SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS V NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
2015 Holden Cup
Date: Saturday July 25, 5.15pm
Venue: ANZ Stadium
Teams:
RABBITOHS
1. Irae Simone, 2. Devon Makoare-Boyce, 3. Siosifa Talakai, 4. Tevita Cottrell, 5. Josh Ellison, 6. Jordie Hedges, 7. Eli Levido, 8. Clayton Williams, 9. Aaron Booth, 10. Brock Gray, 11. Haimona Hiroti, 12. Wallace Tangiiti, 13. Gabe Hamlin Interchange: 14. Joe Besgrove, 15. Tim Davis, 16. Joe Gardiner, 17. Hayden Preece, 18. Toby Rudolf.
KNIGHTS
1. Bryce Donovan, 2. Fuaimamao Uta, 3. Josh Birch, 4. Jacob Gagai, 5. Ken Tofilau, 6. Brock Lamb, 7. Jake McNamara, 8. Josh King, 9. Jack Kelly, 10. Daniel Saifiti, 11. Bradie Smith, 12. Ben Stone, 13. Luke Yates. Interchange: 14. Jayden Butterfileld, 15. Tyrone Amey, 16. Roman Fepuleai. 17. Sam Apthorpe, 18. Sam Stone.
Match analysis:
Spirits are high among the Under 20s Knights after a convincing win against the Gold Coast Titans last Round.
Team manager and development coach Craig Smith believes this will put the team in good stead as it prepares to take on the South Sydney Rabbitohs on Saturday.
The nine places Knights will take the trip down the M1 to meet their 14th placed opponent that trails off three losses.
The Knights lapped up their hard earned win at Hunter Stadium and plan to capitalise on the added confidence it’s brought.
“They have been bubbling. Knowing NYC, It doesn’t take much for their confidence to get up,” Smith said.
“The pleasing this with the team last weekend against the Titans is the fact three guys from the Under 18s Knights were playing up.
“Tom Starling, Sam Stone and Jayden Butterfield all three boys handled themselves really well.
“We are trying to progress some of our local young talent and there are three on show."
But Smith believes South Sydney on their home turf this weekend will be another tough game for the players.
A positive is the likely return of players Luke Yates as well as Jacob Saifiti, a Fijian representative who has spent almost eight weeks on the sidelines due to injury.
“If we can build on the way we played last weekend that will be a good stepping stone for the second part of the season,” he said.
“We have strong aspirations of playing in the semi finals."
Where it will be won:
The forwards.
The Knights will need to control the Rabbitohs down the middle from the outset.
“If we can manage to complete out sets and kick to our corner and defend strong, that’ll go a long way in winning the game for us," Smith concluded.
