NRL Round 17 Preview and Prediction - Newcastle Knights v Wests Tigers @ McDonald Jones Stadium

Newcastle Knights v Wests Tigers @ McDonald Jones Stadium

Preview - This looks like a battle for the Wooden Spoon come early here as the bottom two Clubs in the Knights and Tigers meet at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle on Sunday. The Knights lost another heartbreaker last week, blowing an 18-point halftime lead against the Dragons and going down 32-28. In their 12 losses this season, the Knights have now lost 8 by 10 points or less. The Tigers on the other hand were listless in their 26-14 loss to the Dragons, which was their 7th straight loss in what has been the season from hell for the Club. The Tigers currently have the 2nd worst attack and worst defence in the competition in a season that has been plagued by player and coach departures and turmoil throughout. 

History - The Knights have an excellent recent record against the Tigers, having won 5 of the last 7 clashes against the joint venture Club. Crucially, the Knights have beaten the Tigers on 4 of the past 5 occasions in Newcastle, including their only victory of last season with a narrow 18-16 triumph. 

Newcastle Knights’ Scouting Report - The Knights get a timely boost here with the inclusion of both Jamie Buhrer and Joe Wardle on the interchange bench as they return from injury. Nathan Ross has retained his place at fullback after his dynamic 3-try display against the Dragons last week. The Knights have lost impressive young forward Luke Yeates to a shoulder complaint. 

Wests Tigers’ Scouting Report - The Tigers have suffered a big blow on the eve of this clash with their star fullback James Tedesco ruled out with an ankle injury. Luke Brooks has put in a couple of extremely underwhelming displays in the past couple of weeks and will need to lift his game if both Josh Reynolds and Connor Watson join the Club from next season. 

Verdict – Newcastle by 6-14

I can't tip the Tigers to beat anyone at the moment and that includes the Knights this week up in Newcastle. The Knights at least appear to be building something at the moment, while the Tigers appear just to be marking time until the end of the season. The Knights have been unlucky to lose on several occasions this season, whilst the Tigers’ performances appear to be getting worse and worse by the week. Newcastle's only win of last season last year was against the Tigers at McDonald Jones Stadium in the corresponding fixture, so I expect a big crowd in Newcastle to get right behind their men knowing they have a real opportunity here to get away from a 3rd consecutive wooden spoon. The bottom line for mess the Tigers without Tedesco just don't have the points in them, while Newcastle appear to at least have some good combinations and dangerous players in attack.