2020 NRL – Newcastle Knights vs Canterbury Bulldogs Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
When is Newcastle Knights vs Canterbury Bulldogs taking place? Sunday 26th July, 2020 – 05:00 (UK)
Where is Newcastle Knights vs Canterbury Bulldogs taking place? McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
What is the expected weather for Newcastle Knights vs Canterbury Bulldogs? 16c, rain
What channel is Newcastle Knights vs Canterbury Bulldogs on? Sky Sports Arena will be televising selected NRL games in the UK and you can find their schedule here. For Australian broadcasters, you can find a list here
Where can I stream Newcastle Knights vs Canterbury Bulldogs? If televised on Sky Sports, then subscribers will be able to stream the match live via Sky Go. Alternatively, the match will be available to subscribers of Watch NRL
Where can I get tickets for Newcastle Knights vs Canterbury Bulldogs? Click here for ticket information on 2020 NRL matches
THE TEAM NEWS
NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Starting 13: Ponga, Tuala, Moga, Best, Hunt, Mann, Pearce, Klemmer, McCullough, J. Saifiti, Fitzgibbon, Guerra, Ese’ese – Interchanges: Watson, Barnett, Saulo, Mata’utia – Reserves: King, Shibasaki
Unavailable: Jayden Brailey (Injured), Tim Glasby (Injured), Edrick Lee (Injured), Daniel Saifiti (Injured)
- Newcastle Knights were impressive for a large portion of their game with South Sydney Rabbitohs last week but a late capitulation almost saw them surrender a 20-point lead which left head coach Adam O’Brien with plenty to work on ahead of this contest.
- The Knights led 0-20 with just 15 minutes remaining but they allowed 18 points in reply in a seven-minute spell as they threatened to secure a stunning comeback, although those efforts fell short
- Having completed at 81%, the Knights now possess the second-highest completion rate in the NRL this season with an average of 81.3% and they will hope to repeat that in what could be tricky playing conditions in what is an unchanged side.
CANTERBURY BULLDOGS
Starting 13: Meaney, Watene-Zelezniak, Holland, Averillo, Montoya, Foran, Lewis, Tolman, Marshall-King, Napa, Jackson, Faitala-Mariner, Thompson – Interchanges: Wakeham, Katoa, To’omaga, Ogden – Reserves: Britt, R. Smith
Unavailable: Joe Stimson (Injured), Will Hopoate (Injured), Adam Elliott (Injured), Jayden Okunbor (Suspended), Sauaso Sue (Injured)
- Canterbury Bulldogs suffered a disappointing loss at the hands of St. George Illawarra Dragons last week as they made an error when the scores were level in the dying stages which gifted their opponents the win.
- The Bulldogs fought back from a slow start that saw them fall 10-0 behind early on to score 22 unanswered points and they looked set for the win until the Dragons produced a late fightback to level the scores but a spilled ball saw St. George pounce to steal the victory.
- It was an improved showing from the Bulldogs who respected the ball with just six errors and they will hope to build on what was a promising performance on the whole with Jake Averillo boosting their ranks with a return in the centres this week with Brandon Wakeham also back as Christian Crichton and Sauaso Sue drop out.
THE PREDICTION
Newcastle Knights almost blew a huge lead last week as they nearly threw a 20-point lead away in the final quarter of their game with South Sydney Rabbitohs and they will have to refocus after the way they ended that contest. They return to home soil to host Canterbury Bulldogs who did surrender a lead to succumb to defeat against St. George Illawarra Dragons last week. They remain on just one win for the season after failing to hang on to a 12-point advantage and although that was an improved display, the Knights should learn from their scare last week to run out winners by at least 14 points in this contest.
