NRL: Game of the week

Chris Houston of the Knights. Photo / Getty Images

1 Game of the week

Knights v Bulldogs

The NRL's form teams meet with plenty riding on the match. Having won five of their past six, the Knights have surged to within spitting distance of the top eight. Heading into the round they trailed the eighth-placed Titans on for-and-against by just two points (-4 plays -2). A win here against the streaking Doggies would be huge for a Knights side that looked dead and buried six weeks ago. With the depleted Rabbitohs facing a tough trip to the Gold Coast, the Dogs could put one hand on the minor premiership with a victory here in enemy territory.

2 Just sign here

The Knights have locked up former police target Chris Houston (see what I did there), inking the one-time accused drug dealer to a two-year deal. The club is now turning its attention to Willie Mason. Fuifui Moimoi has reportedly agreed to a two-year extension with the Eels, but teammate Justin Poore does not yet have an offer on the table from new coach Ricky Stuart.

3 Casualty ward

Todd Carney and Paul Gallen have been named to return to the Sharks for Sunday's Auckland trip. The Warriors, still without Simon Mannering, will be led again by Manu Vatuvei. Konrad Hurrell is out, while Micheal Luck is due to test his shoulder tomorrow with the Vulcans. Brett Stewart returns for Manly and Tim Moltzen and Keith Galloway for Wests Tigers.

4 Widespread wobbles

Coughing up an 18-0 lead two weeks in a row may have shamed the Warriors but they aren't the only team stuck in a rut. Sunday's opponent Cronulla have also lost their past three; Melbourne have lost five straight and six out of seven; the Broncos have lost three of their past four; the Tigers have won just one of their past six; and the Roosters have just one win and one draw to show from their past 10 matches.

5 So long Soward

Jamie Soward's back injury will again keep him out of action for the Dragons' match against the Roosters tonight. Rumours are swirling that the 2010 premiership winner is on the way out at the Dragons. The club has won both starts this season with Nathan Fien at five-eighth, with some suggesting Soward's omission tonight isn't entirely injury-related. England's Sun newspaper reports Soward is set for Wigan.

6 Grabbing air

So you think the Warriors have been a bit shaky on D this season (you're right)? Well, how bout them Broncos? Monday night's loss to, cough, Parramatta was statistically the worst defensive performance of the year, with the Broncos missing a staggering 61 tackles. As bad as the Warriors have been at repelling the enemy, the team don't in fact feature in the top five this season when it comes to tackle misses. The list is: 61 - Brisbane (round 21 loss to Parramatta); 54 - Tigers (round 15 loss to Sydney); 53 - Canberra (round 21 loss to Newcastle); 51 - Tigers (round 4 loss to Canberra); 49 (Newcastle) - round 18 loss to South Sydney.