Newcastle Knights vs New Zealand Warriors: NRL live scores

The Newcastle Knights and the New Zealand Warriors will both be looking to get their seasons back on track when they meet at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle this afternoon. Stay up to date with all of the action on The Roar with live scores from 3:00pm (AEST).

Both of these squads come in after losing their last two in a row and will be hoping to right the ship as the season heads towards the defining rounds.

The Knights squeaked through with a four-point victory the last time these two teams met in Round 2, with Hymel Hunt scoring the decisive try with six minutes to go. However, it is the Warriors who come into this on the right side of history, with 22 wins out of the 42 meetings.

The Knights, who currently sit in 14th place, have had a choppy start to their season, with injuries and poor decision-making the main impacts. Their form over the last five matches has been woeful, losing four, and they will need to start winning quickly if they are to have any shot of making the top eight.

The Knights will be happy with the return of Mitchell Pearce and David Klemmer. However, losing Kalyn Ponga after he was originally named will be a blow to their chances. Tex Hoy comes from the 21 spot into fullback.

Hymel Hunt also comes into the squad alongside Brayden Musgrove, who is named on the extended bench. Dropping out of the squad are Bradman Best and Gehamat Shibasaki, with Best set to miss six-to-eight weeks with a syndesmosis injury.

The Warriors similarly have lost four of their last five and will also be wanting to prove that they have the goods to make the top eight with a victory in this one. They were simply outclassed by the Storm last week and have made a number of changes to that squad for this matchup with the Knights.

The big inclusion is the return of Reece Walsh, the dynamic 18-year-old who returns from suspension. Also back in the squad are Adam Pompey, Eliesa Katoa, Rocco Berry, Sean O’Sullivan. Named on an extended bench is Taniela Otukolo, an exciting young talent who could well make his way onto the bench. Jazz Tevaga gets the nod at hooker with Wayde Egan dropping out of the team due to a head knock and Chanel Harris-Tevita may be out for the season with a pectoral injury.

The key match-up: The Saifiti brothers vs the hyphen brothers
Whoever can hit the ground running and create the most front foot ball for their backline will be odds on to leave this one as the victor.

The Saifiti brothers have been in fantastic form but Addin Fonua-Blake and Ben Murdoch-Masila have all of the tools to rumble down the field.

Prediction
Both teams have had some awful form of late and both really need a victory in this one so look for a fascinating game with both teams giving it their all.

With the loss of Kalyn Ponga, the Knights will struggle to create scoring chances in this one.

Warriors 26, Knights 18

Game information

Kick-off: 3:00pm (AEST)
Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
TV: Fox League
Live stream: Kayo Sports, Foxtel Now, Foxtel Go
Betting: Knights $1.60, Warriors $2.34 (odds via PlayUp)

Teams

Knights
1. Kalyn Ponga, 2. Dominic Young, 3. Kurt Mann, 4. Enari Tuala, 5. Hymel Hunt, 6. Jake Clifford, 7. Mitchell Pearce, 8. Jacob Saifiti, 9. Jayden Brailey, 10. Daniel Safiti, 11. Lachlan Fitzgibbon, 12. Brodie Jones, 13. Mitchell Barnett

Interchange/Reserves: 14. Connor Watson, 15. David Klemmer, 16. Sauaso Sue, 17. Jack Johns, 18. Josh King, 19. Matt Croker, 20. Brayden Musgrove, 21. Tex Hoy

Warriors
1. Reece Walsh, 2. Marcelo Montoya, 3. Rocco Berry, 4. Euan Aitken, 5. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 6. Kodi Nikorima, 7. Sean O’Sullivan, 8. Addin Fonua-Blake, 9. Jazz Tevaga, 10. Ben Murdoch-Masila, 11. Bayley Sironen, 12. Tohu Harris, 13. Josh Curran

Interchange/Reserves: 14. Eliesa Katoa, 15. Leeson Ah Mau, 16. Bunty Afoa, 17. Kane Evans, 18. Edward Kosi, 20. Jack Murchie, 21. Adam Pompey, 22. Taniela Otukolo