Melbourne Storm v Newcastle Knights
Saturday 9 August, 5:30pm
Hunter Stadium
NYC: kick-off from 1:10pm (Fox Sports 1)
Broadcast
TV: Fox Sports 1 (Live)
Online: NRL Digital Pass
Radio: 2GB, ABC Grandstand
Melbourne Storm will travel to Hunter Stadium on Saturday night to take on the 14th placed Newcastle Knights.
Both sides experienced contrasting weekends in Round 21. Storm managed to make it three wins in a row when they defeated Wests Tigers 28-6. After making the trip to Cairns the Knights were outmuscled by a strong Rabbitohs outfit.
After finding a level of consistency coach Craig Bellamy had been hoping for over the last month, Storm will go into the clash wanting to extend their winning streak and consolidate their position inside the competition’s top eight with only five rounds remaining in the regular season.
Be at AAMI Park when Storm host the Sharks in Round 23. Tickets here.
The Storm squad have escaped the cold weather of Melbourne this week and settled into their annual training camp, this year based in Terrigal as they freshen up and prepare to take on Wayne Bennett’s Knights this Saturday night in Newcastle. Bennett’s side will be ready to bounce back onto the winner’s list and take on the in-form Storm side.
In a coup for the Newcastle club during the week, enforcer Beau Scott has extended his stay at the club until the end of the 2017 season. Scott joined the Knights in 2013 and since played 32 games.
History suggests Storm have the upper hand, winning 19 out of the 32 matches between the two sides. With exception to Newcastle’s 18-16 semi-final win in 2013, Storm have won seven of their past eight encounters since 2010 including a 28-20 win in Round 3 this year.
Wayne Bennett has named an 18-man squad for Saturday’s match at Hunter Stadium. Jarrod Mullen and Kade Snowden have both been named to make their return in the starting line-up while Chris Houston has been included on an extended bench. Akuila Uate is also back in the NRL this week after making his return from a knee injury via the NSW Cup last weekend.
For Storm, Bellamy has named the same squad who took on the West Tigers but also added Dayne Weston and Kurt Mann on an extended interchange bench.
Match Officials:
Referee – Ashley Klein & Chris Butler
Sideline Officials – Dan Eastwood & Phil Henderson
Video Referees – Matt Cecchin & Luke Patten
Head-to-Head:
Played: 32
Storm: 19
Knights: 13
Last time they met:
Round 3, 2014 – Melbourne Storm 28 (Will Chambers, Kevin Proctor, Cameron Smith, Young Tonumaipea, Sisa Waqa; Goals: Cameron Smith 4) defeated Newcastle Knights 20 (Akuila Uate 2, Jeremy Smith; Goals: Kurt Gidley 2, Tyrone Roberts 2)
Last 5 Matches:
Round 3, 2014 – Melbourne Storm 28 (Will Chambers, Kevin Proctor, Cameron Smith, Young Tonumaipea, Sisa Waqa; Goals: Cameron Smith 4) defeated Newcastle Knights 20 (Akuila Uate 2, Jeremy Smith; Goals: Kurt Gidley 2, Tyrone Roberts 2)
Semi-final, 2013 – Newcastle Knights 18 (Matt Hilder, Chris Houston, Akuila Uate; Goals: Tyrone Roberts 3) defeated Melbourne Storm 16 (Maurice Blair, Jesse Bromwich, Sisa Waqa; Goals: Cameron Smith 2)
Round 23, 2013 – Melbourne Storm 23 (Jordan McLean, Bryan Norrie, Billy Slater, Cameron Smith; Goals: Cameron Smith 3; Field Goals: Cooper Cronk) defeated Newcastle Knights 10 (Joseph Leilua, Akuila Uate; Goals: Kurt Gidley)
Round 14, 2013 – Melbourne Storm 16 (Maurice Blair, Billy Slater, Sisa Waqa; Goals: Cameron Smith 2) defeated Newcastle Knights 14 (Joseph Leilua 2; Goals: Tyrone Roberts 3)
Round 5, 2012 – Melbourne Storm 34 (Will Chambers, Matt Duffie, Ryan Hoffman, Todd Lowrie, Billy Slater, Gareth Widdop; Goals: Cameron Smith 5) defeated Newcastle Knights 22 (James McManus 2, Neville Costigan, Jarrod Mullen; Goals: Kurt Gidley 3)
The views expressed in this article are solely of the author and do not reflect the views of Melbourne Storm Rugby League Club.
