2019 NRL – Newcastle Knights vs New Zealand Warriors Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
When is Newcastle Knights vs New Zealand Warriors taking place? Saturday 6th July, 10:35
Where is Newcastle Knights vs New Zealand Warriors taking place? McDonald Jones Stadium
What channel is Newcastle Knights vs New Zealand Warriors on?
UK – Sky Sports Arena
Australia – Fox Sports
Where can I stream Newcastle Knights vs New Zealand Warriors?
UK – Sky Sports subscribers can stream the match via Sky Go
Australia – https://www.telstra.com.au/tv-movies-music/sports-offer
Where can I get tickets for Newcastle Knights vs New Zealand Warriors?
Newcastle Knights – https://tickets.nrl.com/team/500003
New Zealand Warriors – https://tickets.nrl.com/team/500032
THE TEAM NEWS
NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Head Coach: Nathan Brown
Starting 13: Watson, Hunt, Mann, Ramien, Kenny-Dowall, Lino, Buhrer, Gavet, Levi, J. Saifiti, Fitzgibbon, Mata’utia, Ese’ese – Interchanges: King, Saulo, Guerra, Jones – Reserves: Hoy, Moga, Momoisea, Crossland
Unavailable: Slade Griffin, Mitch Barnett, Kalyn Ponga, Edrick Lee, Mitchell Pearce, David Klemmer, Daniel Saifiti, Tim Glasby
- Newcastle got back to winning ways as they put their horror show against Melbourne behind them with a solid win against Brisbane last week but face a tough task with a much weakened side named here.
- Kalyn Ponga is set to be sidelined for the next few games and although the Knights were set to call upon Mitchell Pearce and David Klemmer after both were overlooked for Origin, both have been called up following an injury to Nathan Cleary and Tariq Sims’ suspension.
- They join Daniel Saifiti and Tim Glasby on the sidelines because of Origin but in some good news for the Knights, Aiden Guerra and Danny Levi are back from injuries with Newcastle set to ring the changes from the team they have initially named with Jamie Buhrer unlikely to start at halfback.
NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS
Head Coach: Stephen Kearney
Starting 13: Tuivasa-Sheck, Fusitu’a, Hiku, Herbert, Maumalo, Nikorima, Green, Paasi, Lawton, Ah Mau, Blair, Papali’i, Tevaga – Interchanges: Luke, Afoa, Lisone, Burr – Reserves: Beale, Sao, Pulu, Harris-Tavita
Unavailable: Tohu Harris, Nathaniel Roache
- New Zealand Warriors were involved in a controversial contest against Penrith last week but they came out second best in golden point but will hope to take advantage of Newcastle’s under-strength side here.
- Nathaniel Roache suffered an ACL injury on his return to the side last week and will sit out for the rest of the season whilst Tohu Harris will be out for six weeks after foot surgery but Issac Luke is fit enough to return.
- Lachlan Burr is also back following a knock and he will join Luke among the interchanges with Leivaha Pulu dropped as head coach Stephen Kearney only makes the one unenforced change.
THE PREDICTION
Newcastle got back on track as they defeated Brisbane last week as the Knights kept their hopes of a top 4 finish alive. They now host a struggling New Zealand Warriors side who will be licking their wounds after a golden point loss to Penrith and whilst the Knights will still be confident, their team looks a lot weaker than they would have envisaged at the start of the week. The loss of Mitchell Pearce in particular will be difficult to deal with and coupled with Kalyn Ponga’s injury, it might be too much to overcome with the Warriors having enough to edge this.
