Knights preview of Raiders match - Tahu rates Robinson and Raiders pack

[Archie]

Round 4 NRL Preview: Knights v Raiders

NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS v CANBERRA RAIDERS
Round 4, 2013 NRL Premiership
Monday, March 31, 2013
NRL Kick-Off 6.30pm, NYC Kick-Off 4.15pm
Hunter Stadium, Newcastle
Referees: Gerard Sutton/Brett Suttor

Last Time They Met
Round 21, 2012 – Newcastle Knights 36 defeated Canberra Raiders 6. Watch the highlights of their clash in Round 21 last season here.

Head to Head
Played 37, Raiders 20, Knights 16, Drawn 1.

The Knights have won three of the last four matches between the two sides, but the points were split in the Knights’ and Raiders two meetings last season.

Team Changes and Late Mail
There are two player changes to the starting 13 that defeated the North Queensland Cowboys on Monday night. Danny Buderus will resume his usual position at starting hooker and David Fa’alogo, who came off the bench in his debut for the Knights, will start in the front row.

NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Boyd, McManus, Quinn, McKinnon, Uate, Mullen, Roberts, Snowden, Buderus, Fa’alogo, Rochow, Houston (c), Smith.
Bench: Tahu, Costigan, Cuthbertson, Sims.

CANBERRA RAIDERS
Robinson, Earl, Croker, Ferguson, Wighton, McCrone (c), Williams, Shillington (c), Buttriss, White, Papali, Edwards, Fensom.
Bench: Berrigan, Picker, Tilse, Learoyd-Lahrs.

Bottom Line
The Hunter Ports Newcastle Knights have turned in a pair of extremely impressive performances in their two previous matches at Hunter Stadium this season, notching two convincing wins over the Tigers and Cowboys.

Newcastle will no doubt be looking to continue their excellent home form when they take on the Canberra Raiders on Easter Sunday.

Timana Tahu is in-line to make his return for the Knights off the bench and said there are a number of areas where Newcastle have to wary of the Raiders’ strengths.

“They are a big side, their forward pack’s big. They have a good backline. Reece Robinson has been dangerous the last couple of games,” Tahu said.

“When they turn up they are a hard team to beat. I really don’t know what is going to come on Sunday. We just have to prepare ourselves well, hopefully what we do out here on the paddock during the week, turns up on Sunday.

“It is going to be another tough game, with Canberra you don’t know how they will turn up.”

While they were not named in the 17-man team earlier in the week, Knights coach Wayne Bennett said experienced duo Kurt Gidley and Willie Mason are still in the frame for selection.

Knights halves pairing Tyrone Roberts and Jarrod Mullen were outstanding in the absence of Gidley last week, controlling the game with their precise kicking, following some hard running from the Knights’ forward pack.

Newcastle will be determined to stick with that recipe for success against Canberra and not allow the visitors a chance to get a stranglehold on the match.

Another interesting subplot to the match is the return of former Knight Joel Edwards to face his former Club.

Tahu said he expects the match to be an interesting experience for the Newcastle local.

“This is a place you grew up playing, you have followed the Knights your whole life and it will probably be hard for him,” Tahu said.

“Canberra will be telling him not to get too emotional about it but at the end of the day it is hard, one day you were playing in front of your family and friends in your hometown and next thing you are playing against them. It will be a challenge for him.

“It is always hard to come back to Newcastle because of how special the place is.

“It is a one town team, when you grow up around here everyone knows everyone in this town, you still feel like you are a part of this team.”

Knights supporters can purchase their tickets for Sunday night’s match from PROticket.

Source: http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news-display/Round-4-NRL-Preview-Knights-v-Raiders/71141