The New Zealand Warriors will look to entrench themselves within the top eight when they host the Newcastle Knights at Mt Smart Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match from 6pm (AEST).
Only a fortnight ago, the Warriors looked destined to freefall out of finals contention after they were thumped 36-12 by the Gold Coast Titans.
Now, after upsetting the Dragons 18-12 last week, Stephen Kearney’s men are once again sitting four points ahead of the ninth-placed Wests Tigers.
The Warriors are just too predictable – in the sense that they will always be unpredictable.
Since winning five-straight games to open their 2018 campaign, the club have only claimed back-to-back wins once – over the lowly Sea Eagles and Cowboys.
Last week’s six-point win over the Dragons, however, was pleasing in terms of their resilience in defence.
Home advantage will be key here, as the Warriors have won 11 of their past 12 games against the Knights at Mt Smart, and a victory will all but ensure they will feature in September footy.
As for the Knights, they are sweating on the fitness of star halfback Mitchell Pearce, having only won two of nine games played without the former Rooster.
If Pearce is ruled out late, all responsibility in attack will fall onto young gun Kayln Ponga. While he is certainly talented, Newcastle fans can’t expect the youngster to do it all on his own.
With games against the Panthers, Sharks and Dragons to follow, the Knights are a genuine chance of heading into next year off the back of six-straight defeats, which would be a disappointing end to a season that promised so much.
Prediction
The Warriors will cruise to a comfortable win.
Warriors by 16.
Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting at 6pm (AEST).
Corn Chip
Guest
Are they greatly improved though? Their defence is actually worse than this point last year
Penrith Punter
Roar Guru
MATCH REPORT: The Warriors have taken one step closer to their first finals appearance since 2011 with a composed 20-4 win over the Knights on Friday night. The victory sees Stephen Kearney’s men move into sixth on the ladder and six points ahead of the ninth-placed Tigers. It didn’t all go their way though, with the Knights surging to an early 4-0 lead when Ken Sio steamed through several defenders on the way to the line in the 11th minute. The Warriors took a while to warm into the contest, but once they did they always looked in control. And it was on the back of Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, whose fancy footwork continued to threaten the Newcastle defence all night. The fleet-footed fullback played a key role in the Warriors’ first try of the night. Tuivasa-Sheck skipped on the outside and found Shaun Johnson, who then linked with Gerard Beale and Adam Blair charged over in support. David Fusitu’a extended the home side’s lead in the 33rd minute when he soared over out wide. To their credit, the Knights defended bravely in the second half, with the Warriors only posting one more try. It came in the 50th minute when Blake Green burst through the middle and surged over for his second try of the year. Newcastle looked to have hit back five minutes later when Aidan Guerra pounced on a Mitchell Pearce grubber, only for the Bunker to correctly rule that he had fumbled the ball before grounding it. In the end the Warriors held on for a comfortable 20-4 win to celebrate Issac Luke’s 250th game.
Joe
Roar Rookie
Good win by the Warriors. Knights are a greatly improved team this year and will be even better next year with a couple of genuine centers.
Chris.P.Bacon
Guest
Nice prediction Mr X.
Penrith Punter
Roar Guru
No worries Stu - great defensive effort from your blokes given the only points conceded came off a dodgy pass.
Stu
Guest
Thanks for the call
Penrith Punter
Roar Guru
FULL TIME - WARRIORS 20 KNIGHTS 4 A composed display by the Warriors and they soar up to sixth spot on the ladder with a 16-point win over the Knights. It should secure their spot in the eight. Meanwhile, join Riley Pettigrew for the blockbuster between the Bunnies and Roosters right now here. I'll be back on Sunday afternoon for the massive clash between the Tigers and Raiders. Thanks for joining me.
Penrith Punter
Roar Guru
80' - A poor last-tackle option with Danny Levi's grubber coming undone and the Warriors have it back. Gerard Beale and David Fusitua taking it up before Jazz Tevaga works it up towards halfway. Peta Hiku brings it up to the Newcastle 40 on the fourth. Shaun Johnson then finds touch 30 out off a controlled grubber and that'll be the game. WARRIORS - 20 KNIGHTS - 4
Penrith Punter
Roar Guru
78' - Short kick-off and the Knights have it back. WARRIORS - 20 KNIGHTS - 4
Penrith Punter
Roar Guru
78' - WARRIORS PENALTY GOAL SHAUN JOHNSON Johnson sends through his fourth goal of the night. WARRIORS - 20 KNIGHTS - 4
Penrith Punter
Roar Guru
77' - Shaun Johnson takes them on on the last and has his pass on the inside batted down. Six again - Roger Tuivasa-Sheck again steps through and is pulled up 20 out before Jazz Tevaga straightens things up. Warriors 10 out and they earn a penalty for offside. They'll shoot for two. WARRIORS - 18 KNIGHTS - 4
Penrith Punter
Roar Guru
75' - Kalyn Ponga skips across the right edge and this looks very promising... but Cory Denniss can't handle the short ball. Turnover. WARRIORS - 18 KNIGHTS - 4
Penrith Punter
Roar Guru
74' - Herman Ese'ese surges up past halfway and earns a penalty. Knights begin their set 30 out. WARRIORS - 18 KNIGHTS - 4
Penrith Punter
Roar Guru
73' - Shaun Johnson goes high on the last and it swings around in the air but the Knights get a penalty with Shaun Kenny-Dowall ruled to have been interfered by Ken Maumalo in the contest. Tough call given he was going for the ball but the Knights have it nonetheless. WARRIORS - 18 KNIGHTS - 4
Penrith Punter
Roar Guru
72' - Cory Denniss and Shaun Kenny-Dowall with the next runs before Danny Levi explores his options out of dummy-half and finds Aidan Guerra who is taken just shy of halfway. Pasami Saulo surges up to the 40 on the fourth before Roger Tuivasa-Sheck takes the last-tackle bomb with ease. He steps straight through and is only just pulled up on the 40. WARRIORS - 18 KNIGHTS - 4
Stu
Guest
Cogger has probably been bumped off 30m + in attempting to tackle tonight
Penrith Punter
Roar Guru
70' - Mitchell Pearce with a fourth-tackle kick. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is back there to take it and he offloads to Ken Maumalo who is taken on his own 10-metre line. Blake Green clears it on the last and Ken Sio brings it up to the 10. WARRIORS - 18 KNIGHTS - 4
Penrith Punter
Roar Guru
69' - Newcastle really need to start throwing it around if they are to stand any chance in this one. They haven't even crossed halfway on the last. Mitchell Pearce's kick is a brilliant one but the chase isn't as good and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck brings it up towards the 10-metre mark. David Fusitua and Jazz Tevaga with customary runs to continue the set before Issac Luke hunts for a 40/20 but Kalyn Ponga reads it very well. WARRIORS - 18 KNIGHTS - 4
Muzz
Guest
I'm surprised that Cecchin is in charge of this game. He's performing well!. Personally i think he's the codes best.
Penrith Punter
Roar Guru
67' - Great desperation from Newcastle in defence here, wrapping up Ken Maumalo out wide after the winger took a late offload. WARRIORS - 18 KNIGHTS - 4