It shapes as something of a mismatch when the Newcastle Knights host the Melbourne Storm, with the visitors expected to cruise through for another win. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 2pm (AEST).
The Knights biggest issue in 2018 has been their defence, although it seems to have turned a corner in the last fortnight.
In saying that, it’s impossible to get a read given those last two games have come against the Parramatta Eels, where they won 30-4, and a poor Sydney Roosters outfit, which resulted in an 18-16 loss.
Before those two games, the Knights got thumped at home on a Sunday afternoon by the Cronulla Sharks, with the Shire boys running up 48 points. That’s not a one-off either, with poor defensive performances littering their season – and that’s not something they can blame the injury of Mitchell Pearce on.
Sitting in 12th place, with the finals hopes still somewhat alive, the Knights are conceding an average of 26 points per game, which gives them the equal worst record in the competition.
Despite that, Kalyn Ponga has sparked their attack this season, with the young fullback a revelation. He has a chance to insert his dominance on this game as well, given the Storm are missing Billy Slater.
The superstar, who missed Origin 1 through injury was originally named to make a comeback this weekend, but removed from the squad 24 hours before kick-off having still not fully recovered.
In his place will be another youngster in Jahrome Hughes, with the battle between he and Ponga one we are likely to see multiple times over the coming years.
Other than the missing Slater, the Storm are more or less at full strength, minus Jesse Bromwich who injured himself in last week’s win over the Brisbane Broncos at home.
The 16-point victory for the Storm was a positive one as they controlled the second half. They have been in and out of games at times this year, with errors ruining them. They have been reduced to sixth on the ladder, but are still in a strong enough position and it looked last week like things were just starting to click.
Their defence, as it always has been is still pretty strong, but if they get their attack rolling this afternoon, like it did in the second half last week or in a 50-10 thumping off the Warriors six weeks ago, they will put a cricket score on.
Prediction
The Storm are a quality footy side, even if they haven’t shown it at times this year. Newcastle won’t win this game, but could keep it respectable. Given what they have served up against good sides in recent times though, this could get a little bit ugly.
Storm by 26.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of this match from 2pm (AEST) and don’t forget to drop a comment in the section below as the action unfolds in Newcastle.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me this afternoon right here on The Roar for our live coverage of the 2018 NRL season. Hopefully you enjoyed the coverage. Right now, it's time to join Riley Pettigrew for the Wests Tigers and Canberra Raiders. I'll be back at 10pm (AEST) this evening with Costa Rica and Serbia in the FIFA World Cup. Of course, be sure to look out for my talking points before then, which will be up on site shortly after the conclusion of the Tigers and Raiders. Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts on the game Roarers?
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME The Melbourne Storm have put in a strong performance on Sunday afternoon to get the better of the Newcastle Knights by 18 points at McDonald Jones Stadium. A Josh Addo-Carr double from long distance summed up the Knights afternoon, with the side falling off a lot of tackles and making constant errors, letting the Storm dominate the contest. In the end, Newcastle made a staggering 17 errors, with their defence unable to hold the Storm out due to the weight of possession and field territory, particularly during the second half when the visitors had the wind at their backs. While they struggled into the wind during the first half, a 50-50 possession split was enough for the Storm to take an eight-point lead into halftime - one which they wouldn't surrender. Knights 10 Storm 28
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME The Knights with a solid set, then a kick goes into the in goal. Hughes has to play at it, but had a foot on the dead ball line. Time runs out before the dropout and that. Well that will be that in Newcastle. The Storm way too strong for the men from the Hunter. Knights 10 Storm 28
Scott Pryde
Expert
79' - Someone ring the siren already. Been a scrappy end to this one. The teams struggling to pack a scrum right now. Knights 10 Storm 28
Scott Pryde
Expert
78' - The Storm butcher a try on the fourth play of this set as Scott ignores his winger Addo-Carr, taking a tackle instead. Hoffman then goes from dummy half and is pulled up a metre short, knocking it on as he tried to reach out through the defence and score. Knights 10 Storm 28
Scott Pryde
Expert
77' - Denniss starts this set for the Knights, then it's Sio with a run before Yates puts one down ten short of halfway. That sums it up for the Knights today. Knights 10 Storm 28
Scott Pryde
Expert
76' - Easy metres for the Storm here as this game winds down. Chambers takes them to within 20 before Jacks kicks for Vunivalu, but he can't hold onto it, knocking on over the dead ball line. 20-metre restart and a seven-tackle set for the Knights. Knights 10 Storm 28
Scott Pryde
Expert
75' - The Knights bringing it away through Guerra, then it's a good run out of dummy half from Levi who picks up ten metes. Back to the left with Ponga stepping one, then another and being stopped on halfway. Cogger bombs on the last and Ponga comes up with it, then drops it. Knights 10 Storm 28
Scott Pryde
Expert
74' - Addo-Carr takes a short drop out, then Bromwich goes up the middle. They spread right to Kaufusi who takes four men to the line but can't get the ball down, before they come back to the left from Smith to Munster and his cut out ball goes straight into the hands of Kenny-Dowall. Knights 10 Storm 28
Scott Pryde
Expert
73' - Addo-Carr with a good run into the middle here, before Glasby bounces out of a tackle and picks up another ten metres or so. Cameron Smith goes short side out of dummy half and is stopped ten out. Quick play the ball, Hughes to Bromwich and he is stopped. Munster a grubber and that forces a drop out. Knights 10 Storm 28
Scott Pryde
Expert
72' - Kenny-Dowall with a run up the middle, then it's Barnett sent to the ground with a good tackle there. Levi from dummy half, then it's Cogger to Barnett who throws a ball out the back and the Knights ate all the way back to their red zone as Sio is tackled. Ponga short side and the kick will now come from Cogger inside 30. It goes all of about 40 metres before Hughes brings it back to halfway. Knights 10 Storm 28
Scott Pryde
Expert
71' - Munster with an offload to Chambers now who goes up the middle before Scott goes out of dummy half and heads right. Kaufusi with a run through the middle before Smith shows it, but takes the tackle. Camron Smith kicks out of dummy half on the last and Ponga brings it back. Knights 10 Storm 28
Scott Pryde
Expert
70' - The Knights away through Yates, before Cogger goes to Stone and he offloads to Will Chambers who will go the other way for Melbourne. Knights 10 Storm 28
Scott Pryde
Expert
69' - The Knights bring it away through their outside backs, with Sio taking a good run before they spread left and Ponga straightens up the attack, going through the line, but then having no one to pass to as Hughes shuts him down. Stone burns a tackle up the middle and here is a penalty. Knights 10 Storm 28
Scott Pryde
Expert
68' - The penalty goal went dead so it's a 20-metre dropout. Asofa-Solomona and Hoffman go inside 20, then they go right with Kaufusi to Hughes and he fires a cut out ball to Vunivalu who could well have scored there, but he can't hang on. Knights 10 Storm 28
Scott Pryde
Expert
67' - PENALTY GOAL MISSED! Oh Smithy. He misses the penalty goal and then frizbies the kicking tee away. Knights 10 Storm 28
Scott Pryde
Expert
66' - Fitzgibbon with a crusher tackle there. Cameron Smith is going to take shot at penalty goal to extend the lead to 20. Knights 10 Storm 28
Scott Pryde
Expert
66' - The Storm away through Hoffman and Vunivalu, before Hoffman has a second run up the middle, getting heavily involved in this game as we go into the last quarter of an hour. Asofa-Solomona over halfway, then it's Glasby powering forward and picking up a penalty. Knights 10 Storm 28
Scott Pryde
Expert
64' - The Knights through Guerra, then it's Ese'ese up towards the posts, but he is stopped a metre out. Left from Cogger to Ponga now and it's Fitzgibbon straightening up, but being tackled. Three plays left in the set as Ponga goes to Watson and then Mata'utia goes back on the inside, but he has dropped it again. Knights 10 Storm 28