Knights
20
Match Complete
Warriors
24
| 76 |  | I. Luke | ||
| 75 |  | S. Lisone | ||
| M. Lino | | 70 | ||
| S. Mata'utia | | 69 | ||
| 57 | | I. Luke | ||
| 55 | | K. Maumalo | ||
| M. Lino |  | 51 | ||
| 47 | | K. Maumalo | ||
| 44 | | I. Luke | ||
| 43 | | P. Hiku | ||
| L. Fitzgibbon | | 40 | ||
| M. Lino | | 28 | ||
| S. Mata'utia | | 27 | ||
| 15 | | I. Luke | ||
| M. Lino | | 6 |
| 3 | Tries | 4 | ||
| 2 | Conversions | 3 | ||
| 2 | Penalty Goals | 1 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
The Newcastle Knights’ depth will be put to the test tonight when they take on the New Zealand Warriors at McDonald Jones Stadium in Round 16 of the NRL season. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 7:35pm (AEDT).
After an awful start to the season, the Knights rise this season has been nothing short of remarkable. They now sit on 18 points, comfortably inside the top eight.
However, with a host of players either injured or on Origin duty, their back-up troops have been called in.
In the forwards, Daniel Saifiti, Tim Glasby and now David Klemmer will all be playing Origin on Wednesday night. James Gavet will start for the Knights at prop alongside the returning Jacob Saifiti, with Pasami Saulo elevated to the bench. It is still to be confirmed, but in Klemmer’s absence, Aidan Guerra may get the call-up.
Kalyn Ponga and Edrick Lee are both out with injury. Danny Levi comes in at hooker, with Connor Watson shifted to fullback. Kurt Mann moves to centre with Hymel Hunt playing on the wing.
The Warriors in 2019 are exactly what they have been in recent years, unpredictable and frustrating for fans. The occasional impressive win amongst disappointing losses.
Now sitting two wins outside the top eight, it’s getting towards critical stage for this team.
With Nathaniel Roache sidelined with an ACL injury and Leivaha Pulu dropped, Isaac Luke and Lachlan Burr have both been selected on the bench.
Prediction
This is really a toss of the coin situation, due to the absence of key Knights and uncertainty over which Warriors team rocks up on the night.
Playing at home in front of what will be a big Newcastle crowd, I expect the Knights to just get home.
Knights by 2.
Game information
When: 7.35pm AEDT
Where: McDonald Jones Stadium
TV: Fox League
Online: NRL Live, Foxtel app or Foxtel now
Betting: Newcastle Knights: $1.67, Warriors: $2.20
Newcastle Knights
1. Connor Watson 2. Hymel Hunt 3. Kurt Mann 4. Jesse Ramien 5. Shaun Kenny-Dowall 6. Mason Lino 7. Mitchell Pearce 8. James Gavet 9. Danny Levi 10. Jacob Saifiti 11. Lachlan Fitzgibbon 12. Sione Mata’utia 13. TBA
Interchange: 14. Jamie Buhrer 15. Herman Ese’ese 16. Josh King 17. Pasami Saulo
Warriors
1 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (c) 2 David Fusitu’a 3 Peta Hiku 4 Patrick Herbert 5 Ken Maumalo 6 Kodi Nikorima 7 Blake Green 8 Agnastius Paasi 9 Karl Lawton 10 Leeson Ah Mau 11 Adam Blair 12 Isaiah Papali’I 13 Jazz Tevaga
Interchange: 14 Issac Luke 15 Bunty Afoa 16 Sam Lisone 17 Lachlan Burr
Tom G
Guest
Let me get this straight.. does the logic that you can’t criticise anything if you haven’t done the job yourself just apply to NRL referees ? If not I hope you never have a bad flight, or hear a really bad song or taste anything not to your liking. If you do then suck it up... you’re not a pilot, singer or chef!
Insider
Roar Rookie
Like I posted to Ben, so you have a drivers license, does that suggest you can drive? I wish you all had a 4K TV and access to all the added cam angles, the lot of you would be screaming
Insider
Roar Rookie
Just because you have a drivers license doesn’t mean you can drive
Rob
Guest
Hang on Ben you wrote an entire Roar article questioning a NRL officials incompetence? Fair go champ.
Rob
Guest
I think I’m capable of seeing a foul better than the blokes doing the Reffering courses the NRL are putting them through. Their predisposition to game management before the basic rules make them look incompetent at best or bias at worst.
farkurnell
Guest
Stormy I hate criticising refs .It is a difficult job and they are human ,we all make mistakes. But there were 2 howlers (the Bunker no try & the Adam Blair supposed strip)going against NZ in that game that have to be called out.I'm no Knight or Warrior fan but I hate incompetence.Theses guys are paid well ,train well and provided with every assistance by the NRL.They have to make a lot of 50/50 calls during the game and lot of viewers see contentious calls differently, but they are looking for things that are simply not there.Those two dud calls cost the Warriors 10pts and had a huge bearing on the game.
WithTheDawn
Roar Rookie
Fair enough reffing live and can live with the odd bad call when that happens. But inexcusable to get a clearly wrong call with the video ref.
David Holden
Roar Guru
Hope you enjoyed the call. The Sharks take on the Baby Broncs tomorrow to finish Round 16 before the State of Origin decider on Wednesday night.
David Holden
Roar Guru
I think the right team won on the night but there would have been an outcry from the Warriors if the Knights had held on. Two big errors in the last 15 minutes that had a large impact. I wouldn't want their job in a 100 years but that Bunker error, in particular, was hard to comprehend
David Holden
Roar Guru
For the Warriors, they stay in touch with the top 8 and are on the road again next weekend in Brisbane
Stormy
Roar Rookie
Just wonder how many of you armchair Refs have ever actually gone out & officiated at a game at any level. It seems it's always the Refs, could never be your team at fault.
David Holden
Roar Guru
The Knights missed a chance to jump into the top 4 tonight but will fancy their chances against the Bulldogs at home next Friday night
David Holden
Roar Guru
It's become almost a boring topic but the officiating, both on field and in the bunker, was way below par tonight. Annesley will be again on the back foot after tonight's display
Ben Lewis
Roar Pro
I wonder how many armchair activists who seem to bleat feeble-minded excuses about the refereeing performance have done the refereeing course themselves; done a few games themselves with the whistle in hand. I’d be willing to guess the number would be low. Pull your heads in. There’s no script, no conspiracy, and anybody who thinks so is an idiot. I guarantee the players made more handling and disciplinary errors out there on the field than the referees did.
David Holden
Roar Guru
FT Wow, we need some time to digest that. After being down 12-2 after 40mins, the Warriors had a vastly improved second half to keep their season alive. There would have been major controversy if the Knights had won, with Maumolo denied a fair try and Mata'utia's try scored when Hiku was in Disneyland. Having said that, the depleted Knights were brave in defence for most of the night and will be disappointed in the end result. Knights 20 Warriors 24
Rob
Guest
It’s all about NSW Joe. How many officials actually reside outside Sydney?
John Allan
Guest
If they keep dropping incompetent refs they will have nobody left.
Stormy
Roar Rookie
Thanks David, much appreciated
Ben Lewis
Roar Pro
Wake up to yourself. Have you done the refereeing course? Or are you just happy to cry foul?
WithTheDawn
Roar Rookie
Warriors win with everything goes against them and lose when everything goes their way, sounds about right. Happy though!