Round 2
St.George-Illawarra Dragons 12 l. Newcastle Knights 16

2007 NRL Telstra Premiership Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: Aus_NZ > National > First Grade Competition: NRL Telstra Premiership

Knights on the rise without two stars
Mon March 26, 2007
Newcastle coach Brian Smith has already achieved one positive thing at the Knights and that he's steered his side to successive victories against the Bulldogs and Dragons without Andrew Johns and Danny Buderus.

The Knights have consistently struggled when one of Johns or Buderus has been out and Smith has been dealt with both being out and he's come up trumps in an early sign that he could be the answer as Newcastle begins building in the post-Johns era.

Buderus has been unavailable for both matches and Johns has only played three minutes this season, which was to give Smith a tough introduction and he's passed through flying colours with his selection as Knights coach creating plenty of controversy.

Newcastle appeared down and out against the Dragons and found ways to bounce back. The Dragons dominated the first half, yet it was Newcastle who went to the break leading 8-6 with James McManus scoring with a minute before half-time.

Youngster Chase Stanley scored the Dragons only try in the opening half. Only 17, he was at school in the morning and was a late call up for the injured Matt Cooper. It was Stanley's first touch of the ball in the top grade and he said, "It was my first game, I got it out of the way. I was lucky I got a try off my first touch."

Stanley joins the likes of former Internationals Andrew Ettingshausen, Greg Alexander and Brad Fittler and current International Karmichael Hunt to make their debut when still at school. Stanley is the youngest debutant in St George Illawarra's history.

Jason Ryles collected in a high tackle by Daniel Tolar leaving him dazed, which was no much different to a certain incident the week before. Steve Clark who was video referee last week and referee this week told Tolar, "You've got to be careful. You had contact with his head. You can't. It was high. It's on report." In one short week the NRL and its referees have shown themselves to be inconsistent and have different sets of rules for different clubs and players.

Josh Morris laid on a great try for Keith Lulia, but the Knights came home strong with Brad Tighe scoring to level up the scores in the 68th minute. Newcastle were unable to land a goal all night and they weren't to be denied with George Carmont crossing in the 72nd minute. Newcastle held on for a tough victory and a great confidence boosting performance with Johns and Buderus still to return.

Dragons coach Nathan Brown said, "We paid the price for taking some silly options - made some decisions with the ball I'm sure we'd change if we had them again. IIt ended up getting us in the end."


Dragons unchanged for Knights clash at Jubilee
Tue March 20, 2007
Source: www.dragons.com.au

St George Illawarra Dragons Coach Nathan Brown has today named an unchanged line-up for the Dragons first home game of the year at OKI Jubilee Stadium this Friday night against the Newcastle Knights.

Brown was pleased with the Dragons opening match and is hoping his team can collect its second consecutive win at the start of the season, a feat the St George Illawarra Dragons have not achieved since the Club was formed.

Brown said, "It's always good to start the year with a win and we'll be looking to continue that way this weekend in front of our home crowd. It will be another big challenge for our young team because we have a tight turn around and the Knights are always a tough opponent."

Unavailable Dragons are Mark Gasnier (pectoral), Mathew Head (knee), Sam Isemonger (knee), Brett Morris (thumb), Justin Poore (suspension) and Dean Young (knee).

St.George-Illawarra Dragons:
1. Josh Morris
2. Luke MacDougall
3. Keith Lulia
4. Matt Cooper
5. Wes Naiqama
6. Richard Williams
7. Ben Hornby
8. Dan Hunt
9. Simon Woolford
10. Jason Ryles
11. Ashton Sims
12. Beau Scott
13. Ben Creagh

Subs:
14. Adam Peek
15. Danny Wicks
16. Corey Payne
17. Tony Caine

News sent by: www.dragons.com.au

Click Here to keep an eye on all the team lists.

Tue March 20, 2007
• Mullen and Abraham named as Knights halves
  

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