It goes with out saying that today's fixture is a massive game for Wenty. They take on the high flying Newcastle Knights - who come into the game on a seven game winning streak - after a last start loss against the Penrith Panthers. The Knights, impressive as their run has been, are far from invincible - as Newtown demonstrated last week when they nearly ran them down in the dying stages of the game.
Pauli Pauli is a confirmed starter for the Magpies while they are also strengthened by the return of Bureta Faraimo on the wing.
A loss today does not signal the end of the road for either team but a bye in the second week of the finals is a massive boon in the hunt for the premiership. Newcastle are favourites today in my opinion and Wenty will need some strong efforts from the engine room along with the likes of Hunt and Kelly lifting if they are to knock the Novacastrians over.
1. Justin Hunt
2. Jake Butler-Fleming
3. KJ MacKenzie
4. Vai Toutai
20. Bureta Faraimo
6. Api Pewhairangi
7. Luke Kelly
8. Daniel Alvaro
9. Ben Jones
10. Isaac Maliota
11. Pauli Pauli
12. Lorenzo Ma'Afu
13. Lionel O'Mally
Interchange
14. Sam Gorman
16. Joseph Ualesi
17. Danny Howard
18. Nick Kassis
This game will be shown live on Fox Sports 1 at 12:30PM.
Replies
It would seem likely, SuperEel - unless Fui is a late inclusion and the pack is reshuffled as such.
Good to see Faraimo back, I would have him over Sio.
Thanks, just turning it on now, cant wait for this one
Unlikely Browny. Ma'afu has been with Parra for a while now and although he has consistently been a strong performer for Wenty I believe that his size (or lack thereof) counts heavily against him. I can't see much changing in 2015 to be honest.
Ualesi has had a disrupted season. Started the year on fire in a lethal right-edge combination with Sandow and Morgan but repeated injuries cruelled that momentum and he has since struggled to stay on the field.
I believe that he still can shape up to be a handy player but the likes of Moeroa and Pauli have overtaken him and he has John Aloiai hot on his heels.
Forgot to mention but the game is taking place at Leichardt (as are all NSW Cup finals this weekend).
There was a very heavy downpour this morning and although the rain has since stopped the field is soaked.
Wenty will be receiving the ball from the kick-off.
Kelly fields a fairly shallow kick and is forced to take the hit up as a result. Maliota is used from the next play and takes a strong charge and earns the first penalty of the game. Solid stuff from the massive bookened.
Luke Kelly finds touch in Newcastle's half as Wenty begin to work the ball to the right from the left sideline.
Alvaro and Pauli both take carries before O'Malley centres the ball.
Kelly and Hunt link up down the right and Mackenzie down very well to take a tough pass and brings up the last tackle.
The first attacking kick of the game is a poor one and is taken in goals for a 20m restart.
Ma'afu concedes a penalty late in the count after slipping a hand between the legs. That one hurts as Newcastle find touch on Wenty's 30m line.
The left-edge of Wenty shoot up a aggressively with both Toutai and Faraimo coming up and their inside men do a great job of pushing across to cover it. Wenty hold Newcastle out and on the next play the Knights come up with an unforced error.
Wenty scrum 10m out from their goal line.
Simple stuff in this set as Maliota and Alvaro ruck it out. The latter draws a penalty for a dangerous tackle.
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