Round 4: Dragons v Knights preview
Knights look to resurrect winning ways against competition leaders.
After squandering a prime opportunity to play finals football in 2017, the Dragons have started the new season with an air of confidence not seen since the beginning of the decade. Posting over a half century of points against the Titans during a nine-try romp in Toowoomba, the joint venture will have their sights set on inflicting further pain upon a Newcastle side reeling from a heavy defeat at the hands of the Roosters. Naming an unchanged line-up, the Dragons have benefitted greatly from consistency in their roster during the opening rounds, which has allowed them to play with an attacking flair that has been largely unsighted during Paul McGregor's tenure as coach. Recording in excess of 50-points only once before last weekend in the previous decade, the arrival of Ben Hunt and blistering speed of fullback Matt Dufty has invigorated the side's attack, which should serve as a fierce warning for opponents as the season continues to unfold. Holding an emphatic record over the Knights in recent years, the Dragons will be hopeful of replicating recent history that has seen the side claim nine wins from the past eleven clashes; while a statistic that could prove ominous for either side can be identified in the 40+ winning margins recorded in two of the three meetings between the Dragons and Knights at the venue.
Suffering a humbling defeat at the hands of the Roosters last Sunday, the Newcastle Knights will be desperate to make immediate amends and prove their initial wins over Manly and Canberra were not merely anomalies. Having shown poise and tenacity to emerge from the opening fortnight with two narrow victories, the Knights were dealt a harsh reality check against one of the competition heavyweights, with their performance in the 38-8 loss highlighting the importance of needing to maintain a high standard throughout the duration of matches. Responding to the loss with a number of changes, playmaker Brock Lamb has been named to start at five-eighth following Connor Watson's shoulder injury, while veteran forward Chris Heighington has been named on the bench after missing out in favour of Jacob Saifiti last Sunday. Having played in all bar three matches last season, 21-year-old Lamb has been among the best young players to emerge under Nathan Brown's reign in Newcastle, while given the absence of a specialist utility, New Zealand hooker Danny Levi may be in line to play his first match of the season having spent the first three weeks of 2018 in reserve grade. Venturing to Wollongong on just three occasions since the St. George Illawarra merger took place, the Knights will be hopeful of maintaining their winning percentage at the venue which has seen them record two wins from the three fixtures held at WIN Stadium.
Last meeting: Round 21 2017 - Knights 21 Dragons 14
Who to watch: Having spent the majority of his time at the Dragons as a middle forward, Tariq Sims has relished the opportunity to return to the edge in the wake of Joel Thompson's off-season departure. Establishing a reputation in North Queensland as a tearaway backrower who grew up idolising Sonny Bill Williams, Sims has been an underrated figure in the Dragons strong start to 2018 with his aggression and competitive streak leaving an impression throughout the playing ranks of the joint venture. Facing off against the club he departed midway through 2016, the 28-year-old has endured a wretched run of injuries and lengthy suspensions throughout his career, but having reigned in his reckless tendencies while retaining a ferocity matched by few rivals, Sims will be hoping that after departing from the Cowboys prematurely, his contribution in the Red V will result in realising the potential that saw him regarded as one of the finest player to emerge from the now defunct NYC.
As one of the breakout stars of 2017 for the Knights, Brock Lamb is set to be the major benefactor of Connor Watson's untimely shoulder injury. Originally slated to start at halfback prior to Mitchell Pearce's arrival in the Hunter, the 21-year-old Maitland product has been forced to bide his time off the bench over the opening three rounds, but with the opportunity to feature alongside the current NSW halfback, Lamb will relish the opportunity to put forward a case proving his worth as the long-term playmaker the Knights have sought. Facing off against arguably the form playmaker of the competition Gareth Widdop, Lamb will need to be on his game for the Knights to have a chance of upsetting the competition leaders, but as he showed throughout last season, when presented with an opportunity he is more than capable of causing opponent considerable trouble with his footwork and short-kicking game.
The favourite: Having crushed the Titans in emphatic fashion to sit atop the competition ladder, the Dragons are expected to continue their winning ways in Wollongong.
My tip: While the Dragons deservingly head into the Easter Sunday clash with aspirations of continuing their winning ways, the lessons learnt by the Knights following their underwhelming showing last week should inspire Nathan Brown's side to produce a miracle away from home. Knights by 4.
