NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS v NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Round 12, 2015 Holden Cup
Venue: Mount Smart Stadium
Date: Sunday, May 31, 9.30am AEST
Referees: Peter Gough and Matt Noyen
Teams:
KNIGHTS
1. Dylan Phythian, 2. Fuaimamao Uta, 3. Josh Birch, 4. Braden Robson, 5. Ken Tofilau, 6. Jake McNamara, 7. Jack Cogger, 8. Josh King, 9. Danny Levi, 10. Daniel Saifiti, 11. Bradie Smith, 12. Ben Stone, 13. Luke Yates. Interchange: 14. Brock Lamb, 15. Tyrone Amey, 16. Roman Fepuleai, 17. Sam Apthorpe, 18. Scott Tofa-Timoteo.
WARRIORS
1. Brad Abbey, 2. Tomas Aoake, 3. Junior Pauga, 4. Semisi Tyrell, 5. Koli Oneone 6. Ata Hingano, 7 Erin Clark, 8. Bunty Afoa, 9. Nathaniel Roache, 10. Amoni Tufui, 11. Ofahiki Ogden, 12. Marata Niukore, 13. Jazz Tevaga. Interchange: 14. Chris Sio, 15. Matiu Love-Henry, 16. Paul Tuli, 17. Tualima Tualima 18. Lewis Soosemea. Coach: Kelvin Wright
Match Analysis:
The young Knights venture across the Pacific for their next challenge, the New Zealand Warriors at Mount Smart Stadium.
After a less than ideal outcome in the previous week’s match at Hunter Stadium, coach Troy Pezet believes a Round 12 win will go a long way in lifting the team.
“We are probably looking to concentrate on ourselves and get some credibility back after the last couple of weeks which haven’t been great,” Pezet said.
“We need strong defensive focus this week and that’s something we’ve been working on in the last couple of weeks and it hasn’t gone our way."
Towering forward Jacob Saifiti has been sidelined by a leg injury with Ben Stone moving into the starting side to replace the Fijian international.
“Ben has been going really well,” Pezet said.
Meanwhile New Zealander Scott Tofa-Timoteo has come onto the bench in the back row after playing in the local first grade competition.
“It’s pretty exciting this week especially for Danny Levi, Ken Tofilau and Mao Uta who played Round 1 against the Warriors and are looking forward to getting home and playing in front of their family and friends,” he said.
According to Pezet, players to watch in the opposition will be fullback Brad Abbey and forwards Bunty Afoa and Daniel Roach.
“We played them in Round 1 and had a good win, so they are going to be tough coming off the back of a good month,” he said.
“We have a few injuries and we are a young side, and are a bit hurt at the moment, but the morale at training is still really good at the moment.
“They are training really hard and working as hard as they can.
“They are trying hard every week and it’s really testing them at the moment because they had such a good start to the year."
Where the match will be won:
Defence.
“If we defend really well then we give ourselves a chance and we will get our share of the ball,” Pezet said.
“When we have the ball, we back ourselves to score some points."
