A New Zealand Warriors side typically unaffected by Origin take on the increasingly desperate Newcastle Knights in this Sunday afternoon clash at Mt Smart Stadium. Join us for score updates and debate on our live blog from 1:30pm AEST.
Following the mid-season sacking of Matthew Elliott, the Warriors are travelling nicely under new coach Andrew McFadden.
With three wins from their last four games – and only a phenomenal Josh Morris trysaver stopping them from making it four against league leaders the Bulldogs – the NZers are finally looking like living up to the hype.
Warriors fans will be viewing this as the kind of game you have to win if they want to announce themselves as legitimate title contenders in 2014.
The Knights are currently struggling, with just 2 wins from their first 10 games and well-publicised off-field dramas undoubtedly affecting the players’ mentality. Key players are out of form and their combinations have been affected by a long run of early-season injuries.
Yet this is a side that managed to reach the preliminary finals last year under coach Wayne Bennett, so discounting them would be a mistake.
With the return of Jeremy Smith, Beau Scott and Joseph Leilua, the Knights will field a full-strength side for the first time this season (assuming Beau Scott and Darius Boyd back up from Origin).
The Warriors have an injury cloud over star halfback Shaun Johnson, who has been struggling with an ankle injury, and he will be monitored right up until game time to prove his fitness.
But with the likes of Konrad Hurrell, Sam Tomkins and Manu Vatuvei in the backline – not to mention a wider-running Ben Matulino, whose shift to the second row has seen him as first tryscorer for three weeks in a row now – the Warriors still have plenty of weapons right across the park.
This will also be the 200th NRL game for Simon Mannering and his 100th as Warriors captain, which may just provide the home side with an extra boost.
I’m always wary of discounting the Knights, who have the troops to turn their season around at any time, but with all the omens – and form – in the Warriors’ favour, I’m tipping them to take this comfortably.
Warriors by 14.
DSF
Guest
Origin period, here come the warriors
Adam
Roar Guru
FULL-TIME: Warriors 38 - Knights 18
Adam
Roar Guru
LIVE SCORE: Warriors 38 - Knights 18 80' CONVERSION SUCCESSFUL from Johnson.
Adam
Roar Guru
LIVE SCORE: Warriors 36 - Knights 18 79' TRY WARRIORS! Vatuvei gets the ball with plenty of work to do and powers past four defenders to score!
Adam
Roar Guru
LIVE SCORE: Warriors 32 - Knights 18 78' No try for the Warriors but they get the next best thing as Johnson wins a repeat set with a nice little grubber into the in-goal.
Adam
Roar Guru
LIVE SCORE: Warriors 32 - Knights 18 77' Forward pass from the Knights and it's just breaking down for them now... Warriors on the attack now, can they get on the board again here?
Adam
Roar Guru
LIVE SCORE: Warriors 32 - Knights 18 74' CONVERSION UNSUCCESSFUL from Johnson.
Adam
Roar Guru
LIVE SCORE: Warriors 32 - Knights 18 73' TRY WARRIORS! Overlap on the right-hand side, nice pass by Johnson to create it... and Tomkins puts Hurrell over to score!
Adam
Roar Guru
LIVE SCORE: Warriors 28 - Knights 18 72' Mullen chips for Boyd but Matulino takes it and finds himself in space! Pulled down just inside the Knights' half, Warriors on the attack now!
Adam
Roar Guru
LIVE SCORE: Warriors 28 - Knights 18 71' Beautiful kick by Townsend finds touch on the Knights' 20m line, that's just what the Warriors needed with time ticking away.
Adam
Roar Guru
LIVE SCORE: Warriors 28 - Knights 18 70' Bad end to the set for the Knights as Rochow gets caught on the last tackle – no communication there from the Knights, they needed to do better there...
Adam
Roar Guru
LIVE SCORE: Warriors 28 - Knights 18 68' Kick from Tomkins is too long and bounces over the dead-ball line, 20m restart to come for the Knights. Need to score soon if they're to be a chance here!
Adam
Roar Guru
LIVE SCORE: Warriors 28 - Knights 18 68' Kick from Tomkins is too long and bounces over the dead-ball line, 20m restart to come for the Knights. Need to score soon if they're to be a chance here!
Adam
Roar Guru
LIVE SCORE: Warriors 28 - Knights 18 66' Kick from Johnson on the last JUST escapes going out on the full and finds touch 5m out from Newcastle's line – lucky stuff there for the Warriors!
Adam
Roar Guru
LIVE SCORE: Warriors 28 - Knights 18 65' CONVERSION SUCCESSFUL from Johnson.
Adam
Roar Guru
LIVE SCORE: Warriors 26 - Knights 18 64' TRY WARRIORS! No problem there, Townsend has a try and that could be heart-breaking for Knights fans!
Adam
Roar Guru
LIVE SCORE: Warriors 22 - Knights 18 63' VIDEO REF! Houston loses the ball cold and Townsend has pounced on it to possibly score! Going upstairs to check!
Adam
Roar Guru
LIVE SCORE: Warriors 22 - Knights 18 63' Cuthbertson back to his feet now so he appears to be OK. Knights attack down the right and look dangerous – they're looking dangerous every time they go down that side – but the Warriors scramble well to snuff out the play.
Adam
Roar Guru
LIVE SCORE: Warriors 22 - Knights 18 62' Play has stopped here as Cuthbertson stays down in the tackle, clutching his knee.
Adam
Roar Guru
LIVE SCORE: Warriors 22 - Knights 18 61' Another VERY high ball from Johnson but it's a little too deep and McManus takes it on the full just inside the dead-ball line. 20 minutes remaining, anyone's game here!