Round 6: Dragons v Knights preview
Dragons, Knights to rise to the occasion
A little over 2000 years ago, a resurrection took place (allegedly).
On Sunday afternoon, the St George Illawarra Dragons and the Newcastle Knights will be hoping for something similar when they clash in Wollongong.
Coming into the Easter Sunday encounter in 14th and 11th on the premiership ladder respectively, both teams will be determined to halt a disappointing run of losses and deliver on the promise shown over the opening rounds.
Slumping to their fourth loss from five matches to emphatically rank as the worst defensive side in the league, the St George Illawarra Dragons will be hoping to overcome an underwhelming record at WIN Stadium after winning three of their eight fixtures at the venue during the pandemic.
Making little impression against the Rabbitohs during last Saturday's 24-12 defeat at Accor Stadium, coach Anthony Griffin has responded by recalling experienced duo Josh McGuire and George Burgess onto the bench in place of Aaron Woods and Jackson Ford.
Dominating their opponents with 13 wins from 17 meetings over the past decade, the last time the Dragons hosted the Knights in Wollongong coincidentally took place on Easter Sunday four years ago.
Going from competition leaders to sitting outside the top eight in the wake of three straight losses, the Newcastle Knights will be looking to regain a 50 per cent success rate in a rare appearance at WIN Stadium.
Winning two of their four previous visits to the venue against the joint venture, coach Adam O'Brien has been forced into changes after Dominic Young and Jirah Momoisea joined the side's mounting injury ward following last Thursday's 30-6 loss to the Sea Eagles at home.
Recalling David Klemmer into the starting side with Jacob Saifiti reverting to the bench, the biggest inclusion of the round sees winger Edrick Lee make his long-awaited return after a wretched run with injury.
Last meeting: Round 4 2021 - Knights 13 Dragons 22
Who to watch: Mikaele Ravalawa may not be held in the same esteem as some of the great Fijian speedster to feature in the NRL over the past decade, yet you would be hard pressed to find a player in the Dragons ranks capable of influencing a result quite like the powerhouse winger. Producing a man of the match performance with a hat-trick, five tackle breaks and three line breaks in the side's only win this season, the 24-year-old has struggled to replicate those numbers in ensuing weeks. Averaging 160 running metres each week to rank well above any forward at the club, the Dragons will need Ravalawa to be at his best in order to break through for a much-needed win.
Set to make his first appearance in the NRL since the first week of the finals in 2020, strike winger Edrick Lee will be out to make up for lost time. Missing the entirety of last season with a foot injury that threatened to prematurely draw the curtain on his career, opponents can expect the 29-year-old Queensland representative to be heavily involved with the ball in hand while providing the Knights with an added threat under the high ball through his height. Growing in confidence after three matches leading up to his return in reserve grade, look for Lee to give a solid account of himself in a bid to hold down a place in the top 17 for the rest of the year.
The favourite: Despite staring down the prospect of their worst start to a season since 2008, the Dragons are favoured to get the job done at home.
My tip: Gaining plenty of plaudits over the opening fortnight with wins on the road and at home, the Knights should prevail in a tight affair if they can get back to a style of play built around effort and patience. Knights by 4.
