A little more than six months after last year's unforgettable finals victory, the One New Zealand Warriors go head-to-head again with the Newcastle Knights at Go Media Stadium.
A crowd of 26,083 - the biggest home attendance of the season - was wedged in for the first home playoff in 15 years as the Warriors lit up to win 40-10.
That was September 16, 2023. Now on March 31, 2024, the same two teams face off again in Auckland in front of another sell-out.
The Warriors are back in Auckland for their second home game on the trot after they earned their first win of the season last Friday against the Raiders in Christchurch.
Newcastle overcame a sloppy display against the Storm, which included missing 41 tackles, to secure a two-point win with fullback Kalyn Ponga and back-rower Kai Pearce-Paul their standout performers.
Knights prop Leo Thompson will miss the match after copping a one-game ban for dangerous contact, while the Warriors will have their fingers crossed hooker Wayde Egan (elbow) will be good to go after being a late withdrawal from their squad each of their past two games.
The round one loss to Cronulla was the Warriors' first loss in eight games at Go Media Stadium while the Knights have won at the venue just twice in 15 visits since 2006.
Match: Warriors v Knights
Round 4 -
home Team
Warriors
away Team
Knights
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Roger Tuivasa-SheckFullback for Knights is number 1 Kalyn Ponga
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Winger for Warriors is number 2 Dallin Watene-ZelezniakWinger for Knights is number 2 Thomas Jenkins
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Centre for Warriors is number 3 Rocco BerryCentre for Knights is number 4 Bradman Best
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Centre for Warriors is number 4 Adam PompeyCentre for Knights is number 18 Dylan Lucas
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Winger for Warriors is number 5 Marcelo MontoyaWinger for Knights is number 5 Enari Tuala
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Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Luke MetcalfFive-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Tyson Gamble
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Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Shaun JohnsonHalfback for Knights is number 7 Jack Cogger
Forwards
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Prop for Warriors is number 8 Addin Fonua-BlakeProp for Knights is number 8 Jacob Saifiti
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Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde EganHooker for Knights is number 9 Phoenix Crossland
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Prop for Warriors is number 10 Mitchell BarnettProp for Knights is number 10 Daniel Saifiti
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2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Jackson Ford2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Tyson Frizell
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2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Kurt Capewell2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Kai Pearce-Paul
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Lock for Warriors is number 13 Tohu HarrisLock for Knights is number 13 Adam Elliott
Interchange
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Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Marata NiukoreInterchange for Knights is number 14 Jayden Brailey
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Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Bunty AfoaInterchange for Knights is number 15 Mat Croker
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Interchange for Warriors is number 20 Jazz TevagaInterchange for Knights is number 16 Jack Hetherington
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Interchange for Warriors is number 21 Chanel Harris-TavitaInterchange for Knights is number 17 Brodie Jones
Reserves
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Replacement for Warriors is number 14 Freddy LussickReplacement for Knights is number 19 Jed Cartwright
Match Officials
- Referee: Peter Gough
- Touch Judge: Jon Stone
- Senior Review Official: Chris Butler
Last updated:
Team news
One New Zealand Warriors: With Taine Tuaupiki out with concussion Roger Tuivasa-Sheck will play fullback with Adam Pompey coming into the centres. On the bench there were two big inclusions when the team was named with Marata Niukore (foot) set to play his first game of the year and Dylan Walker (ankle) back in action. However, Walker was ruled out when the squad was updated 24 hours out from kick-off with Jazz Tevaga brought onto the bench.
Newcastle Knights: Leo Thompson’s one-game ban means Daniel Saifiti is elevated into a starting role this week with Brodie Jones the new face on the bench. Jack Cogger is again the preferred No 7 with Jackson Hastings shaping to run out with the reserve-grade side who are also playing in New Zealand on Sunday.
Stat attack
- The Knights have not won in New Zealand since 2019.
- Warriors winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak has scored nine tries in his past eight games at Go Media Stadium.
- Knights coach Adam O’Brien will reach the milestone of 100 games as head coach.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
