Knights Back in Control of Their Finals Destiny

Michael Burkill - The Knighthood Podcast

Published: Saturday 31/08/2024 at 9:30PM

The Knights are back in the driver’s seat for their finals aspirations. A close loss against the Sharks two matches ago, which once seemed like a significant blow, now appears less critical thanks to the Dragons losing today to the Eels and the Dolphins beating the Broncos in the Battle of Brisbane.

These results have positioned the Knights for a finals appearance in the 2024 season, validating The Knighthood Podcast’s bold prediction in their 23rd episode, where they forecasted the Knights to finish in 8th position at odds of $8.25, prior to their round 24 match vs. the Sharks.

With finals now within reach, the onus is on coach Adam O’Brien to rally his troops. The Knights must not only beat the Titans this week but do so convincingly to build critical momentum heading into a virtual semi-final clash against the Dolphins next Sunday at McDonald Jones Stadium.

The stakes are high for coach Adam O’Brien. Despite an inconsistent season, he has a chance to save face and sneak his team into their fourth finals series in his fifth season as coach, a feat that would certainly justify the club’s faith in re-signing him until the end of the 2027 season.

The Titans, though out of form, will be formidable opponents. It’s up to O’Brien to ensure his team remains focused, executes their game plan, and seizes this opportunity in front of their loyal home fans in what is likely to be a sold-out McDonald Jones Stadium.

Team Lineups

Backs:

• Kalyn Ponga (Fullback) vs. Jaylan De Groot (Fullback)

• Fletcher Sharpe (Winger) vs. Alofiana Khan-Pereira (Winger)

• Dane Gagai (Centre) vs. Brian Kelly (Centre)

• Bradman Best (Centre) vs. Beau Fermor (Centre)

• Greg Marzhew (Winger) vs. Jojo Fifita (Winger)

• Jack Cogger (Five-Eighth) vs. Jayden Campbell (Five-Eighth)

• Phoenix Crossland (Halfback) vs. Kieran Foran (Halfback)

Forwards:

• Daniel Saifiti (Prop) vs. Moeaki Fotuaika (Prop)

• Jayden Brailey (Hooker) vs. Sam Verrills (Hooker)

• Leo Thompson (Prop) vs. Jaimin Jolliffe (Prop)

• Dylan Lucas (2nd Row) vs. David Fifita (2nd Row)

• Brodie Jones (2nd Row) vs. Klese Haas (2nd Row)

• Adam Elliott (Lock) vs. Chris Randall (Lock)

Interchange:

• Will Pryce vs. Josiah Pahulu

• Mat Croker vs. Isaac Liu

• Jack Hetherington vs. Erin Clark

• Thomas Cant vs. Keenan Palasia

Reserves:

• Kyle McCarthy vs. Tanah Boyd

• Sebastian Su’a vs. Joe Stimson

Final Teams — Knights Not at Full Strength and Still Unproven in the Halves

The Knights will need to make some major adjustments due to the absence of their starting back-rowers, Tyson Frizell and Kai Pearce-Paul. However, they welcome back Bradman Best in the centres, which allows the consistently impressive Dylan Lucas to step into his preferred role in the back row.

The Knights’ spine will also be under immense pressure, with Jack Cogger and Phoenix Crossland tasked with getting Kalyn Ponga the ball in the right positions on the field. The combination of these untested halves and the reshuffled lineup will be crucial to the Knights’ chances of securing the win and building momentum for the critical match next week against the Dolphins.

Betting Markets Have the Knights as Firm Favourites

The betting markets are backing the Knights as strong favourites in this matchup. According to Topsport.com.au, the Knights are set at $1.30 in head-to-head markets, while the Titans are clear underdogs at $3.50. This reflects the confidence in the Knights’ recent form and their push for a finals spot, despite the challenges they face with a reshuffled lineup.

Match Prediction

Given the Knights’ recent form, their strong home advantage, and the stakes of this match, they are poised to secure a crucial victory against the Titans. Despite missing key players and the unproven combination in the halves, the Knights’ depth and the leadership of Kalyn Ponga should see them through. The Titans, while dangerous with nothing to lose, are likely to struggle against a Newcastle side driven by the prospect of finals football. Expect the Knights to come out on top, potentially by a comfortable margin, setting the stage for a blockbuster clash against the Dolphins next week.

The Knighthood Podcast is tipping the Knights at $1.85 to cover the -10.5 spread via Topsport.com.au

Tune In for a Full Review and Preview

The Knighthood Podcast will be live at 7PM via YouTube on Tuesday 3/9/24. Tune in for a full review of the match against the Titans and a comprehensive preview for the final match of the regular season against the Dolphins.

Watch it live here:

https://www.youtube.com/live/hPkwDrhfuac?si=skDnT_WBXrDcW4cd