Warriors v Knights preview

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Warriors v Newcastle Knights Friday 6:05pm at Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch / Aotearoa

Warriors finding their groove against directionless Knights

The New Zealand Warriors are looking to continue their unlikely start to the 2025 season against the NRL's least effective attack in the Newcastle Knights in Christchurch on ANZAC Day.

For the hosts, they were predicted by some (yours truly included). They have shocked most since their Vegas horror show with gritty and hard fought wins against fancied opponents such as the Broncos. What has been so impressive about this start to the season has been the never give up attitude of this side. There's one anomaly on the year so far, that was the disaster in Melbourne but that aside they have been an impressive team to watch.

To beat Newcastle, they have to maintain the rage. We will outline Newcastle's stormy attack in a moment, but this is a golden opportunity to make a statement in front of an army of loyalists in Christchurch. They will have to be dominant up front and continue the attacking blueprints of the Tigers and Sharks that preceded them. The kicking game will be key from Luke Metcalf as he looks to torment Greg Marzhew once more.

Onto team news. CNK returns at fullback, shifting Taine Tuaupiki to the wing and Ed Kosi back to the NSW Cup. Rocco Berry returns from suspension moving Kurt Capewell to back-row and Leka Halasima to the bench. Te Marie Martin makes way. 

Where do we go for the Newcastle Knights? It's a legitimate question after the opening seven rounds of the season. But a side that boasts Kalyn Ponga, Bradman Best, Dane Gagai, Fletcher Sharpe, Marzhew and Kai Pearce-Paul shouldn't be the worst attack in the game. As things currently stand, the Knights are averaging 10 points per game, not even sides in the NSW or QLD Cup are averaging that few points through this point of the season.

To put things into even worse comparison, only one team is attacking worse than the Knights in first string rugby league... Yes, there have been some injuries in the halves and that of course impacts continuity, but the simple reality is, there are too many weapons still out there for this to keep happening.

Onto this week, they need to go back to basics. The attack is too lateral and too dependent on going left when they haven't earnt the right to throw the footy around, which by that point the game has well and truly gone. They need to win the ruck early and frustrate their opposition into mistakes, build pressure down the other end of the field and the points will come as they did against the Dolphins. 

Looking at the team news, Dylan Lucas returns to the side following a hamstring injury. This moves Tom Cant to the bench with Jermaine McEwan dropping back to the NSW Cup. Elsewhere, this is the same side that was soundly beaten by Cronulla last weekend.

Last meeting: Round 9 2024 - Knights 14 Warriors 8

Who to watch: The focus for the Warriors is as always on Luke Metcalf. After a horror start to the year, he has come back to the pack with some great performances to set his place as one of the competition's solid playmakers. He came up with some clutch moments to seal the game last week and needs to do more again tonight.

For the Knights, it's not a player to watch but a coaching performance to watch. If the attacking struggles continue than Adam O'Brien might have to have a handy golden parachute from the clubs' owners. It is laughably bad their attack at the moment and it's of significant concern. If they don't execute against the Warriors, pressure will only build and build and build. 

Favourite: The Warriors are overwhelming favourites with the bookies. They also won the last clash in NZ not played at Go Media Stadium when the 2023 season opener was played at SKY Stadium, Wellington.

My tip: Warriors to win and win well in front of their home crowd. Newcastle's attack is in serious problem areas. Although Dylan Lucas returning should give them some spark, one player simply doesn't arrest how poor the Knights attack has been to start the season. Something has to change soon, or else Adam O'Brien will sound like Troy McClure in a press conference again and we all know how well that went over last time... Warriors by 12.

1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Taine Tuaupiki 3. Rocco Berry 4. Ali Leiataua 5. Adam Pompey 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Luke Metcalf 12. Marata Niukore 9. Wayde Egan 10. Mitchell Barnett 11. Kurt Capewell 14. Leka Halasima 13. Erin Clark 8. Jackson Ford 15. Bunty Afoa 16. Demitric Vaimauga 17. Jacob Laban 20. Tanah Boyd

1. Kalyn Ponga 2. James Schiller 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Fletcher Sharpe 20. Jack Cogger 8. Tyson Frizell 14. Jayden Brailey 10. Leo Thompson 11. Dylan Lucas 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Mathew Croker 9. Phoenix Crossland 15. Tyrone Thompson 16. Thomas Cant 17. Brodie Jones 21. Matthew Arthur

Referees: Wyatt Raymond; Sideline Officials: Phil Henderson, Daniel Schwass; Video Referees: Kasey Badger;