Under-fire Dragons coach Anthony Griffin has doubled down on backing halves Jack Bird and Ben Hunt to get the job done against Newcastle at WIN Stadium on Sunday.
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Griffin on Saturday confirmed the side would remain 1-17 as named earlier this week, meaning that Talatau Amone remains on the bench. It's the third straight week that Bird has partnered Hunt at five-eighth, after Amone was demoted to the no.14 role in a move that surprised many red v fans.
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Sunday's match shapes as crucial for St George Illawarra, who are looking to reverse a four-game losing streak.
"We need to believe in ourselves and be resilient. Our first couple of weeks were pretty good, but the last few haven't been where we need to be. That's the main thing, they haven't stopped being a good football team, we're just not doing some of the things we were doing three or four weeks ago," Griffin said.
"We're going to stay the same tomorrow. They've [Bird and Hunt] worked well together but we need to be a little straighter with our attack. But certainly we've been able to throw a bit more at the opposition as they've got more comfortable with each other.
"It's hard for him [Amone] coming off the bench when the starting side hasn't been at its best. But he's a classy kid and he knows what to do, it's just a matter of the people who are out there at the start to have the team running in the right direction by the time he gets on."
The battle in Wollongong is also important for the Knights who, after promising start to the season, have dropped their past three games amid ongoing speculation about captain Kalyn Ponga's future.
However, Griffin refused to underestimate their opponents.
"They're a little bit like us. It's only early in the season, some teams are off and running while some are still trying to find their rhythm and their form for 80 minutes," the coach said.
"They're a really good side, Newcastle. I thought the score last week didn't show the effort they put in. They had a missed try when they were down 12-6 against Manly, and then the score line got away from them in the last 10 minutes. They're really strong in the forwards, [David] Klemmer's back and with Ponga at the back, they're a quality side. A bit like us, they played their best football in the first two weeks, and they've just been a bit out of form lately."
Sunday will also mark the first time that Newcastle halfback Adam Clune lines up against his former club. The Albion Park-Oak Flats product played 25 games for the red v, having made his debut as a 24-year-old in 2020, but was released from the final year of his Dragons contract last August.
Clune and halves partner Jake Clifford were the catalysts in the Knights' strong start to 2021, with the side upsetting the Roosters in round one before thrashing the Tigers. However, Newcastle have since dropped games to Penrith, the Sharks and Manly.
"Cluney's a great bloke and a good player, a great competitor. And his early season form was really good. That first game against the Roosters in particular I thought he was outstanding, so we're expecting him to be at his best, and we're going to have to be very good defensively to take care of him," Griffin said.
"Easter Sunday is a good day to play footy. We want to play for our members and fans, and give them something to cheer about. We're obviously not happy with our performances the last couple of weeks, so Sunday will be a good day to turn that around."
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