Rd 5 Ultimate Guide: Storm confirm halfback

Author: Newcastle Knights
Timestamp: Tue 9 Jun 2020, 04:09 PM

The nib Newcastle Knights will be out to continue their unbeaten start to 2020 when they take on Melbourne on Saturday evening.

Storm coach Craig Bellamy has confirmed Ryley Jacks will wear the No.7 with Jahrome Hughes sidelined due to a broken hand.

"We've tried a couple of options but at this stage we will go with Ryley and hopefully he will do a good job for us, he certainly has in the past," Bellamy said.

"We will back him in to do a good job again. With the combinations, Ryley has played with Felise [Kaufusi] and last year he had a few games with Brenko [Lee] so having those combinations was one of the reasons we decided to go with Ryley.”

NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS v MELBOURNE STORM

Date: Saturday, June 13

Kick-off: 5.30pm

Venue: Central Coast Stadium

FOLLOW THE ACTION

If you can't catch the game on TV or radio, the Knights will be blogging the game at newcastleknights.com.au.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Played: 41

Knights: 15

Storm: 26

TEAMS

Newcastle

1. Kalyn Ponga, 2. Edrick Lee, 3. Enari Tuala, 4. Bradman Best, 5. Hymel Hunt, 6. Kurt Mann, 7. Mitchell Pearce, 8. David Klemmer, 9. Andrew McCullough, 10. Daniel Saifiti, 11. Aidan Guerra, 12. Sione Mata’utia, 13. Herman Ese’ese. Interchange: 14. Tex Hoy, 15. Jacob Saifiti, 16. Tim Glasby, 17. Brodie Jones, 18. Tau Moga, 20. Phoenix Crossland.

Melbourne

1. Ryan Papenhuyzen, 2. Suliasi Vunivalu, 3. Justin Olam, 4. Brenko Lee, 5. Josh Addo-Carr, 6. Cameron Munster, 7. Ryley Jacks, 8. Jesse Bromwich, 9. Cameron Smith, 14. Brandon Smith, 11. Felise Kaufusi, 12. Kenneath Bromwich, 13. Dale Finucane. Interchange: 10. Christian Welsh, 15. Tino Faasuamaleaui, 17. Nelson Asofa-Solomona, 18. Tom Eisenhuth.

CENTRAL COAST KNIGHTS

Returning to Central Coast Stadium for the first time in a decade, the Knights will be eyeing a strong performance at their temporary home base.

With a record of 6 wins from 15 visits, the Knights have produced a number of iconic moments at the venue including Danny Wicks’ 60-metre try in 2008 and Akuila Uate’s remarkable try from the kick-off in 2010.

BRAVING THE STORM

The Knights are looking to end a run of seven losses against the Victorian powerhouse club.

Last tasting victory against the Storm back in 2015, Sione Mata’utia is the only Newcastle player remaining from the team that triumphed 20-6 at AAMI Park.

THE ATTACK

While plenty of credit has been afforded to the vastly improved defence shown under Adam O’Brien, the Knights have emerged as the competition’s attacking dark horses.

Leading the NRL in points scored (110) and tries (20) after four rounds, the Knights have recorded their strongest attacking start to a season in 14 years and best since the days of Andrew Johns.

Scoring more than half their tries down the left edge with Bradman Best and Edrick Lee crossing for four tries apiece, the side has also embraced second phase play with David Klemmer leading the competition in offloads (14).