New Zealand Warriors will be looking for back to back victories for the first time since round five when they travel to Hunter Stadium to take on Newcastle Knights. Newcastle banking on the erratic Warriors to have an off day to end their eight game losing run.
LAST TIME OUT
Newcastle traveled to 1300 Smiles Stadium to take on defending champions North Queensland Cowboys. After narrowly missing out on victory over Parramatta five days earlier, it was always going to be hard to compete with the Cowboys who are yet to fall at home this season. To the Knights credit, eighteen year old Corey Deniss scored around the twenty minute mark to put his side on level terms with the home side. From that point on, the class of North Queensland shone through as they took a 24-6 lead into half time. Ray Thompson in his 100th game crossed twice, so too Kyle Feldt. Late tries to Jake Mamo and Lachlan Fitzgibbon made the scoreline look more respectable as they went down 16-46.
New Zealand Warriors faced an enermous task to play last years Grand Finalists Brisbane Broncos at Mount Smart Stadium, given the amount of pressure on the players and coaching staff after some dismal results so far in 2016. The Broncos were looking to end a two game losing streak, both times going down by a single point to the Wests Tigers and North Queensland Cowboys. It was a tough ask for the Broncos as they rested Matt Gillett and Corey Oates. The Warriors went out to 18-0 lead after 23 minutes before Alex Glenn crossed for the first Broncos try six minutes later. It was the Shaun Johnson and Tuimoala Lolohea show, with a dash of Solomone Kata energy that gave the Warriors victory and sent Brisbane to their third straight loss.
KEY BATTLES
Two geniune battles in this game will provide interesting scrutiny. Tuimoala Lolohea and Dane Gagai are quality fullbacks and present an element of danger to their opposition. Lolohea had a fantastic game at the back last week making a team high 183 metres in attack, two line breaks and one try assist. He could easily add to his 2016 tally of three tries this weekend. Gagai has been a solid performer in a Knights side not showing too much in attack. A great effort backing up from Origin in making the most metres for his team in Townsville last weekend with 132. In a young, inexperienced back line he is the one who presents the main danger.
It also goes without saying that Trent Hodkinson and Shaun Johnson are pivotal to who wins this game. Johnson having a ‘good’ day out against Brisbane but still seeks consistency. A ‘good’ day out for Johnson this week will more than likely result in victory. And despite the Knights poor showing on the ladder Hodkinson is professional and putting in 100 percent in each game. His job made more challenging as he mentors Jack Cogger into being a top grade player. Soon enough Hodkinson’s efforts will pay off and the Knights will post competition points.
PREDICTION
Newcastle are a much better outfit at home and that was proven with their gutsy two point loss to the Eels. New Zealand Warriors have come twice to Sydney for matches this year where they were beaten by Wests Tigers (Rd 1) and won against the Roosters 32-28 in a golden point at Central Coast Stadium. I would expect the Warriors to be too classy for Newcastle in the end but the home side will make them earn victory.
Warriors by 8
SQUADS
Knights: 1 Dane Gagai 2 Cory Denniss 3 Sione Mata’utia 4 Nathan Ross 5 Jake Mamo 6 Jack Cogger 7 Trent Hodkinson 8 Sam Mataora 9 Danny Levi 10 Daniel Saifiti 11 Tariq Sims 12 Pauli Pauli 13 Jeremy Smith. Interchange: 14 Tyler Randell 15 Korbin Sims 16 Jacob Saifiti 17 Mickey Paea 19 Joshua King 20 Lachlan Fitzgibbon
Warriors: 1 Tuimoala Lolohea 2 David Fusitu’a, 3 Blake Ayshford, 4 Solomone Kata, 5 Manu Vatuvei, 6 Thomas Leuluai, 7 Shaun Johnson, 8 Jacob Lillyman, 9 Issac Luke, 10 Ben Matulino, 11 Bodene Thompson, 12 Ryan Hoffman (c), 13 Simon Mannering. Interchange: 14 Nathaniel Roache, 15 Sam Lisone, 16 Albert Vete, 17 Charlie Gubb.
Kickoff: Saturday 3pm AEST, 5pm NZ
Venue: Hunter Stadium
