With five rounds remaining, time is running out for the 11th-placed Newcastle Knights to make a finals tilt.
While they’re equal on points with the seventh-placed Gold Coast Titans, SEN host Andrew Voss believes the Knights simply need to win on Thursday night against Brisbane to “prove they’re a genuine finals contender”.
“The round kicks off tonight (Thursday) between Brisbane and Newcastle,” Voss said on SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“I’m saying you must stand up Newcastle, you have to win and win well to prove you’re a genuine finals contender and finish seventh or eighth.”
While Voss believes the Knights must win tonight to prove their September credentials, The Daily Telegraph’s Michael Carayannis thinks they could fall into the eight due to their “dream run home”.
“The way the next five rounds play out you couldn’t pick a better draw if you’re Newcastle,” Carayannis explained.
“They play Brisbane twice, they play Canterbury and the only side they play around the top eight is the Gold Coast Titans.
“They’ve really got a dream run home, it’s not the toughest run. I think they’ll finish in the top eight because of it.
“Their good and their bad has been so different, and the crucial thing for Newcastle this year, they haven’t had the same backbone.
“No excuses now, Mitchell Pearce is back tonight … I think they’ll win, and win well.”
The Knights play the Broncos twice, Sharks, Bulldogs and on their run home.