Round 4: Newcastle Knights v Canberra Raiders - Hunter Stadium

Newcastle Knights determined to deliver for home fans


  • Barry Toohey
  • The Sunday Telegraph
  • March 31, 2013 12:00AM

THE indignity of being booed by your own supporters in this corresponding game nine months ago will be a key motivating factor for Newcastle when they face Canberra.

In a huge boost to the home side, skipper Kurt Gidley and prop Willie Mason were added to an extended bench yesterday after getting through the club's final training session and both look set to play at Hunter Stadium.

A final decision on their fitness won't be made until this morning, but Mason said he was ready to go and Gidley showed few signs of the calf injury that kept him out of the win over the Cowboys last Monday night.

Provided he is right, Gidley is expected to start at hooker with Danny Buderus to come off the bench.

Joel Thompson travelled with the Raiders squad to Newcastle yesterday and is set to be a late replacement on the bench today for Joe Picker.

Raiders backrower Joel Edwards makes his first appearance at Hunter Stadium since quitting the Knights at the end of last season.

Young Knights utility Alex McKinnon said yesterday the corresponding game against Canberra last season, won 32-16 by the Raiders, had been tossed up at training this week.

"I remember the exact game last year when we got booed off," McKinnon said yesterday.

"It was one of the worst feelings I've ever had in football. I hated it that much.

"Gids spoke today about how important it is to perform, particularly at home in front of your own fans.

"We lost a lot of games at home last season and they don't deserve that, our supporters.

"We really owe them this one and hopefully, we can continue on where we left off in the Cowboys game."

Stand-in skipper and second-rower Chris Houston will chalk up a milestone with his 100th game today for the club as they chase a third straight win.

Source: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...er-for-home-fans/story-e6frexq9-1226609568297
 
So, Mason all but in which means a forward has to go. So it's gotta be Sims unfortunately... Then if Gidley plays then Tahu has to make way.

If Tahu come on for Quinn it would work out great but just think RnB will be accurate in telling us T will work his way back in NSW Cup.
 
Costiganand Quinn dropped for tahu and sims, and I will be happy as. If kurt is sharing the hooking role
Then I see no point to nev being in the team over sims.
 
So with the info from rednblue and that article above we get this team maybe??

1 Darius Boyd
2 James McManus
3 Anthony Quinn
4 Alex McKinnon
5 Akuila Uate
6 Jarrod Mullen
7 Tyrone Roberts
8 Kade Snowden
9 Kurt Gidley ©
10 Willie Mason
11 Robbie Rochow
12 Chris Houston
13 Jeremy Smith

14 Danny Buderus
15 David Fa'alogo
16 Neville Costigan
17 Adam Cuthbertson

I don't understand having quinn/alex in there when you have T ready to go...
 
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Don't let Tahu & Korbin go to NSW Cup for Costo & Quinn, hopefully Wayne's got some plans in that crazy mind of his.

How's the weather in Newy anyone? Just got my tickets in the AJ Grandstand cheerin, wanted to get next to the tunnel for when the boys run out but ah well.
 
Nickwpearce said:
This says gidley playing hooker...

1 Darius Boyd
2 James McManus
3 Anthony Quinn
4 Alex McKinnon
5 Akuila Uate
6 Jarrod Mullen
7 Tyrone Roberts
8 Kade Snowden
9 Kurt Gidley ©
10 Willie Mason
11 Robbie Rochow
12 Chris Houston
13 Jeremy Smith

14 Danny Buderus
15 David Fa'alogo
16 Neville Costigan
17 Adam Cuthbertson

R1 Timana Tahu
R2 Korbin Sims

I don't understand having quinn/alex in there when you have T ready to go...
Click to expand...

Where's that list from?

Looks like Tahu's 18th man from that, rather than NSW Cup.
 
jamesgould said:
Where's that list from?

Looks like Tahu's 18th man from that, rather than NSW Cup.
Click to expand...

I made my own up and adjusted according to the info from rednblue and the tele article that just went up sorry to confuse.

- - - Updated - - -

Jakee said:
Don't let Tahu & Korbin go to NSW Cup for Costo & Quinn, hopefully Wayne's got some plans in that crazy mind of his.

How's the weather in Newy anyone? Just got my tickets in the AJ Grandstand cheerin, wanted to get next to the tunnel for when the boys run out but ah well.
Click to expand...

Got my tickets too, just started to spit here. i live about 15 minutes away from the stadium
 
1 Darius Boyd
2 James McManus
3 Anthony Quinn
4 Alex McKinnon
5 Akuila Uate
6 Jarrod Mullen
7 Tyrone Roberts/Kurt Gidley ©
8 Kade Snowden
9 Kurt Gidley ©/Neville Costigan
10 Willie Mason
11 Robbie Rochow
12 Chris Houston
13 Jeremy Smith

14 Danny Buderus
15 David Fa'alogo
16 Neville Costigan/Tyrone Roberts
17 Adam Cuthbertson

So either costigan starts, gidley hooker tyrone and bedsy to bench

or gidley hooker, bedsy bench, roberts hooker...
 
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So our mail is right... They must want match fitness for Tahu or are simply trying to stay loyal to the team that won last week.

Harsh on Sims but someone has to make way for Mase.

Costigan must be a love child for sure.
 
If Tahu isn't quite back to 100%, then it would make sense for him to play NSW Cup I guess. Needs the match fitness, but not worth the risk of him not making it through the full eighty in first grade.
 
An article up on NRL.com today about Costigan recognising his poor form & wanting to turn it around, perhaps Bennett's showing faith in him to step it up and prove his worth in these opening rounds that's why he's continuously chosen. It also says Wayne told him at the end of last season if he doesnt play better they won't re-sign him, maybe he's not the love child after all :lol:

http://www.nrl.com/costigan-vows-to-repay-bennetts-faith/tabid/10874/newsid/71462/default.aspx
 
jamesgould said:
If Tahu isn't quite back to 100%, then it would make sense for him to play NSW Cup I guess. Needs the match fitness, but not worth the risk of him not making it through the full eighty in first grade.
Click to expand...

Yeah it does make sense, I guess the naming him is to just throw off the opposition he would of known for the last two weeks he wasn't playing, and naming him on the bench was just strange anyways...

Guess we just have to wait and see who is playing where... roberts or gidley at half?

Also nice to see costigan has been told to lift his form or find a new club
 
What does going back to the lower grades do to a player on the up like Sims ? On one hand it can make him hungrier and work harder although how much harder he can work against current test forwards than he did on Monday night is hard to fathom. Or on the other hand it can make him an angry young man. Sims said in an interview that he thought he was ready before last week so to be dropped after playing his ring out might not go down too well.
 
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