- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Bulldogs
10
Match Complete
Knights
22
| 79 |  | K. Ponga | ||
| 77 |  | K. Ponga | ||
| N. Meaney | | 58 | ||
| W. Hopoate | | 56 | ||
| R. Smith | | 49 | ||
| 39 | | L. Fitzgibbon | ||
| 22 | | K. Ponga | ||
| 21 | | M. Pearce | ||
| 8 | | K. Ponga | ||
| 6 | | H. Hunt |
| 2 | Tries | 4 | ||
| 1 | Conversions | 3 | ||
| 0 | Penalty Goals | 0 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
Show Preview
In a what is a massive boost for the struggling Canterbury Bulldogs, star half Kieran Foran will return from an ankle injury earlier than expected to take his place in the side in their Magic Round clash against the Newcastle Knights, playing opposite his childhood best mate Mitchell Pearce. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog, starting from 3pm AEST.
Despite naming Lachlan Lewis, Kerrod Holland and Rhyse Martin in the team list on Tuesday, Bulldogs coach Dean Pay has chosen to swing the axe at his struggling side, dropping these three in favour of the returning Foran, Marcelo Montoya and Adam Elliot respectively.
Back-rower Corey Harawira-Naera was originally meant to replace Holland at left centre, although he is now expected to miss the game due to a family illness, meaning that all of the Bulldogs reserves (Montoya, Ofahiki Ogden and Chris Smith) will be called on to play this game.
For Newcastle, they are sweating on the fitness of centre Jesse Ramien. If he is declared fit, Sione Mata’utia will move to the forwards, with Josh King likely to drop off the bench.
Expect the Knights to target the Bulldogs’ left edge, which will be defended by Jayden Okunbor and Marcelo Montoya. Okunbor has had a very promising start to his career in first grade, but was made to look foolish in defence by the Sea Eagles last week, rushing up unnecessarily and conceding several tries.
The forwards clash will be more fiery than usually given it is the first time David Klemmer will face up against his former club.
Expect big collisions between him and his former partner in crime Aiden Tolman, as well as his former skipper and NSW Origin teammate Josh Jackson.
What will be most interesting however is when Klemmer comes up against the man who replaced him Dylan Napa – the ground will shake when these two come together.
Prediction
It’s hard to go past the Knights in this one. They’re on a two-match winning streak, their combinations are starting to click (Mitchell Pearce in particular has found some tremendous form over the last fortnight) and they are clearly a side on the up at the moment.
The Bulldogs, on the other hand, are a side in crisis. The coach has rung in the changes, but with the exception of Foran for Lewis, he is arguably not replacing his players with better options.
They will also be without a proven goal-kicker, with rookie fullback Nick Meaney likely to take over this responsibility after Rhyse Martin and Kerrod Holland were dropped.
Knights by 8.
Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 3pm AEST.
Where: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
When: 3pm
Streaming: NRL Digital Pass, Kayo Sports
TV: Fox League
Bulldogs: 1. Nick Meaney 2. Jayden Okunbor 3. Kerrod Holland 4. Will Hopoate 5. Reimis Smith 6. Jack Cogger 19. Kieran Foran 8. Aiden Tolman 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Dylan Napa 11. Josh Jackson 12. Corey Harawira-Naera 13. Rhyse Martin 14. Fa’amanu Brown 15. Danny Fualalo 16. Adam Elliot 17. Sauaso Sue 7. Lachlan Lewis 21. Marcelo Montoya 22. Ofahiki Ogden 23. Chris Smith
Knights: 1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Edrick Lee 3. Hymel Hunt 4. Sione Mata’utia 5. Shaun Kenny-Dowall 6. Connor Watson 7. Mitchell Pearce 8. David Klemmer 9. Danny Levi 10. Daniel Saifiti 11. Lachlan Fitzgibbon 12. Mitchell Barnett 13. Tim Glasby 14. Kurt Mann 15. Herman Ese’ese 16. James Gavet 17. Josh King 18. Mason Lino 19. Pasami Saulo 20. Jamie Buhrer 21. Jesse Ramien
Hide Preview
Reckon you can pick the winning team? Build your own dream team with Draftstars daily fantasy and compete on any match. For great odds on the NRL head on over to PlayUp. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.