Newcastle couldn’t beat Melbourne’s ‘big three’ last Friday, but prop Kade Snowden says the Knights are better prepared to take care of Parramatta’s star duo Jarryd Hayne and Chris Sandow.
Snowden, who experienced his fair share of the hard times at former club Cronulla, says the Eels could enjoy a new lease of life now they’ve finally broken through for their first NRL win of the season.
However, after being thwarted by the Storm’s dangermen Billy Slater, Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk, the in-form front-rower believes the Knights will have learned from the experience as they prepare for the resurgent Eels at Hunter Stadium on Easter Sunday.
“I think Hayne’s one of the best players in the game so it’ll be like Billy Slater again for us,” said Snowden.
“If we can control him and can control Chrissy (Sandow), we can control their side.
“I know where they’re at. Just getting that one win, it just takes all the pressure off you and off the club and you can string a few together. But hopefully it won’t be this week.
“We aren’t going very well this year at home but we should get a win up this week if we played like we did last week (in going down 34-22 in Melbourne).”
Snowden believes he’s slowly working up towards the form which earned him a State of Origin debut for NSW in game one last year, but says he’s not yet thinking about representative football.
The 25-year-old’s clash with the man who replaced him in the starting line-up for the Blues, Tim Mannah, will be one to watch, but most eyes on Sunday will be on Newcastle centre Timana Tahu playing his first match against former club Parramatta.
Tahu had an acrimonious split from the Eels last year and has shown over recent seasons a fiery streak – which many believe could bubble to the surface again this Sunday.
However Tahu said he wouldn’t be approaching the Eels clash any differently and played down the rivalry.
“It’s basically a whole new team,” Tahu said.
“I get to play against a few mates but, most of all, it’s just down to business as usual.
“I’m happy being here and running out in the red and blue colours. It’s just going to be another day in the office.”
The Knights will be without captain Kurt Gidley for up to a month with a knee injury but Tahu said there’ll be no excuses from the Novocastrians and they’re right behind new halfback Tyrone Roberts.
Tahu said he’s looking to sharpen up his own game.
“I think I’ve still got a bit more to improve,” he said.
“I think there are some times there where I get a bit tired and lose concentration.
“There were a few mistakes I made on Friday night and I’m just trying to clean those up and the best way to do it is be consistent at training.”
