Warriors v Knights preview

Embed from Getty Images

Warriors v Newcastle Knights Saturday 4:05pm at Go Media Stadium, Penrose / Aotearoa

Knights to discover it's a Wahs, Wahs, Wahs World in New Zealand

Finals football returns to New Zealand for the first time in 15 years as the New Zealand Warriors host the Newcastle Knights in a do-or-die semi final on Saturday evening.

Earning the right to host a home final by virtue of finishing in the top four, the New Zealand Warriors will be looking to atone for a disappointing showing last week in front of a vocal home crowd.

Going down comprehensively to the Panthers in a 32-6 defeat last Saturday at Penrith, coach Andrew Webster will welcome back experienced halfback Shaun Johnson (calf) with Dylan Walker reverting to his favoured position off the bench.

Winning two out of three finals held in Auckland previously, Saturday will mark the first time that the Warriors have hosted a home final since 2008, in a match where Ruben Wiki produced an iconic hit on Iosia Soliola as part of a second-half fightback to down the Roosters.

Reaching the semi finals following a win 90 minutes in the making, the Newcastle Knights will face a huge test to back up in hostile territory six days later.

Outlasting the Raiders with a 30-28 win in extra time last Sunday, coach Adam O'Brien will be without Jackson Hastings (ankle) and Lachlan Fitzgibbon (shoulder) for the clash with Adam Clune and Dylan Lucas coming in at halfback and second-row respectively.

Holding a strong record against the Warriors with five wins from seven meetings during O'Brien's tenure at the club, the Knights boast a dreadful record across the Tasman with two wins from 15 appearances in New Zealand since 2006.

Returning to the second week of the play-offs a decade on from upsetting the Storm in Melbourne, the Knights will be hoping to avoid a repeat of the 2006 finals series where they were humbled by Brisbane a week after producing an iconic win on home soil.

Last Meeting: Round 6, 2023 - Newcastle Knights 34 New Zealand Warriors 24

Last Finals Meeting: First Finals Meeting

Who to watch: Set to make a welcome return for the club's do-or-die contest in Auckland, Shaun Johnson will feel the weight on a nation on his shoulders as the Warriors look to create history. Leading the Warriors to their highest regular season finish in 16 years with 27 try assists in 23 appearances, the 33-year-old was sorely missed last week in a performance where errors were routinely compounded by conceding points. Playing in the second week of the finals for only the second time in his esteemed career, Johnson will need to play without apprehension if the Warriors are to book a preliminary final date with Brisbane next Saturday.

Coming off the finest performance of his first grade career last Sunday, Newcastle playmaker Tyson Gamble will need to deliver once again if the Knights are to produce a rare win across the Tasman. Taking on the responsibility of guiding the side home after Jackson Hastings aggravated an existing ankle injury prior to halftime, the 27-year-old delivered with a try-assist and a game-saving charge down in extra time. Rising to the challenge with the benefit of vocal home support last week, Gamble will be out to prove he can be just as effective in hostile territory on Saturday evening. 

Favourite: With an entire country on their side and an opposition coming off an exhaustive extra time epic, the Warriors are expected to be too strong on home soil.

My tip: The 2023 season began for the Knights with a loss against the Warriors in New Zealand. Six months on, the Novocastrians will be determined to ensure it doesn't end the same way. Knights by 6.

1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Rocco Berry 4. Adam Pompey 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Te Maire Martin 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Wayde Egan 10. Mitchell Barnett 11. Jackson Ford 12. Marata Niukore 13. Tohu Harris 14. Dylan Walker 15. Jazz Tevaga 16. Bayley Sironen 17. Josh Curran 20. Taine Tuaupiki

1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Dominic Young 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Tyson Gamble 7. Adam Clune 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Leo Thompson 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Dylan Lucas 13. Adam Elliott 14. Kurt Mann 16. Jack Hetherington 17. Mathew Croker 18. Brodie Jones 20. Fa'amanu Brown

Referees: Adam Gee; Sideline Officials: Phil Henderson, David Munro; Video Referees: Grant Atkins;