Sunday has two NRL matches with the first game for Round 23 is between Newcastle Knights and Melbourne Storm with the opening kick to commence at 3:00PM local time. The game is to be played at Hunter Stadium with the favourite for the match being Melbourne Storm. View our NRL live scores, odds and results for the game between Newcastle Knights and Melbourne Storm.
WHERE AND WHEN: Hunter Stadium, Sunday, 18/08, 3:00PM
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Opening odds comparison:
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| Newcastle Knights | 2.75 | 2.75 | 2.85 | 2.75 | 2.75 | 2.75 |
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Melbourne Storm
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1.45 | 1.45 | 1.44 | 1.45 | 1.45 | 1.45 |
Preview:
The Newcastle Knights play Melbourne on Sunday, 3.00pm at Hunter Stadium. The Storm will be favourites to win here, although this looks like another close contest in a tightly fought week. Newcastle are playing great at the moment, with just one loss from their last six matches. Shear momentum might not be enough for them this week, however, especially against a Storm side who managed to beat the Rabbitohs 26-8 last week and the Raiders 68-4 the week before. It’s hard to look past
Melbourne here, although this looks like another great match.
Teams:
Newcastle Knights:
Darius Boyd, James McManus, Dane Gagai, Joey Leilua, Akuila Uate, Jarrod Mullen, Tyrone Roberts, Kade Snowden, Danny Buderus, Zane Tetevano, Robbie Rochow, Chris Houston, Jeremy Smith. Interchange: Kurt Gidley, David Fa’alogo, Neville Costigan, Alex McKinnon, Craig Gower
Melbourne Storm:
Billy Slater, Sisa Waqa, Will Chambers, Justin O’Neill, Mahe Fonua, Brett Finch, Cooper Cronk, Jesse Bromwich, Cameron Smith, Bryan Norrie, Kevin Proctor, Ryan Hoffman, Ryan Hinchcliffe. Interchange: Jason Ryles, Tohu Harris, Jordan McLean, Kenneath Bromwich, Slade Griffin
Gagai hails Locky-like Buderus
Newcastle match-winner Dane Gagai has ranked Danny Buderus’ influence and leadership alongside Brisbane great Darren Lockyer.
The former Broncos centre ended a drought of 11 games without scoring by crossing twice in Saturday’s vital 18-14 win over Cronulla to mark Buderus’ record-breaking 250th game for the club in some style.
The outstanding 22-year-old’s second try came with less than two minutes remaining of the match to breathe new life into Newcastle’s flagging finals aspirations.
Former NSW skipper Buderus will retire at the end of the season to cap off a glittering career that started with the Knights in 1997 before going on to win the 2001 grand final then returning from a three-year stint with Leeds at the start of last year.
“He is one of the great players and I feel privileged to say I played with him and Darren Lockyer,” Gagai said.
“To finish the game the way we did and win it for ‘Bedsy’ is something I will always remember throughout my career.
“Like Locky he’s a great leader who leads by example. He’s not the most vocal person, but when he’s out on the field he makes you lift that extra level with his passion for the club and you just feed off him.”
Gagai was on the spot to clinch a win that keeps the Knights in the eight after showing great determination and strength to get in between Jonathan Wright and Sosaia Feki and haul in a Jarrod Mullen chip-kick.
“Mullo put it perfectly between the centre and the winger and I knew when I took off that I was going to come up with it,” Gagai said.
“There was a lot of things that led up to it, I just happened to be in the right time at the right place.
“I was saying before the game that I hadn’t scored for a while but to get the double and win the game was a great feeling.”