VENUE & TIME: EnergyAustralia Stadium, Mon, August 2, 7.00pm (AEST)
COVERAGE: Fox Sports
HEAD TO HEADPlayed 37, Sea Eagles 22, Knights 15
LAST TIME: Sea Eagles 36 – Knights 12 at Bluetongue Stadium, Round 3, 2010
WALKING WOUNDED: Knights five-eighth Ben Rogers is out with an ankle injury picked up in Townsville last Saturday night, forcing skipper Kurt Gidley into the No.7 jersey and Jarrod Mullen into the No. 6. The diminutive Shannon McDonnell gets a call-up to fill Gidley's custodian's role. Hooker Isaac De Gois picked up a nasty mouth injury against the Cowboys, but is expected to play, while veteran Adam MacDougall returns in the centres, replacing Cooper Vuna who moves onto the wing in place of the injured James McManus (knee). The Sea Eagles remain unchanged for this clash.
FORM: After a period of ordinary form, the Sea Eagles bounced back a fortnight ago to demolish the Sharks, but because their opposition was so poor it was yet to be fully determined if Des Hasler's men had really turned the corner. Last Sunday in Gosford proved the Sea Eagles are back, using all their physical attributes and smarts to convincingly dismantle the top-four Wests Tigers 38-20. Of significant interest was the fact they did not fade away in the second-half which has been a major problem for the club in 2010. The Knights had their season derailed in Townsville last Saturday night when Cowboys winger Will Tupou danced his way to a superb left-edge try in golden-point extra time to give his side a rare 2010 victory. Two tries late in regulation time got the Knights back on level terms, but they failed to do the business when it really mattered, meaning they must now win all of their remaining games to be any chance of featuring in the finals.
WHO'S HOT: There were some nice touches from young Sea Eagles half-back Trent Hodkinson against the Tigers last week. After an impressive start to his debut NRL season, the Bulldogs-bound No. 7 had been quiet in the middle part, but appears to be lifting again. His extraordinary offload to send Jamie Lyon over for a try in the first half last week against the Tigers was definitely one for the end-of-season highlight reels.
WE THINK: With the Knights now at long odds for a top-eight finish and the Sea Eagles within reaching distance of a top-four spot, you'd have to think Manly will be the hungrier of the two sides here. Despite the Knights having a good record at home against the Sea Eagles, they have been rather ordinary at EnergyAustralia Stadium this season, winning just three games at the venue. The Sea Eagles should be too physical for the Knights and with their young halves picking up their form in recent weeks, everything points towards a Manly win in this one. Sea Eagles by 12.
TEAMS
Newcastle Knights:
1 Shannon McDonnell, 2 Akuila Uate, 3 Junior Sa'u, 4 Adam MacDougall, 5 Cooper Vuna, 6 Jarrod Mullen, 7 Kurt Gidley [c], 8 Ben Cross, 9 Isaac De Gois, 10 Dan Tolar, 11 Zeb Taia, 12 Con Mika, 13 Matt Hilder. Interchange: 14 Wes Naiqama, 15 Joel Edwards, 16 Richie Fa'aoso, 17 Antonio Kaufusi, 18 Mark Taufua, 19 Cameron Ciraldo.
Manly Sea Eagles:
1 Ben Farrar, 2 Michael Robertson, 3 Jamie Lyon [c],