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Date: May 03 2012
Allianz Stadium, Sunday 3pm (AEST)
Last meeting: Round 16 2011 - Knights 18 bt Roosters 10 at Hunter Stadium
Head-to-head: Roosters 21 Knights 18 drawn 2
Referees: Shayne Hayne, Gavin Morris
TV: Channel 9 delay (4pm)
TAB Sportsbet: Roosters $1.60 Knights $2.40
FootyTab: Roosters +2.5
Greg Prichard writes: The Roosters have been forced to wait a long time to get back out there and try to erase the memory of their loss to the Dragons on Anzac Day. They led by eight points inside the last four minutes, but couldn't close the deal. The Roosters are a classic up-and-down story this season, but are certainly capable of beating a Knights outfit that suddenly has to do without both Kurt Gidley and Danny Buderus.
AAP writes: Wayne Bennett saw his Knights play their most polished 80 minutes of the season against Penrith on Monday night, but still woke up on Tuesday furious at the world. The Knights have lost skipper Kurt Gidley (shoulder) for the season, while veteran hooker Danny Buderus (achilles) will miss a month. Their absence changes the entire make-up of the Newcastle attack, with Matt Hilder coming into hooker and Tyrone Roberts playing halfback. The Roosters have eked out four wins this season and were unlucky not to get a fifth against the Dragons. They'll fancy their chances at home.
Key: Can the Knights build on Monday night's win despite the loss of Gidley? How they react to the loss of their skipper will define their season and it starts now.
ROOSTERS: Anthony Minichiello, Peni Tagive, Joseph 'BJ' Leilua, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Sam Perrett, Braith Anasta, Mitchell Pearce, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Jake Friend, Martin Kennedy,. Aidan Guerra, Mitchell Aubusson, Tinirau Arona. Interchange (from): Jack Bosden, Lama Tasi, Brad Takairangi, Mose Masoe, Boyd Cordner
KNIGHTS: Darius Boyd, James McManus, Wes Naiqama, Timana Tahu, Akuila Uate, Jarrod Mullen, Tyrone Roberts, Kade Snowden, Danny Buderus (c), Evarn Tuimavave, Chris Houston, Zeb Taia, Neville Costigan. Interchange: Matt Hilder, Joel Edwards,Willie Mason, Alex McKinnon
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