Rugby League: Knights take break after surviving Melbourne's Storm

By PETER JESSUP

The Newcastle Knights' preparation for hosting the New Zealand Warriors this weekend has been a three-day holiday, despite their sleepy second-half effort against the Melbourne Storm.

The Knights' half, Andrew Johns, said his greatest fear coming out after a halftime break was to be 30 points up or down.

On Sunday night that fear was realised, with the Knights leading 30-0 at halftime.

They added only six points in the second half as the Storm rattling on 28 and were denied more by the video ref. They were still pressing at the end.

There were plenty of good signs out of the game, Johns said, but still plenty for them to work on.

The break was always planned, after a hard start including away games against high-fliers the Roosters (won), Canterbury (drawn), Brisbane (lost) and the Storm (won 36-28).

At home they beat the Eels comprehensively and lost to neighbours Northern Eagles in round one. The Eagles then lost to the Warriors.

"If the thought of the break coming up had disrupted them they would not have come out of the blocks like they did against Melbourne," team spokesman Stephen Crowe said.

"Like that" was Johns throwing wide balls and cut-out passes to wings Darren Albert and Justin Ryder, who both scored, and Adam MacDougall setting up centre Timana Tahu, for the first of a double, and lock Bill Peden. That provided five of their six tries against the Storm.

Johns is the man the Warriors must shut down at Marathon Stadium on Saturday evening.

The referee, Tony Archer, is not one of the stronger NRL whistlers and he will be pressured by the Marathon crowd.

MacDougall, whose nickname might well be "the white Wendell Sailor," given his ability to stay on his feet and wrestle numerous tacklers then free himself or the ball, faces a high-tackle charge, grade two, after the Storm game.

The club yesterday asked the NRL to downgrade the count to grade one, but at the same time was maintaining his innocence.

A conviction at grade two would rule him out of the Warriors game; at grade one he would escape suspension and have demerit points added to a record that only has one similar charge. The outcome will be determined today. Fullback Robbie O'Davis remains in doubt with a hamstring.

The Warriors had a hard run yesterday and their confidence is high after their win over the Broncos. They will have their fullback, Ivan Cleary, back from sickness, but the team is otherwise unchanged.

Monty Betham ran with his left knee strapped and will be fit to play.

Prop Jerry SeuSeu (rib cartilage) is expected to be available for selection next week.

New Zealand Warriors: Ivan Cleary, Henry Fa'afili, David Myles, Clinton Toopi, Francis Meli, Cliff Beverley, Stacey Jones (c), Ali Lauiti'iti, Jason Death, Justin Morgan, Logan Swann, Awen Guttenbeil, Kevin Campion (c); interchange Shontayne Hape, Monty Betham, Richard Villasanti, Nathan Wood.

Newcastle Knights: Robbie O'Davis, Darren Albert, Timana Tahu, Mark Hughes, Adam MacDougall, Sean Rudder, Andrew Johns, Matt Parsons, Danny Buderus, Josh Perry, Steve Simpson, Ben Kennedy, Bill Peden; interchange Paul Marquet, Julian Bailey, Troy Fletcher, Ben Donaldson.