The stage is set for what surely would be one of the Knights’ most famous victories if they can get the job done this Sunday against the reigning champions.
The re-opening of the newly developed Ausgrid Stadium couldn’t have asked for a better first-up match, with the St George Illawarra Dragons coming to town for what should be some classic Sunday afternoon footy.
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The Knights’ brand is about toughness. It’s about being a battler and never giving up. It’s about fighting for every inch, every metre… no matter what. We saw it last weekend in their loss to the Sea Eagles. It is a shame the annals won’t have an asterisk next to the 26-12 loss showing how the side battled through their horrific injury toll to be within eight points nearing the end of the match.
They lost Shannon McDonnell (concussion), Beau Henry (ankle), Cameron Ciraldo (pectoral), Ben Rogers (shoulder) and Richie Fa’aoso (concussion) at different stages yet continued to play with pride and gusto.
The result dropped them from first to second on the ladder and now they must face up to the fifth-placed Dragons, who seemingly got back on track with a 25-12 win over the Warriors.
But they must do so without McDonnell, Henry, Ciraldo and Rogers, while Fa’aoso is named but will be monitored during the week.
Thankfully, they get back stars Kurt Gidley and Adam MacDougall to bolster the depleted line-up. Gidley will play five-eighth for Henry while MacDougall, who is set to play his 150th game for the Knights, slots in at centre, allowing Wes Naiqama to cover at fullback. Joel Edwards comes into the side to start at lock, which sees Chris Houston shift to second row and Cory Paterson start from the bench. Marvin Karawana is the new man on the bench.
