Penrith punish rusty Roosters
92 mins ago | Aidan Edgecomb
Is spirit and courage enough to tide over long-suffering Knights fans in 2017?
Another weekend and another home game for Newcastle - the loyal people of the old 'Steel City' have certainly had their patience tested over recent seasons - and not just in the NRL either.
Over consecutive weeks the 30-year-old club has stood up to their opposition, often in the face of controversy, only to be denied by a slender margin. A one-point loss to Cronulla had plenty of Novocastrians looking ahead with hope, but an inability to execute and some contentious calls from the Bunker cost them six days later in a ten-point loss to Canterbury. So the question remains - how many 'honourable losses' can Knights fans take this season before they say enough is enough?
The Roosters are an interesting proposition coming into this one. Regardless of the stature of their opponent, they come into this game in desperate need of a win. Sitting pretty at 4 from 4 just over a fortnight ago, the visiting side have now lost two on the bounce and will need to notch up a strong performance on Friday evening to keep pace with the ladder leaders in Melbourne and St George Illawarra - particularly given they play the latter in an ANZAC Day blockbuster next round.
Things haven't been made easy for the home side going into this one with Jamie Buhrer ruled out, which brings Joe Wardle into the second row, where he's started repeatedly in recent weeks.
Last meeting: Round 9 2016 - Roosters 38 Knights 0
Despite their own massive form slump last year, the Roosters were comfortable winners at the SFS last time around. Overall at McDonald Jones Stadium, the Roosters have won 13 to Newcastle's 10 (two draws). Overall the Roosters are comfortably dominant having won 28 of 49 clashes since 1988.
Who to watch: If Newcastle had won the contest last Friday, the shortlist for man of the match would have been very short indeed. Dane Gagai tore the Bulldogs' outside defenders to shreds in key moments last week, and crossed for a crucial try of his own which bought the red-and-blues back into the contest. He'll be primed for a big game again in front of his home fans, and if the Roosters' edge men are as brittle as they appeared last week against Brisbane, an upset could well and truly be on the cards with someone of Gagai's potency ready and waiting.
After starting the season with a flurry of skill and earning plenty of praise, suddenly more questions are being asked than answered of Luke Keary. The Roosters sudden loss of form in the past fortnight has seen the number six come under fire, particularly for his defensive efforts. Expect the Newcastle forwards to continue the trend of targeting the young five-eighth in defence - and hopefully for him to rise to the occasion. He has enough quality back-rowers around to protect him, and if they do, watch his attack do the talking.
The favourite: Not sure I remember the last time the Knights had favouritism for any clash. Roosters well backed here.
My tip: I won't be shocked if Newcastle manage to jag a win here, but it's hard to go past the Roosters. The game isn't played on paper but that's where the visitors look much, much stronger - and it should get them back into the winners circle. Roosters by 8.
1. Brendan Elliott 2. Ken Sio 3. Dane Gagai 4. Peter Mata'utia 5. Nathan Ross 6. Brock Lamb 7. Trent Hodkinson 17. Daniel Saifiti 9. Danny Levi 10. Josh Starling 11. Sione Mata'utia 16. Joe Wardle 13. Mitchell Barnett 14. Jack Stockwell 15. Sam Stone 19. Luke Yates 21. Jacob Saifiti
1. Michael Gordon 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Joseph Manu 4. Blake Ferguson 5. Shaun Kenny-Dowall 6. Luke Keary 7. Mitchell Pearce 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 18. Paul Carter 10. Isaac Liu 11. Boyd Cordner 12. Mitchell Aubusson 13. Aidan Guerra 9. Jake Friend 15. Zane Tetevano 16. Ryan Matterson 23. Sio Siua Taukeiaho
Referees: Gavin Badger, Chris James; Sideline Officials: Adam Reid, Jon Stone; Video Referees: Jared Maxwell, Ben Galea;