NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS v CANBERRA RAIDERS
Round 13, 2015 NSW Cup
Date: Saturday June 6, 12.40pm
Venue: Hunter Stadium
Teams:
NEWCASTLE
1. Jake Mamo, 2. Honeti Tuha, 3. Pat Mata'utia, 4. Chanel Mata'utia, 5. Kerrod Holland, 6. Dylan Phythian, 7. Jaelen Feeney, 8. James Taylor, 9. Chad Redman, 10. Pat Vaivai, 11. Lachlan Fitzgibbon, 12. Joseph Tapine, 13. Clint Newton (c). Bench: 14. Danny Kerr, 15. Michael Steele, 16. Marvin Filipo, 20. Jake Finn.
CANBERRA
1. Mitch Cronin, 2. Bill Tupou, 3. Pat Mataele, 4. Jeremy Hawkins, 5. Gus Aiga, 6. Josh McCrone, 7. Mitch Cornish, 8. Kyle O'Donnell, 9. Kurt Robinson, 10. Luke Page, 11. Sonny Briston, 12. Mitch Barnett, 13. Rhys Kennedy. Bench: 14. Willie Matara, 15. Sam Duggan, 16. Clay Priest, 17. Jake Goodwin.
Match analysis:
NSW Cup coach Matt Lantry acknowledges the reserve grade Knights will face a challenging encounter facing up to the second placed Mounties at Hunter Stadium on Saturday, but assures the side is well prepared for a tough contest.
“It will be a tough encounter for us,” Lantry said.
“They have some class in their halves with Josh McCrone and Mitch Cornish. They are two guys that steer the ship well.
“Mitch Barnett, the left back rower for Mounties runs a good straight line so we’ll certainly have to make sure defensively we are really strong.
“He’s a bit of a go-to man particularly in the attack zone.
“They will be smarting off a loss to the Bulldogs last week and will be a tough encounter, but it will a good indication of where we are as well.
“I have plenty of confidence within our guys."
Lantry said the side will pay attention to ensuring they’re switched on and firing at the beginning of the second half.
“We had plenty of positives from the Warriors, it was just after half time that we’ve spoken about where we can address this weekend because two weeks now it’s happened.
“That period we were well below our standards so we challenge ourselves to be better there.”
Where it will be won:
A strong start.
“If we can start well and can manage 10-minute period before and after half time, that will be the key,” Lantry said.
“The last two games we’ve had to play some catch up footy after the second half.
“A start in any game is important, but if I can to pinpoint two keys areas it would be the periods before and after half time to ensure we are in the game and not chasing our tails in the back end of the second half.”
