With just days away from the first hit out of the season, Newcastle Knights’ prop Kade Snowden has the New Zealand Warriors pack on his mind.
“They are a big side and big Manu (Vatuvei) is on the wing, so they are not lacking in size,” Snowden told the media on Wednesday.
“It’s going to be a very hard game.”
Yet with valuable minutes under his belt after playing the Knights’ two trial matches at Wauchope and Canberra, he believes he is ready for the season opener this Saturday at Hunter Stadium.
“It will probably be the same as the Canberra game, they had big boys as well,” he said.
“We need to weather the storm at the start and hopefully our fitness comes into it and we just run over them at the end.
“This season we are a lot younger in the front row. We are a fitter pack and bigger in size.
“We are looking forward to it and the boys are ready.
“For the fans especially, it would be good to get a win in the first home game."
Snowden faces up against Warriors prop Ben Matulino, and at 193m and 107 kilograms, it’s sure to be an explosive match-up.
“Every front rower should pick someone out of the side and get into him," he said.
“I think this week it will probably be that bloke for all of us.”
The 28-year-old has assumed a leadership role among the Knights pack this year, a position he says has delivered an improvement in his own performance.
“I’ve been a bit of a mentor for some of the younger players,” he said.
“I’ve liked that role and I think it has helped me as footballer as well.
“It’s a lot more responsibility for some of the older players, I’m really liking it and it’s helping me become a better person too.”
In the season opener, Snowden said his main objective is minimising errors while maintaining a high level of intensity and controlled aggression to combat the Warriors’ wall.
“I’m not going to change the way I play. The silly things I do, I just need to try to get them out of my game and I’ll be a lot better," he admitted.
“It’s probably the best pre-season I’ve had for a while. I’ve had no injuries and my body has held up really well.”
ROUND 1 - Saturday March 7
Newcastle Knights v New Zealand Warriors
Gates open: 11.45am
NYC: 12 noon
NSW Cup: 2.10pm
NRL: 4.30pm
Venue: Hunter Stadium
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