Round 5 - Knight vs Storm

[yourhero]

Saturday 13th June 2020
5:30pm Kick-off
Central Coast Stadium, Central Coast

The Knights are unbeaten in 2020 and after downing the Raiders last week, look a threat to the 2020 Premiership. They drew with the Panthers in Round 3 but have otherwise been runaway winners in the other three games against the Warriors (+20), Tigers (+18) and Raiders (+16).

Kalyn Ponga and Bradman Best dominated the Raiders.

[yourhero]

Some interesting stats for each team in 2020;

The Knights lead the League in Points scored, Tries Scored, Set Completions and Support Plays.
The Storm do not appear in the Top 5 teams for any key attacking or defensive stat.
The only Stat the Storm do lead the League in, is Errors (52), the Knights are the best in this stat with only 38.

Points Scored
Knights - 110 (27 per game)
Storm - 58 (14 per game)

Points Conceded
Knights - 56 (14 per game)
Storm - 44 (11 per game)

Completion Rate
Knights - 82%
Storm 72%

Play The Ball Speed
Knights - 3.5 Seconds
Storm - 3.7 Seconds

[Scooter]

So based on those stats Yourhero the Storm will score 14 points, given that is our average points scored and Knights average points conceded.

[yourhero]

Four games isn't a great sample size. 22 points last week almost flatters us (IMO) because for most of the game when we were inside the opposition red zone, scoring looked like an impossibility.

1. We scored long range off a short side raid courtesy of Cameron Smith and Jahrome Hughes assessing numbers. Could have been planned and executed at the right time.
2. We scored long range off a Munster break from absolutely nothing. No structure.
3. One try inside the attacking zone. Munster kicking to Addo-Carr was a piece of brilliant heads up play after having to step back inside the rushing defence. Not a set piece.
4. We scored from 40m out after a few offloads (Welch/Muster) and Smithy again identifying where the Bunnies were short of numbers. No structure.

Jahrome should have scored close range but thanks to some moron in the bunker, we were robbed of that one. Zero structure to it, all footwork.

Our set plays in the attacking zone have not been effective for a long time. If we are happy to adopt more ad-lib footy, we become more dangerous, but we also risk more turnovers. Hard to see Craig exploring that when we have been completing so poorly (73% and 68% the last two weeks).

[yourhero]

Storm team line-up named;

1. Ryan Papenhuyzen
2. Suliasi Vunivalu
3.Justin Olam
4. Brenko Lee
5. Josh Addo-Carr
6. Cameron Munster
7. Ryley Jacks
8. Jesse Bromwich
9. Cameron Smith
10. Christian Welch
11. Felise Kaufusi
12. Kenneath Bromwich
13. Dale Finucane

14. Brandon Smith
15. Tino Faasuamaleaui
16. Max King
17. Nelson Asofa-Solomona

18. Tom Eisenhuth
19. Marion Seve
20. Cooper Johns
21. Nicho Hynes

[yourhero]

Knights team line-up named;

1. Kalyn Ponga
2. Edrick Lee
3.Enari Tuala
4. Bradman Best
5. Hymel Hunt
6. Kurt Mann
7. Mitchell Pearce
8. David Klemmer
9. Andrew McCullough
10. Daniel Saifiti
11. Aidan Guerra
12. Sione Mata'utia
13. Herman Ese'ese

14. Tex Hoy
15. Jacob Saifiti
16. Tim Glasby
17. Brodie Jones

18. Tautau Moga
19. Josh King
20. Phoenix Crossland
21. Lachlan Fitzgibbon

[yourhero]

Kurt Mann named but injured and likely won't play. Tex Hoy likely to move to 5/8 and open up a bench spot. Lachlan Fitzgibbon may come into the team also.

[yourhero]

Still no Tui (back issue) which is a shame...

[blazza18]

Cooper Johns making his debut against the Knights would be a fun story. Pity he has such a good player in front of him.

[Mr Peanutbutter]

WOuld have liked to see Johns debut, but Jacks was probably the right call.

[Mattpoet]

And that's official, Johns and Hynes out.

[Mattpoet]

Brandon to start again
Welch to the bench
Eisenhuth in for King

[yourhero]

Hopefully Brandon gets some more minutes this week. He actually had less time on the field last week even though he started.

[blazza18]

Anyone know who our attacking coach is and how long they’ve been doing it?

[Scooter]

Much better half. Half time Storm 18 Knights 2
Jacks, Suliasi Vunivalu and Tino have scored tries and Cam 3/3. Congratulations to Tino on his first NRL try.

Ponga kicked a penalty right on half time.