Round 1: Knights v Dragons - Hunter Stadium

Pick the margin:

  • Total voters
    57
  • Poll closed .
fj182 said:
To be fair though if the situation was reversed how keen would you be to travel all the way to the gong on a thursday night
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Living in Sydney it would be easier for me. But that's my point. We played St George last year on a Sunday arvo. Which meant Dragons fans could make a day out of it and travel up. And in the end there were a large contingent of Away supporters which always adds to the crowd.

I don't think we will sell out much. I think a crowd of around 30k, if anything... Just under.
 
Alicia said:
Apparently Joel Edwards is out? Anyone confirm?

Who comes in? Sau? Tui? Korbin?
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well given our bench is Hilder ( Hooker, 2RF,) Fa'aoso ( FRF) Mckinnon (2rf) we are a frf Short so Tuimavave? or is Korbin a frf as well?
 
knights22 said:
Then why don't you:P
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The game's not in Auckland ... and I'm not in Invercargill ... it would be a wasted journey haha.

I was tempted to fly over to Aus for it, but just didn't have the money. :(

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josh2010 said:
well given our bench is Hilder ( Hooker, 2RF,) Fa'aoso ( FRF) Mckinnon (2rf) we are a frf Short so Tuimavave? or is Korbin a frf as well?
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From what we've heard of the trials, Edwards is looking too small to play front row, and didn't in any of those matches. Therefore I reckon it will be Filipo, who started in the final trial.

That's if Edwards is indeed out.
 
jamesgould said:
The game's not in Auckland ... and I'm not in Invercargill ... it would be a wasted journey haha.

I was tempted to fly over to Aus for it, but just didn't have the money. :(

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From what we've heard of the trials, Edwards is looking too small to play front row, and didn't in any of those matches. Therefore I reckon it will be Filipo, who started in the final trial.

That's if Edwards is indeed out.
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I was more assuming Edwards will play lock with Costigan shifting to FRF?
 
josh2010 said:
I was more assuming Edwards will play lock with Costigan shifting to FRF?
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Oh right, possible I spose.

It's going to be interesting in the extreme to see what happens with these props. My guess is Snowden and Cuthbertson will be expected to play the vast majority of the match. Fa'aoso may be all we need on the bench.
 
A couple more articles on the game..

Newcastle Knights hooker Danny Buderus says St George Illawarra Dragons could be even stronger under new coach Price
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He's back: Danny Buderus at training in Mayfield.

VETERAN Knight Danny Buderus has dismissed the loss of Wayne Bennett as a reason to write off St George Illawarra this season, even suggesting the Dragons could be stronger under their new coach Steve Price.

Buderus claims the Dragons are no less a threat without Bennett at the helm because of the legacy the new Knights coach has left behind at his former club.

They may be friendless in betting markets and most critics might already be talking up their demise.

But according to Newcastle's most experienced player, Bennett's influence at his old club remains and it would be dangerous to write the Dragons off.

"Nothing is going to change much (with the Dragons)," he said.

"The grounding and foundations that Wayne set there are obvious for everyone to see. A new coach in Steve Price will add his touch as well.

"You win big games on defence. There's no secret how good they defend and individually, they've got some great players.

"They give you nothing and if your ball control is not up around 80 per cent or even higher against a team like the Dragons, you are in for a long night. It will be exciting for them. If anything, players get older, they develop more skill and a mindset so they (the Dragons) are going to be even stronger."

Back in the red and blue after three seasons in England, Buderus also dismissed suggestions Bennett's intimate knowledge of most of the Dragons players will be a factor on Thursday night when the two sides meets at Hunter Stadium in the NRL season opener.

"Something I've definitely picked up with Wayne - it's all about us," Buderus said.

"There hasn't been much said about weaknesses and strengths (in their side). It's more just about what we can do as a group and training to our ability. That's the biggest thing for Wayne.

"At the end of the day, it comes down to the players. Wayne is sitting up there. He can tell us all the info but we are the ones who have got to do the job."

Buderus turned 34 a few weeks ago and says it has been the thought of playing on Thursday night that has inspired him during the off-season.

"Just the focus on this game has got me through the off-season really," he said.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...-new-coach-price/story-e6frexnr-1226283356050

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St George Illawarra Dragons have won 11 of 13 matches in Newcastle

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Winning record: Jamie Soward in action for the Dragons in their 20-18 win at Newcastle in round four last season.

NEWCASTLE'S Hunter Stadium cauldron has intimidated every side in the NRL - except for fearless St George Illawarra.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal Saints have an extraordinary record in Newcastle, winning 11 of 13 matches for a success rate of 84.6 per cent. It is the best record of any NRL side at an opponent's home ground.

Victory on Thursday would put the Dragons alongside the greatest away record of all time - Newtown's record of 12 wins from 14 games against Annandale at Wentworth Park in the early 1900s.

And Thursday night's season-opening blockbuster was given an added edge yesterday when Saints centre Matt Cooper claimed the match had a State of Origin build-up.

"It (Hunter Stadium) doesn't bother Saints," former Dragons skipper Mark Coyne said.

"It is a good (Knights') hoodoo (working) for us. I used to love playing there.

"The crowd get right into the game. The atmosphere is amazing."

Both teams are primed for a brutal game in front of a crowd which should swell to more than 30,000.

"The butterflies are there, it's a good feeling and I am pretty excited," Cooper said. "We haven't played for a while so I am pumped for this first game. It's going to be a massive game. It's got a bit of a State of Origin feel.

"Everyone I speak to down the street is asking about it.

"A lot of people are going to be watching this game."

And watching on intently will be Wayne Bennett - the former Saints coach now in charge of Newcastle.

"Look, I don't think it (Bennett factor) will have a big influence on the players," Cooper said.

"We just want to go out there and worry about our game and worry about the things we need to do.

"It's pretty exciting for the fans to know we are going up against our old coach. He was here for three years and we won a premiership."

Dragons prop Michael Weyman is another pumped for the clash with the Knights.

"Everyone is ready to go," Weyman said.

"It's going to be a big game at the start of the season. It's exciting.

"It will be a tough battle across the park - there is a lot of tradition there between us and the Knights. Times have changed (with Bennett moving on) - this is a new season."

The NRL yesterday appointed Matt Cecchin and Ashley Klein to control the game.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...hes-in-newcastle/story-e6frexnr-1226283348451

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Edwards is still playing as of this article this morning..

Edwards ready to slay Dragons
Josh Callinan Tue, Feb 28 2012

Joel Edwards, at training with the Knights (above) and in the thick of the action last year (left), is in Wayne Bennett’s 17-man squad for Thursday night’s opener against St George Illawarra.

It has been a gradual rise up the ranks for Joel Edwards in recent times.

In 2010 the former Maitland schoolboy made his National Rugby League debut and by the end of 2011 he had cemented a spot in the Newcastle Knights' starting squad.

But in 2012 Edwards takes another step forward in his professional playing career after being selected in the first 17 for the Knights season opener on Thursday night.

The Knights take on the St George Illawarra Dragons at Hunter Stadium and Edwards, 23, will be there in the thick of the action.

“It was a great feeling to be named in the first 17 of the year,” Edwards said.

“Last year I started off in reserve grade so to get a crack straight up this year is a good thing.”

The former All Saints College, St Mary’s Campus, Maitland, student said he was looking forward to 2012 and building upon the platform he has laid in recent years.

“Everyone is excited about the season ahead and everyone wants to get off to a good start on Thursday night,” he said.
“I just want to play consistent footy and obviously improve on what I was able to do last year.”

Edwards, who played juniors with the Cessnock Goannas in the Maitland and District Schoolboys Rugby League Association, will start from the bench in Thursday’s clash.

Edwards will join fellow utility backs Matt Hilder, Richie Fa’aoso and Alex McKinnon on the reserves list for Thursday.
Chris Houston, Zeb Taia and Neville Costigan make up the starting back row, while new signings Kade Snowden and Adam Cuthbertson take to the field as the first choice props.

Hooker Danny Buderus and centre Timana Tahu return to the club after stints away while star recruit Darius Boyd will play his first match in red and blue colours.

Knights regulars and Australian representatives Kurt Gidley and Akuila Uate bolster an impressive Newcastle squad.
Gidley was announced as captain for 2012 at the club’s season launch on Friday by new coach Wayne Bennett.
The match kicks off at 7.30pm.
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The Hayne Plane has engine troubles down Parramatta way but the Wayne Train is full steam ahead and I'm aboard. Looking forward to a very physical clash and if victorious I might be lucky enough to experience my own physical clash afterwards.
 
From SMH

We're a different beast, Dragons warn Bennett
Brad Walter, Michael Chammas February 28, 2012

"The [Dragons] players believe they know what to expect from a Newcastle team coached by Bennett and featuring their former fullback Darius Boyd." Photo: Simone De Peak

DRAGONS players have warned former mentor Wayne Bennett to expect some surprises when they take on his Newcastle side under the guidance of new coach Steve Price for the first time in Thursday night's NRL season opener.
While many expect Price to simply continue the successful formula Bennett employed at St George Illawarra after being his assistant for the past three years, the players say he has introduced changes to their playing style this season.
''Pricey is a great coach,'' star centre Matt Cooper said. ''We are still doing a lot of things that we have been doing in the past because obviously it would be stupid to change things that worked. But Pricey has brought his own style of attack to the side and we will be looking to change things a little bit there, so it will be good to see how we go.''
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One key area that Price has changed is the positioning of halves Ben Hornby and Jamie Soward, who will play alongside each other rather than on either side of the ruck.
''That is going to be good,'' said Cooper, who plays in the left centre position. ''Jamie will be down the left side a fair bit, so that will mix things up a fair bit. He is a great ball player and he is a great runner of the ball but he has always been stuck on the right side of the attack, so it is going to be good for me to play outside him for a change.
''It has always been Ben Hornby on the left side. He has been great but it will be good just to change it up and mix it up for the other teams.''
Hornby said the players were still adjusting to the changes Price had introduced but he believes the Dragons will have more variety in attack than in previous seasons.
''It takes a little bit of time but we think we will be a little less predictable this year,'' said Hornby, who will play his 250th NRL match against the Knights. ''Myself and Jamie can both pass the ball either direction so we are both comfortable with the change.
''We just felt like we were going to the left side too much, so this way we can go anywhere we want and we think it will help us both by playing together more.''
Lock Dean Young said: ''We have been working on a lot of things so it will be a little bit different but I'm not going say too much. You will have to wait and see.''
While the Dragons are confident they have a few surprises in attack, the players believe they know what to expect from a Newcastle team coached by Bennett and featuring their former fullback Darius Boyd.
The Dragons will continue to use the move where Boyd would run from behind Hornby and loop behind second-rower Ben Creagh before either throwing a short pass to Cooper or a cut-out ball to winger Brett Morris, but they also expect the Knights to employ it.
''I think they will play pretty similar to what they did down here,'' Cooper said. ''That is Darius's signature move. We scored a lot of tries from it when he was here, so it would be stupid to change that for him. It is a pretty hard play to stop when you execute it right, so it is going to be a good challenge for us. I am sure they will be playing that play.''
Hornby added: ''Obviously Darius is a great player. He played great for us and just keeps getting better. so we will have to be on alert for him.''
 
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In the article about edwards i think even though it was printed today, i get the feeling that it may have been written a while ago given that it makes no mention of him possibly being injured it neither confirms or denies anything
 
fj182 said:
In the article about edwards i think even though it was printed today, i get the feeling that it may have been written a while ago given that it makes no mention of him possibly being injured it neither confirms or denies anything
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Yeah, I'm thinking the same thing.

On the other hand, I'm not too sure about the rumour of him being out either! It seems a bit dodgy!
 
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