Click the match link for full match details including teams, scoring details, articles and more
Fri July 10 2009, 7:30PM AEST GMT+10Fri: South Sydney Rabbitohs 36 d. Penrith Panthers 12 at
ANZ Stadium (Sydney), Homebush Bay, Sydney (NSW)Crowd: 9,017
Sat July 11 2009, 7:30PM AEST GMT+10Sat: Newcastle Knights 23 d. Canberra Raiders 4 at
Energy Australia Stadium, New Lambton, Newcastle (NSW)Crowd: 15,355
Sun July 12 2009, 4:00PM NZST GMT+12Sun: New Zealand Warriors 14 l. Bulldogs 18 at
Mt Smart Stadium, Penrose, Auckland (NZ)Crowd: 11,802
Sun July 12 2009, 3:00PM AEST GMT+10Sun: St George Illawarra Dragons 48 d. Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 18 at
WIN Stadium, Wollongong (NSW)Crowd: 16,792
Mon July 13 2009, 7:00PM AEST GMT+10Mon: Gold Coast Titans 18 d. Parramatta Eels 12 at
Skilled Park, Robina, Gold Coast (QLD)Crowd: 14,009
Brisbane Broncos bye North Queensland Cowboys bye Sydney Roosters bye Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks bye Melbourne Storm bye Wests Tigers bye
Sun July 12, 2009
Source: www.abc.net.auThe Knights have blitzed Canberra 23-4 in Newcastle to bounce back from last weekend's narrow defeat to the Storm in Melbourne.
Despite losing playmaker Jarrod Mullen to an ankle injury in the first five minutes, the Knights put in a commanding performance to easily beat the outclassed Raiders.
The visitors came up short against a superb Newcastle defence which conceded only one try, despite playing the majority of the game in their half.
Newcastle coach Brian smith told ABC Grandstand the win showed the team's grit.
"They just gutsed their way to a win tonight without much coaching, it was a credit to their mental toughness," he said.
"Canberra had an abundance of ball at the bit where you want it, but really we only let them in for the one try, so really it was a game based on guts and determination and gritty defence.
"Tonight we probably weren't aggressive (in defence), we were just hanging in their and nobody gave in, not one bloke, it was a tremendous effort."
Canberra wasted its dominant field position with sloppy passing and gave away too many penalties.
Despite spending most of the first 20 defending its line, Newcastle was the first to cross after a penalty against Joel Monaghan handed the Knights a second set of six 10 metres out.
Seconds away from being bundled into touch, Adam MacDougall managed to get the ball way and Richie Fa'aosa scored.
Minutes later another penalty allowed Keith Lulia to score unopposed on the right wing, stretching Newcastle's lead into double digits.
MacDougall, in only his eighth game for the season, was in menacing form, bundling Jarod Croker out into touch behind goal and putting in some of the biggest hits of the game.
Canberra continued to hamper its chances with a series of penalties and a Croker dropped ball in the 38th minute lead to the third Newcastle try.
A barnstorming run from Junior Sau set up the try with Akuila Uate crashing across the line to take the lead to 16-0 at half time.
Canberra had several chances in the second half but was let down by sloppy passing and failed to capitalise on its dominant field position.
Monaghan went airborne to take a Marc Herbert kick and put the Raiders on the board in the 55th minute, but a wide kick from Terry Campese's kept the gap in double figures.
Ben Rogers rubbed salt in the wounds with a field goal just before the 60th minute to put the Raiders out of the two-try range.
Raiders standout Josh Dugan, who looked dangerous all night with some fearless takes, managed to break the Newcastle defence in the 60th minute but sent his pass astray 10 metres out.
The nail in the coffin came when Wes Naiqama grounded a ball off the fingertips of Monaghan.
Knights: 23 (R Fa'aosa, K Lulia, A Uate, W Naiqama tries; Naiqama 3 goals, B Rogers field goal).
Raiders: 4 (J Monaghan try).
Source:
ABC NewsAudio: Brian Smith ABC InterviewAudio: Ben Rogers ABC InterviewAudio: David Furner ABC InterviewAudio: Newcastle v Canberra ABC SummaryFri July 10, 2009
Source: RleagueBetting.comEnergyAustralia stadium will play host to Saturday's lone NRL fixture, as the Knights try to edge closer to the Top 4 and the Raiders closer to the Top 8. It's a crucial match for both clubs, especially the Raiders who can get to within just 2 points of the Top 8 with a victory.
The Knights are clear favourites for this encounter, with the top odds being just $1.50 from
BetCris. There's much better value in giving up 5.5 start in the
Handicap Betting market, and taking the $1.91 odds from
BetEzy of a Knights victory by 6 or more points.
If you think the Raiders can improve on their 2-5 away record this season,
Pinnacle Sports will give you top odds of $2.89, or consider the $4.15 odds from
Sportingbet of a Raiders victory by 1-12.
It's very hard to see either team opting for 2 points in the
1st Scoring Play market, so take the $2 odds of a Knights Try and/or $2.50 for a Raiders try, with both top quotes coming from
Sportingbet.
The best value in the
1st Try Scorer market is
Sportingbet's quote of $12 for Joel Monaghan - which not only is 33% better than the $9 available elsewhere, but is in effect a quote of $24 if you take advantage of Sportingbet's 100% 1st Try Scorer bonus offer. Meanwhile,
Sports Alive are top odds of $15 if you think exciting youngster Daniel Vidot will be first over the line on his debut.
Click Here to Compare NRL Odds on Knights vs Raiders
Round 18
Newcastle Knights 23 d. Canberra Raiders 4
rleague UK Edition
rleague RSS Feed