Can the Knights upset the Roosters at Hunter Stadium?
Hunter Stadium, Newcastle, Friday 7.40pm (AEST)
Last meeting: Round 14 2014 - Roosters 29 bt Knights 12 at Allianz Stadium
Head-to-head: Knights 18 Roosters 25 drawn 2
Referees: Gavin Bader, Grant Atkins
TV: Live, Channel 9 (delay Brisbane, 9.30pm)
Ladbrokes: Knights $4.00, Roosters $1.25
Betfair: Knights $4.30, Roosters $1.28
AAP writes: A dramatic week at the Knights following an emotion-charged weekend with the Rise For Alex round. Coach Wayne Bennett has confirmed he’s heading back to Brisbane at season’s end while star fullback Darius Boyd has checked himself into a mental health clinic for depression following a midweek trashing of a hotel room. It’s hardly ideal preparation for taking on the premiers. The Roosters scored an impressive win over Penrith last week and appear to be getting into good form leading into the final rounds of the year.
Key: Aidan Guerra’s return to lock means the premiership winning backrow of Guerra, Boyd Cordner and Sonny Bill Williams are back together. Dangerous for the Knights.
Tip: Roosters
KNIGHTS: Darius Boyd, James McManus, Dane Gagai, Joey Leilua, Akuila Uate, Jarrod Mullen (capt), Tyrone Roberts, Kade Snowden, Adam Clydsdale, Willie Mason, Beau Scott, Robbie Rochow, Jeremy Smith. Interchange: Travis Waddell, Korbin Sims, Adam Cuthbertson, David Fa’alogo.
ROOSTERS: Anthony Minichiello (capt), Nene Macdonald, Mitchell Aubusson, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, James Maloney, Mitchell Pearce, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Jake Friend, Sam Moa, Boyd Cordner, Sonny Bill Williams, Aidan Guerra. Interchange: Frank-Paul Nuuausala, Isaac Liu, Dylan Napa, Remi Casty.
Evening sports fans and welcome to tonight's coverage of Newcastle v Sydney Roosters from Hunter Stadium.
It's been another tumultuous week for the Knights, so what they come up with tonight is anyone's guess.
They succumbed to the emotion of Rise for Alex round last weekend, which is understandable, and went down to the Titans.
They lost Darius Boyd for well-publicised reasons during the week and the coach is leaving at the end of the season.
On top of all that, they don't have much to play for as the finals are all but out of reach.
The Roosters, on the other hand, have got very few problems and no excuses tonight.
But this is the NRL and anything can, and often does, happen.
It is a little wet and windy in the Hunter tonight.
Kick-off is not far away.
Congratulations to Kade Snowden - who is set to play his 150th NRL game tonight #NRLnewsyd #goKnights pic.twitter.com/cfGxHG1vI5 — Newcastle Knights (@NRLKnights) July 25, 2014
NRL boss Dave Smith has just announced the Rise for Alex round raised $1.4 million. It goes without saying that's a cracking effort.
As reported by Fairfax Media, Knights pair Chanel and Sione Mata'utia tonight become the first brothers in more than 70 years to make their first-grade debuts in the same game. Great story.
Having done nothing but talk about the Knights, if the Roosters play anywhere near their potential, they will win and win well.
And these are the games they need to win if they're serious about being the first team in 20-odd years to go back-to-back.
Kick-off is not far away.
Willie Mason gives away a penalty for a high tackle on the 3rd tackle of the game. Great start for the home team.
481 games missing at the back tonight for the Knights (McManus, Boyd, Uate). Fair chance the Roosters will bomb away in the tricky conditions.
After a terrible start, the Knights have woken up. But the Roosters look to have some big metres in them in attack when they get it together.
15th min: The video ref may have given Sione Mata'utia and the Knights a break here. He has made a great effort to save a Roosters try. Dane Gagai kicks ahead for the Knights, but it bounces off Maloney's leg and he chases it through. Maloney and Mata'utia dive together and the ball spills free and Maloney pounces to score. But the video ref has overruled the onfield official and it's no try. Lucky escape for the home side.
3rd min: And they turn a bad start into a terrible start. Anthony Minichiello scores under the posts after collecting a short kick from Jake Friend. Sione Mata'utia simply falls over at the back for the Knights. James Maloney converts.
Roosters 6 Knights 0
And we're under way.
