Preview: Bulldogs v Knights
VENUE & TIME: ANZ Stadium, Saturday March 13, 5.35pm (AEDT).
COVERAGE: Fox Sports
LAST TIME: Bulldogs 26 - Knights 12 at ANZ Stadium, qualifying final, 2009
MATCH ODDS: Luxbet: Bulldogs $1.23, Knights $4.20
WALKING WOUNDED: Injuries to new recruits Corey Payne (shoulder) and Dean Halatau (ankle) has robbed the Bulldogs of a clean bill of health, with Payne most likely gone for the season and Halatau out until at least Round 4. Bryson Goodwin has been cleared of a toe injury suffered in the trials and will take his place on the wing.
The well-publicised drug crisis at the Knights has claimed the scalps of forwards Danny Wicks and Chris Houston - both of whom are no longer at the club. Added to this is the hamstring injury sustained by inspirational skipper Kurt Gidley in the All-Stars clash which will see him miss the first three weeks of the comp. Ankle problems continue to keep James McManus on the sidelines. The NSW Origin winger is not due back until at least Round 4.
FORM: Since copping the wooden spoon in 2008, it has all been positive for the Bulldogs with the club reaching the preliminary final last season and showing some steady form in the trials this year. A solid win over the Raiders in Dubbo was backed up with a tight 14-16 loss to the Dragons in a high quality affair in Wollongong. If injuries remain kind, Kevin Moore's men should be hovering around the top of ladder yet again.
It's easy to forget the Knights were involved in a couple trial matches with all these drug dramas continuing to plague the club. The Knights were well and truly dusted by the Panthers in Port Macquarie before bouncing back a week later to smash a severely understrength Storm side by 56-points in Charlestown. All the negativity surrounding the club has seen them posted as firm wooden spoon favourites.
WHO'S HOT: The Bulldogs look strong out wide with Jamal Idris and Josh Morris forming the best young centre combination in the game. Morris represented NSW and Australia last season and finished just behind his twin brother at the top of the NRL tryscorers list. Idris overcame a badly dislocated shoulder to take out the 2009 Dally M Rookie of the Year award. With Bryson Goodwin and Steve Turner also in the mix, there is plenty of tryscoring potential out Belmore way in 2010.
With Gidley on the sideline, the Knights will be looking towards five-eighth Jarrod Mullen to take more of a leadership role in the opening few rounds. Steve Simpson may be the official skipper this week, but Mullen will be the go-to man when it comes to steering the troops around the paddock. It's a crucial season for the one-time NSW Origin player.
WE THINK: With the drugs issue still not dead and buried at Newcastle and no Gidley to help galvanise the troops on-field, it's difficult to see the Knights providing any real threat to the Bulldogs in this clash. The Dogs have a superb record at ANZ Stadium, winning 12 of their previous 14 matches at the ground, while the Knights take a poor away record into this clash, winning just three games on the road in 2009. Look for the Ennis-Kimmorely combination to continue where it left off