NRL Rugby - Knights v Bulldogs

31 May 2009

Preview By Tipster Jumbo (New Zealand)

One last one for today as the Knights return home from Townsville to face off against the Dogs who were magnificent in beating the Storm last week.

The Knights have been going great but are in a bit of trouble here as they face a Bulldogs side after a ling flight home and also having lost Gidley and Mc Manus to Origin duty as well as no Mad Dog again for them,the Knights were well beaten by the Cowboys on Monday night 36-10 and were pretty much out played for the entire game,the Knights really looked short on ideas last week and against a Dogs side making every post a winner so far this season and not missing many players at all to Origin and the Knights backing up from Monday night albeit having time to recover this match could get ugly for them as across the park the Dogs are firing and although the loss of Hannant is a big one the Dogs still have the rest of their side available for them and should be all out to get ahead in this Origin period to put pressure on the chasing sides,In some ways that loss was coming for the Knights who have had a great season so far and are winning games that they really shouldn't however the loss of Gidley imp-articular is not good for them and although I won't show it their winning percentage without him is not good in fact I think it's around the 25% mark and against a fired u8p Dogs side on a great roll this season it might not be enough to get them over the line against them today.

The Dogs are missing Hannant but are otherwise unchanged and they will view all these games during Origin period as must wins especially when facing a side with players missing for that reason,the Dogs didn't just beat the Storm last weekend they embarrassed them and the alround effort from the Dogs was pretty big,the Dogs are really looking like Title contenders this season and unless they all fall over injured then it is looking very much likely that the Dogs will be there and be one of the teams to beat,they have really re instilled that Dogs attitude in defence and attack and they are looking like a well drilled side who know that they can win anytime they take the field and I think last weekends big win over the Storm has now proven that without a doubt.

The Knights have won 3 of their last 5 against the Dogs and in Newcastle have won 9 of the last 14 played there as well as 4 of the last 5 there against this Dogs side.

All that aside though and the Dogs look the goods here really and you just cannot pay them enough credit for what it is that they are doing,after last seasons bad form the Bulldogs have recruited with a purpose and so far that purpose has yielded nothing but positive results,the Dogs had an awful record against the Storm and yet out played them well last weekend to get that win,the Knights have been in their games but will be up against it with them missing Gidley and backing up fro Monday Night and the plans flight home,regardless hard not to like the Dogs here and at a guess this -2,.0 will not last long,,,Good Luck.