Match Centre

Just 20 seconds remaining, and Ben Matulino knocks the ball on attempting to play the ball. That's full time, and the Warriors run out winners 40-18.

Warriors 40-18

Hodkinson throws a short pass, but it's a double knock on.

Warriors 40-18

The Knights get a penalty, and Mullen kicks them down field.

Warriors 40-18

Jazz Tevaga picks up Korbin Sims and dumps him. Great tackle.

Warriors 40-18

The Knights try to string together some passes, but a Tyler Randell pass is off target, and Mata'utia knocks it on.

Warriors 34-12

Johnson throws a short pass to Jeff Robson, but Robson drops the ball.

Warriors 34-12

The Warriors force a line drop out, and Jacob Lillyman brings the ball back.

Warriors 34-12

And now Jeff Robson is making line breaks. If that's not a sad statement on the status of the Knights defence... well, I don't know what is.

Warriors 34-12

The Knights kick on the last, and find touch 20 metres from the Warriors' line.

Warriors 34-12

On the last, Jacob Lillyman goes for a hit up, and is pulled down under the posts.

Warriors 34-12

He's back to his feet, and play continues.

Warriors 34-12

Danny Levi is on the ground with an injured right shoulder.

Warriors 34-12

RTS goes close, but is dragged down one metre short in a great tackle on the Knights' right edge.

Warriors 34-12

The Warriors spread the ball from side to side, before Robbie Rochow attempts an intercept and drops it. The Warriors start a new set 15 metres from the Knights line.

Warriors 34-12

Sam Mataora hits Kata high. There's a bit of blood from his mouth, but the referee rules play on.

Warriors 34-12

The Knights go right, and throw a floater over Manu Vatuvei's head, but the Knights knock the ball on.

Warriors 30-12

And now the Knights are piggybacked out of their end by a penalty against Mannering.

Warriors 30-12

Kata heads out marker quickly and hits Pat Mata'utia, who then loses the ball, but the Warriors knock the ball on trying to regather it.

Warriors 30-12

The Warriors send the ball left to Kata, but he knocks it forward and the Knights get the ball.

Warriors 30-12

Mamo's ankle has been strapped up, and he's ready to return.

Warriors 30-12

Mullen is back on his feet, and will continue playing.

Warriors 30-12

Robbie Rochow straightens the attack, and a flat pass to Paea almost results in a break. The Knights are only a few metres out now, but have knocked the ball on. Jarrod Mullen is on the ground, and the trainer is stabilizing his neck, after being hit in the back from Ben Matulino.

Warriors 30-12

The Warriors have lost the ball in a tackle, and the Knights will get a scrum feed. They're starting to string together some possession now. In other news, Mamo has limped off the field after his tackle attempt on Manu, and it doesn't look good for him.

Warriors 30-12

On the last, Mullen kicks shortish, but Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is on the spot.

Warriors 30-12

And now the Warriors have knocked on. Let off for the Knights.

Warriors 30-12

Ben Matulino offloads and Tyler Randall attempts to intercept it, but knocks the ball on.

Warriors 30-12

And now the Knights have kicked out on the full from the kickoff.

Warriors 30-12

Restarted tackle count, and the Warriors are on attack 10 metres out. Manu Vatuvei gets some early ball, and runs over the top of a valiant effort from Jake Mamo, but the referee wants to check the grounding and a possible obstruction.

Warriors 24-12

The tackle from Ross is on report, and the Warriors get a penalty.

Warriors 24-12

Konrad Hurrell is injured now, clutching at an injured left elbow thanks to Nathan Ross working him over in the tackle.

Warriors 24-12

The Warriors kick high, but Cory Denniss snatches it from above his head.

Warriors 18-12

Hodkinson kicks long, but RTS brings the ball back over the halfway line.

12 all

Some great defence from the Warriors at the moment, keeping the Knights pinned at their own end of the field.

12 all

Big run from Johnson there, and the Warriors have made 70+ metres in that set. The Warriors kick high on the last, and Jake Mamo takes the ball brilliantly, copping a knee in the head for his trouble.

12 all

Back underway in the second half, and the Warriors have the ball.

12 all

And that's half time, with the two sides locked up at 12 all.

12 all

But the ball from Shaun Johnson goes to ground. Mamo will be breathing a sigh of relief.

12 all

Jake Mamo drops the ball, gifting the Warriors one last opportunity before half time.

12 all

Sam Lisone is down on his haunches, his arm getting twisted awkwardly in that tackle. Looks to be a shoulder injury. The tackle is on report.

Newcastle Knights 12-6

Mullen grubbers, but Kata puts together a brilliant run to get back into the field of play. His side then gets a penalty, piggybacking them out of trouble.

Newcastle Knights 12-6

The Knights on attack, final play only 10m out.

Newcastle Knights 12-6

Yet another penalty. This one against the Warriors for unnecessary contact on the head.

Newcastle Knights 12-6

Last tackle, Johnson steps across field before kicking for Tuimoala Lolohea, but Nathan Ross leaps high and steals the ball. He almost makes a break but loses his footing. Lucky for the Warriors.

Newcastle Knights 12-6

The Knights have given away another penalty. Some pressure starting to build for the Warriors.

Newcastle Knights 12-6

Strong run from Charlie Gubb, crashing towards the posts.

Newcastle Knights 12-6

Shaun Johnson grubbers, but Nathan Ross reads it well. The Warriors will get a penalty though, with an accidental obstruction.

Newcastle Knights 12-6

Scrum feed for the Warriors near half way.

Newcastle Knights 12-6

Some desperation there from the Warriors. The Knights kick over the top, chase through, and recover, before keeping the ball alive. Eventually the Warriors manage to kill the play.

Newcastle Knights 12-6

Another brilliant tackle from Solomone Kata, again picking Gagai up and slamming him onto his back.

Newcastle Knights 12-6

The Knights get another penalty now, with Ryan Hoffman penalised for attempting to work the tackled man onto his back.

Newcastle Knights 12-6

Johnson kicks on the 4th, and finds touch 10m from the Knights line.

Newcastle Knights 12-6

Mullen offloads, but Robson is the only man there.

Newcastle Knights 12-6

Rochow finding some space in behind the ruck, making some good metres.

Newcastle Knights 12-6

Shaun Johnson kicks high, but it drifts out over the sideline on the full. The Knights will play from their own 40.

Newcastle Knights 12-6

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck with a long pass for his winger, but the Knights slide well.

Newcastle Knights 12-6

Pauli Pauli is on the field for the Knights. This should be fun.

Newcastle Knights 12-6

Last tackle for the Knights, Mullen again happy to put the ball out of play.

Newcastle Knights 12-6

New Zealand are very keen to work this right edge defence of the Knights.

Newcastle Knights 12-6

Gagai, picked up and slammed by Solomone Kata. Great tackle.

Newcastle Knights 12-6

Jeremy Smith thinks about an offload, but decides against it.

Newcastle Knights 12-6

It's NO TRY. Shaun Johnson is ruled to have run around and obstructed the defending players. Harsh call.

Newcastle Knights 12-6

We're going to the bunker with a possible try to the Warriors on the opposite side of the field. We're just checking on a possible obstruction.

Newcastle Knights 12-6

The Warriors down the left edge, but Pat Mata'utia drags it down.

Newcastle Knights 12-6

And now the Warriors pick up a penalty. They'll get the tap from 30 metres out from the Knights line.

Newcastle Knights 12-6

Manu Vatuvei crashes through the middle of the field, looking to spark his forwards.

Newcastle Knights 12-6

On the last, Hodkinson puts the ball high, and Tuivasa-Sheck storms through and takes it.

Newcastle Knights 12-6

Mannering attempts an offload, but the ball goes to ground and the Knights recover it.

Newcastle Knights 12-6

On second glance, Hodkinson had a point, as the Warriors had merely dropped the ball cold.

Newcastle Knights 12-6

The Warriors get a penalty now. Hodkinson argues the point, but the referee doesn't care.

Newcastle Knights 12-6

The knights bring it back to the halfway line, before Mullen kicks for his winger. It trickles over the sideline, and the Warriors will get a scrum feed.

Newcastle Knights 12-6

Ayshford trucks the ball up, the Warriors set for a wide backline play, but Robson drops it cold. The Knights get the ball 20 metres from the Warriors line.

6 all

The Knights work the short side, and then spread it to the right. Jacob Saifiti (?) puts a kick in, and the Warriors clean it up.

6 all

Another strong return from Korbin Sims from the kick off. Both sides making good metres with the ball at the moment.

6 all

Mamo again with a mess of the dropout, but this time he cleans up. He gets yet another penalty for his team, with Simon Mannering laying all over the tackled man.

Warriors 6-0

Korbin Sims turns it out the back for Hodkinson, before Jacob Saifiti straightens the attack. Mullen rolls the ball into the in goal, and the Knights force a dropout.

Warriors 6-0

Some very heavy defence so far in this game, from both sides.

Warriors 6-0

The Warriors attempt some quick hands, but Mamo is on the spot and collects a loose ball. He then grabs a penalty for his team.

Warriors 6-0

It's NO TRY, with the Bunker ruling a double knock on. The Warriors will get the scrum feed in good field position. Good decision.

Warriors 6-0

Johnson kicks high, and Mamo loses the ball. The Warriors are convinced they've scored through Manu Vatuvei, but we're going to the bunker.

Warriors 6-0

Cory Denniss rushes up in defence, and leaves a gap on his outside. Half break for the Warriors.

Warriors 6-0

They send the ball left, and Solomone Kata runs over the top of Hodkinson.

0 all

Shaun Johnson kicks downfield, and the Warriors will start their set from halfway.

0 all

We have the first penalty of the game, the Knights all inside the ten.

0 all

Last tackle, and the Knights kick high through Hodkinson. Vatuevei catches the ball, but is belted by Korbin Sims. Great kick chase.

Sam Mataora with the second hit up, and Jeremy Smith with the third. The Knights working their way towards halfway.

And we are underway. The Warriors kick off, and Sims brings it back strongly for the Knights.

The players take the field.

Welcome to Mt Smart Stadium this afternoon, as the Warriors take on the Newcastle Knights.

The Warriors will be boosted by the inclusion of Isaac Luke and Manu Vatuvei. Bodene Thompson is out through injury, and Jono Wright makes way for Vatuvei.

The Knights will be desperate for a win, after going agonisingly close last weekend. Sione Mata'utia will miss this game through suspension. Jake Mamo makes his return on the wing, with Cory Denniss moving to the centres. Danny Levi will start the game, with Tyler Randell playing from the bench.