Round 16: Knights v Titans preview
Desperation day for ladder laggards
The Newcastle Knights and the Gold Coast Titans will be fighting to keep their faint finals hopes in tact when they clash in Newcastle on Friday evening.
Most recently facing off for a place in the top eight during the penultimate round of last season, the two sides will meet under vastly different circumstances after enduring dramatic declines over the first half of the 2022 campaign.
Determined to put an end to a horror run of performances at McDonald Jones Stadium, the Newcastle Knights will be aiming to repay the faith shown by their loyal supporters with a much-needed win on home soil.
Coming off a heartbreaking 20-18 defeat on the road to the Raiders in their last performance, coach Adam O'Brien has been dealt a major blow with captain Kalyn Ponga ruled out after sustaining a concussion in the closing minutes of Sunday night's second State of Origin encounter. Tex Hoy will gain another chance to press his case in the top grade in the number one jersey, while Daniel Saifiti and Bradman Best could be late inclusions after being named as part of the extended bench.
Sitting in 12th position with four wins over the opening 15 rounds, the Knights hold the unwanted distinction as the worst attacking team in the league with an average of 13 points per game so far this season.
Conceding 197 points while scoring a measly 28 in their past five home matches, the Knights have performed strongly historically against the Titans with eight wins from 12 meetings in Newcastle.
Languishing at the bottom of the NRL ladder with the second worst defensive record, the Gold Coast Titans will be desperate to break a run of five straight losses.
Going down to the Sharks 18-10 in their most recent match held in Coffs Harbour, the Titans will welcome back David Fifita from a knee injury sustained during Indigenous Round, along with Tino Fa'asuamaleaui backing up from Origin II.
Winning two of the three matches contested against the Knights since taking over as coach in 2020, Justin Holbrook will be hoping his team can claim their first win in Newcastle since 2016.
Last meeting: Round 24 2021 - Knights 15 Titans 14
Who to watch: Standing up in a forward pack that has regularly been outmuscled this season, veteran front-rower David Klemmer will by vying to experience victory in front of the Newcastle faithful for the first time in almost a year. Missing the side's Round 2 win over the Tigers through injury, the 28-year-old has averaged 144 metres to rank inside the top ten forwards for metres gained during the first half of the year. Still chasing his first try for the club after making the shift from Canterbury at the end of 2018, the Knights will be banking on a strong showing from Klemmer to claim two vital premiership points.
Unable to cement a regular position as a result of the side's substandard form, star playmaker AJ Brimson will be aiming to get the Titans back in the winner's circle and press his representative claims. Spending the bulk of 2022 in the halves before reverting to the number one jersey prior to the representative weekend, the 23-year-old has been the side's primary attacking threat with ten try assists and 32 tackle breaks. Overlooked for selection by Queensland coach Billy Slater during the first two matches of the series, a strong showing on Friday night could see Brimson come into calculations for a Game III recall should Kalyn Ponga's concussion create a vacancy in the Maroon's backline.
The favourite: Beginning the week as favourites, despite boasting their worst run of losses on home soil since 2018, the Knights have drifted out to an even-money bet following the withdrawal of Kalyn Ponga.
My tip: Newcastle must win on Friday evening to have any chance of playing finals football (and to avoid the danger of falling into serious contention for the wooden spoon). Knights by 6.
