2024 NRL: Round 9 Preview, Knights Vs Warriors
Check out the match preview and prediction for the round 9 clash between the Knights and Warriors.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
Newcastle Knights Vs New Zealand Warriors
Venue: MacDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
Date: Sunday 5 May, 2:00pm
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Knights: 1. David Armstrong, 2. Greg Marzhew, 3. Dane Gagai, 4. Bradman Best, 5. Enari Tuala, 6. Tyson Gamble, 7. Jackson Hastings, 8. Jacob Saifiti, 9. Jayden Brailey, 10. Leo Thompson, 11. Dylan Lucas, 12. Kai Pearce-Paul, 13. Adam Elliott, 14. Phoenix Crossland, 15. Daniel Saifiti, 16. Jed Cartwright, 17. Brodie Jones, 18. Mathew Croker, 19. Jack Hetherington, 20. Jack Cogger, 21. Thomas Cant, 22. Thomas Jenkins
Warriors: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 3. Rocco Berry, 4. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 5. Marcelo Montoya, 6. Te Maire Martin, 7. Shaun Johnson, 8. Addin Fonua-Blake, 9. Wayde Egan, 10. Mitchell Barnett, 11. Jackson Ford, 12. Kurt Capewell, 13. Tohu Harris, 14. Dylan Walker, 15. Tom Ale, 16. Jacob Laban, 17. Bunty Afoa, 18. Adam Pompey, 20. Zyon Maiu’u, 21. Edward Kosi, 22. Taine Tuaupiki, 23. Tanner Stowers-Smith
Referee: Chris Butler
Bunker: Liam Kennedy
Embed from Getty ImagesMATCHDAY PREVIEW
McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle will be the place to be on Sunday afternoon as the 14th-placed Newcastle Knights face the 13th-placed New Zealand Warriors.
The Knights will look to carry the energy and enthusiasm of their nail-biting 18-14 victory over the Dolphins at Suncorp Stadium into this weekend’s game in front of their home crowd.
They have won eight of their last 10 games at home and will look to add to that on Sunday afternoon.
The Knights’ lineup remains unchanged, with the same 17 as last weekend.
Certain Knights players were injured in round 8, including Jacob Saifiti with a lower leg injury, Jed Cartwright with an ankle injury, and Greg Marzhew with an ankle injury; however, all three players appear to be ready to play this weekend.
The Knights are expected to remain without captain Kalyn Ponga, who is out for three months. Tyson Frizell will also be out with a hamstring injury.
They will have to place their faith in rookie David Armstrong to take the reins and help get the job done. He will remain in the fullback position, where he played last weekend against the Dolphins, scoring a breakthrough try on debut, just nine minutes in.
Interim captain Dane Gagai is at centre, along with Greg Marzhew on the outside edge, who has scored five tries in four games against the Warriors. Jackson Hastings and Tyson Gamble could be the right combination to lead their team to victory this weekend, coupled with a rock-hard, durable forward pack in Jacob Saifiti and Adam Elliot, who put in a strong effort to repel the Dolphins.
The New Zealand Warriors fought equally hard against the Titans at home, but lost momentum in the second half to an energised Titans side, losing 24-27.
The Warriors will need to re-focus their energy and rebuild confidence if they are to get over the line against the Knights this weekend.
They have won three of their last four games against the Knights (including a 20-12 win in round 4 this season) but have not won in Newcastle since 2019.
The Warriors could look to exploit the Knights’ weakened left edge, which left them vulnerable against the Dolphins last weekend. With a few Knights players returning from injury, the Warriors may look to exploit another weakness.
They have the advantage of being a quick group of players who can identify the opposition’s weak points, but they are lacking in defence and will need to work on improving it.
Tohu Harris and Addin Fonua-Blake in the forward pack, along with Shaun Johnson and Rocco Berry, could provide the Warriors with the winning moves they require, following an impressive performance last weekend against the Titans that helped pile on the points quickly.
Kurt Capewell and Bunty Afoa are set to return for the Warriors. This will result in rookie Jacob Laban being benched.
This weekend will be a battle of strength and endurance, as two teams compete to maintain their position on the ladder and take home a win.
Head-to-head stats can be found at Round 9 Number Crunch.
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Warriors by 12 points.
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