Round 22: Knights v Titans @ Skilled Stadium

Mat Rogers is out suspended so the Titans will shift Harrison to five eighth.

Rogers > OUT
Harrison > 5/8
 
It's been clarified.

We need to go back to what we did early on against the Eels. If we get ahead of ourselves we can't expect to win.
 
Joey said:
Mat Rogers is out suspended so the Titans will shift Harrison to five eighth.

Rogers > OUT
Harrison > 5/8
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Even if he played wouldn't matter. Similar to how we shut down Prince earlier this year. We need to test ourselves. This is the perfect opportunity. Must win.
 
Warren Smith:
Titans v Knights

The Titans are always pretty tough to beat at home, but I think with Steve Simpson back to his brutal best, the Knights will just have too much ammunition up there.

The Knights are looking good and one feels with another strong performance they could go on a bit of a run to challenge for a higher spot in the eight.

The unavailability of Scott Prince and Mat Rogers in the halves is a huge blow to the Titans and I really think the Knights are ready to make another statement in the run to the finals.
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lol what does he mean by higher spot?
We will get 8th or seventh at best, and thats good enough for me.
Next year we will go higher, no need to rush it.
 
Yeah we can't really grab much of a higher spot. However momentum wise we can cause problems for some teams in the finals, but I don't want to speak too soon. One week at a time.
 
Zephr said:
lol what does he mean by higher spot?
We will get 8th or seventh at best, and thats good enough for me.
Next year we will go higher, no need to rush it.
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If odds go our way, we could get 6th.
 
Hey Guys,

Im a massive Knights fan living in London. I have been reading your threads for ages and I thought it was about time i put in my 2 cents worth.

I think the this game isn't going to be as easy as everyone is saying, we are coming off a Monday night game and isnt there a terrible stat for winning teams playing in the monday night games losing the following week.
 
even with the stat the titans are injury plagued whilst we have been in hot form. last time they met it was close but without scott prince and matt rogers i expect us to win by 14 points:fist:
 
bh7 said:
Hey Guys,

Im a massive Knights fan living in London. I have been reading your threads for ages and I thought it was about time i put in my 2 cents worth.

I think the this game isn't going to be as easy as everyone is saying, we are coming off a Monday night game and isnt there a terrible stat for winning teams playing in the monday night games losing the following week.
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Hey Welcome!!!

Wow another English Knights fan! You & Pommie Knight should get on fine :)

Are you originally from Australia or?

It will be tough this weekend, cant wait to see the boys play at Skilled, hopefully not in our grey jerseys though :(
 
AussieKnight said:
Hey Welcome!!!

Wow another English Knights fan! You & Pommie Knight should get on fine :)

Are you originally from Australia or?

It will be tough this weekend, cant wait to see the boys play at Skilled, hopefully not in our grey jerseys though :(
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yeh go the red and blue jerseys
 
preview
Titans v Knights Preview

NRL.com

Skilled Park
Monday, 7.00pm

NRL coaches always seem to be grumpy. Even after the Wests Tigers demolished the Bulldogs last weekend, Tim Sheens refused to crack a smile.

So Knights’ coach Brian Smith must be downright ecstatic judging by the number of smiles he exhibited following his side’s solid win over the Eels last Monday night.

It was a good week for Smith – media following him everywhere but with only positive stories this time, coaching his 500th game, and a great win which propelled his side into the top eight.

The fact Smith has survived 500 games, despite not winning a pennant in that time, is a testament to his ability to control emotions – those of his team and of himself.

But this week a new challenge arises.

The Knights need to put aside the fanfare of that win and back up against an under-strength Gold Coast.

The thing separating teams in the top eight this year and those fighting for the final top-eight spots is consistency.

Teams like the Warriors do the impossible and defeat the Storm, then lose to Souths the next week.

The Knights have been guilty of similar lapses and cannot take the injury-ravaged Titans lightly.

Watch Out Titans: ‘Mad Dog’ is back!

Adam MacDougall, that crazy centre who yells at his legs, has found that fire once more and has been devastating over the past two weeks with three tries.

His metres were down against the Eels but when he had the ball MacDougall was a handful.

He made a total of 21 tackle breaks against the Eels and Souths the previous week and also four line breaks.

The Knights have scored 28 tries on both the right and left, so they have options either side, even more so now with giant speedster Akuila Uate on that left wing.

The Knights have scored only 18 tries outside the attacking zone this season but Uate’s speed could be exploited by the Knights with the Titans susceptible to long-range plays, conceding 25 tries from outside the attacking zone this season.

Watch Out Knights: The Titans have lost five-eighth Mat Rogers to suspension once again this year, but the return of Mark Minichiello from injury is almost as significant as gaining captain Luke Bailey back.

The second-rower has formed a formidable combination with Anthony Laffranchi this season; before injury ravaged the side, they were the form back row in the NRL.

Minichiello averages 132 metres a game and his attack has the potential to change a game.

Both Minichiello and Laffranchi are dangerous when close to the line, able to run a good line or put on a step, then use their strength to force their way over.

The pair have 14 tries between them and are the top offloaders for the club.

Where It Will Be Won: The back-row battle will be crucial.

Newcastle lock Chris Houston was devastating against the Eels last Monday; he has been in excellent form of late.

Also, Laffranchi continues to grow as a player.

All the back-rowers have strong attacking elements in their games, especially the Knights’ Cory Paterson who is also starting to fulfill his potential after a quiet start to the year.

Their ability to contain each other could prove the difference.

The History: Played 2; Titans 1, Knights 1. The Titans won 28-22 on the Gold Coast last year while the Knights got the cash in Newcastle by just a point earlier this year.

Conclusion: The Titans and Knights are on 22 points.

Newcastle have a slight advantage with a superior points differential but the problem is there are more than just these two teams clogging up the back-end of the top eight.

Five sides are battling for that final spot, with Penrith just one point ahead of all of them. One slip can spell the end of the season for any of these sides and the Titans and Knights have as much to lose as any of them.

At home the Gold Coast are always tough, and they need to win to prove the severity of their injury crisis is not insurmountable. It will he close.

Match Officials: Referee – Steve Lyons; Sideline Officials – Chris James & Mohamad Fajajo; Video Referee – Chris Ward.

Televised: Fox Sports 2 – Live 7.00pm.
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It is gonna be a tough game. mini's back but they are still withiut the key roles. Rogers, Prince, Bailey etc.

Newcastle have the whole team basically - only chris rogers and wes naquaima are the BIG difference.

I think it will be knights by 4
 
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