VENUE & TIME: EnergyAustralia Stadium, Sat, August 28, 7.30pm (AEST)
COVERAGE: Fox Sports
HEAD TO HEADPlayed 21, Dragons 13, Knights 8
LAST TIME: Knights 24 – Dragons 18 at WIN Jubilee Stadium, Round 6, 2009
WALKING WOUNDED: > The Knights remain unchanged for this clash, while Beau Scott and Jeremy Smith return to the Dragons' pack after being rested by coach Wayne Bennett last week. Bennett has named a six-man bench, with Luke Priddis and Nick Emmett the two players expected to drop off.
FORM: The Knights bounced back from their loss in New Zealand a fortnight ago with a superb all-round performance to devour the Lockyer-less Broncos last Friday night. Coach Rick Stone has certainly pulled the right reign by partnering Jarrod Mullen and Kurt Gidley in the halves and both players played another starring role together in Newcastle's comprehensive 44-18 win over Brisbane. The result keeps the Knights ever-so-slightly in the finals hunt with two rounds remaining. The Dragons' big loss to Canberra on Sunday opened the door for the Titans to possibly sneak home with the minor premiership. After defending strongly to guard their 4-0 half-time lead, the Dragons had few answers to the Canberra attacking machine once it clicked into gear in the second stanza. They have lost three of their past five matches, but remain clear premiership favourites.
WHO'S HOT: The signing of Cooper Vuna by the new Melbourne rugby union franchise for next season was met with little reaction in the media at the time, but the big Kiwi's form since announcing those plans has been impeccable. He was sensational against the Broncos, posting a whopping four tries to boost his season-tally 14. The Knights will be doing well to find a winger of equal ability for next season.
WE THINK: It's 'old boys' night and we know just how formidable the Knights can be when the club's legends gather during the final home game of the season. In fact, they are yet to lose an 'old boys' match, and with club stalwart and premiership player Steve Simpson to be officially farewelled, expect the drive in the Knights players to be performing at their peak. The Knights are experiencing their best patch of form for the season and have the attacking game to really upset the Dragons, who showed last week that they have a tendency to struggle once the opposition gets a bit of a lead up. We must also remember that Newcastle are still a faint hope of making the finals, adding to their enthusiasm. The Dragons have an impressive record at EnergyAustralia Stadium, but are yet to experience the influence power of the 'old boys'. Knights by 10.
TEAMS
Newcastle Knights:
Shannon McDonnell, Akuila Uate, Junior Sa'u, Adam MacDougall, Cooper Vuna, Jarrod Mullen, Kurt Gidley [c], Ben Cross, Isaac De Gois, Antonio Kaufusi, Zeb Taia, Con Mika, Matt Hilder. Interchange: Wes Naiqama, Dan Tolar, Richie Fa'aoso, Mark Taufua.
St George Illawarra Dragons:
Darius Boyd, Brett Morris, Mark Gasnier, Matt Cooper, Jason Nightingale, Jamie Soward, Ben Hornby [c], Neville Costigan, Dean Young, Michael Weyman, Beau Scott, Ben Creagh, Jeremy Smith. Interchange: Nathan Fien, Trent Meriin, Matt Prior, Jarrod Saffy, Nick Emmett, Luke Priddis (two to be omitted).
Referees: Shayne Hayne, Gerard Sutton