Newcastle coach Adam O’Brien hopes Blake Green’s return will help steady the ship and avoid a repeat of last week’s calamity when they host the in-form St George Illawarra.
The Knights made 18 errors in a 24-20 loss to Wests last Sunday, 12 of them coming from just three players as they gave the Tigers every chance to end their unbeaten start to the season.
Green (knee) has been named on the bench in his injury comeback but O’Brien indicated he was in terrific shape and loomed as a major player in Sunday’s date with the Dragons.
“There were some incidental moments we just can’t afford to have tomorrow,” O’Brien said of last Sunday’s slip-ups.
“(Green) brings a calm ahead to us in and around the group in meetings, he’s been outstanding.
“Him and Jayden (Brailey) will allow Junior (Mitchell Pearce) and Tex (Hoy) to be a lot more free flowing with their footy and not bogged down with running the team.
“Earlier this week it was about having some good honest conversation about our preparation into that game and this game can’t come quick enough for a few of them.”
O’Brien indicated Jacob Saifiti had trained well after a leg injury curtailed his impact against the Tigers.
Adam Clune will replace Dragons skipper Ben Hunt in the No.7 after he played through an impact fracture to his fibula in their last-start win over the Sea Eagles.
And Brayden Wiliame, who scored a late try in their comprehensive defeat of Manly, has been promoted from the bench to replace suspended centre Jack Bird.