possessing plenty of firepower that we can expect to see in the NSW Origin arena this year.
Newcastle must match their intensity if they are to have any hope of providing the go forward in both attack and defence.
Jack de Belin and Kalyn Ponga are my two players to watch from either side, both capable of blowing a game wide open. Look to see de Belin in everything, particularly defensively as he has become a stalwart for the Dragons.
Ponga is a different kettle of fish, stepping, weaving and causing headaches for even the most dominant defences. He will combine with Pearce to score at least one, if not two tries.
Prediction
If Newcastle are ready for the task at hand and their forwards are willing to turn up right from the start, they are a red-hot crack at overcoming St George and continuing a tipsters nightmare with another upset on the cards.
This game will be much tighter than what people are expecting with either side capable of a dominating display. I’m going against the grain and predicting this game will swing the way of the Knights with Brock Lamb scoring in his return to the starting side and Pearce kicking another field goal to ice out the Dragons.
Newcastle by 1.
Join myself and The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match starting from 4:10pm AEDT
Paul
Guest
Widdop was solid. Last yer he started well as well. I'm personally not sold. Against Cronulla he didn't play well. That was the only tough game so far. Newcastle and Gold Coast are average at best and I am surprised by how bad the Broncos are.
steveng
Roar Rookie
The Rabbits will take care of them next week, don't get to excited Scott lol
Mordac
Guest
I agree. But today, considering how dominant Dragons forwards were, Widdop didn't have a good game. Hunt has been outstanding. I'll wait to see how Widdop goes when the forwards don't dominate. In the big games he better get rid of his habit of kicking everytime he is put into space. Against Cronulla the forwards got the better of opposition but didn't "dominate". Hunt and Widdop were average to poor.
Jacob Cocciolone
Roar Pro
Based on the four games that have passed. Combining with Ben Hunt, they have gelled quickly compared to all the other new halves combinations.
Wayne Turner
Guest
If he stays injury free - Widdop for the Dally M Player of the year. Nice win for my Dragons. Early days,but would rather be in this current position,than the Raiders.
Mordac
Guest
Serious? Based on that game? With the Dragons forwards dominating he was average. What's with the kicking everytime he is put through a gap? Freakish efforts by McDonald allowed him to get away with it previously but it fell flat today.
Jacob Cocciolone
Roar Pro
Full Time - The St George Illawarra Dragons have closed out the Newcastle Knights in what was a highly entertaining mostly free-flowing affair, unlike the 40 penalty game we saw the other night. Where there questionable penalties, yes, but then again Newcastle shot themselves in the foot, with the scoreline reflective of a lopsided possession and error count. Jack de Belin looks a lock for the NSW Origin side, whilst the QLD side would do well to put Ponga in their camp to gain experience from the senior players and support staff. Nene MacDonald will continue his freakish ways of scoring tries over the coming rounds showing plenty of skill and class. Highlight for mine was Gareth Widdop, showing he truly is a class above the halves this year through the first four rounds. Newcastle showed plenty of resolve to hang around, but having three wooden spoons in back to back seasons, it is obvious the polish would not be there straight away. With Connor Watson out for the best part of two months, Brock Lamb will need to find some confidence to give the Knights more attacking options going forward. The Dragons join the Warriors as the only unbeaten sides through four rounds of the competition. I cannot wait to see those two sides meet in three weeks time. Final Score: St George Illawarra Dragons 30 - Newcastle Knights 12 DRAGONS: 30 KNIGHTS: 12
jimmmy
Guest
They were very good in that first half Scott. Took their foot of it a bit in the second but overall very good. They have a real forward pack with that little bit of skill as well as size.
jimmmy
Guest
Gus gives the Ref a wrap for not blowing too many penalties. Doesn’t he understand if there are 100 infringements there should be 100 penalties.
Jacob Cocciolone
Roar Pro
Gareth Widdop looks in a class of his own this year, probably the best kicking game of the halves through four rounds.
Jacob Cocciolone
Roar Pro
70' - Tough day for the Knights, they looked in it for about 5 minutes at the start and then the Dragons decided to put on a show. DRAGONS: 30 KNIGHTS: 12
Jacob Cocciolone
Roar Pro
Here's a fun fact: Newcastle went 4-0 in 2015 and still ended up with the wooden spoon. Somehow though, I don't think anyone is taking it off Canberra this year.
Jacob Cocciolone
Roar Pro
59' - Widdop swings this one to the left, missing his first of the afternoon. DRAGONS: 30 KNIGHTS: 12
Jacob Cocciolone
Roar Pro
Try 58' - MacDonald grabs a double off a short side kick from Ben Hunt, great finish to a great set. DRAGONS: 30 KNIGHTS: 12
Scott Pryde
Expert
That'll be four in a row! Not perfect, but the Dragons are looking pretty damn good. Oh when the Saints, Oh when the Saints go marchin' in.
Jacob Cocciolone
Roar Pro
Some of these penalties are woeful.
Jacob Cocciolone
Roar Pro
53' - Widdop adds the extras making it 5/5. DRAGONS: 26 KNIGHTS: 12
Jacob Cocciolone
Roar Pro
53' Try - Ah Mau scores for the Dragons after 83 games. Dragons should go on with this one. DRAGONS: 24 KNIGHTS: 12
jimmmy
Guest
Meant to say . nah , Nightingale was running in . He was involved.
jimmmy
Guest
Nah.