NYC Preview: Round 4
New Zealand Warriors v Newcastle Knights
Date: Monday March 28
Kick off: 1.45pm (NZ)
Venue: Mt Smart Stadium
Teams:
NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
1. Nick Meaney, 2. Kainoa Gudgeon, 3. Dean Kouka Smith, 4. Henry Penn, 5. Matt Soper-Lawler, 6. Brock Lamb, 7. Jack Cogger ©, 8. Tyrone Amey, 9. Joe Morris, 10. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown, 11. Eddy Tuilotolava, 12. Braden Robson, 13. Ryan Glanville. Interchange: 14. Jake McNamara, 15. Zac Hosking, 16. Sam Stone, 17. Jordon Pinnock, 18. Matthew Faitotoa, 20. Jayden Butterfield.
NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS
1. Kane Telea, 2. Lewis Soosemea, 3. Junior Pauga, 4. Melino Fineanganofo, 5. Levi McBirney, 6. Sheldon Pitama (c), 7. Zion Ioka, 8. Bunty Afoa, 9. Chris Sio, 10. Isaiah Papalii, 11. Ofahiki Ogden, 12. Joseph Price, 13. Joseph Vuna. Interchange: 14 Tualima Tualima, 15. Kenese Kenese, 16. Koli Oneone, 17. Keanu Dawson.
Match analysis:
The NYC Newcastle Knights are bound for Auckland in Round 4 to take on the New Zealand Warriors on Easter Monday at Mount Smart Stadium.
The Warriors enjoyed their first win of the season in Round 3 while the Knights suffered a loss at Hunter Stadium against the Canberra Raiders.
Tighter defence has been the key in the Knights' preparation for the match after Saturday’s blowout score-line at Hunter Stadium.
“We had a good day at training on Tuesday after reviewing the game on Monday,” coach Todd Lowrie said.
“We saw what went wrong and we have a longer week this week so hopefully we can train well and play well on Monday.”
The young Knights aim to build resilience in defence and cut down on the simple errors that cost the side on Saturday in front of a home crowd.
“I think it’s just about being disciplined for us. It let us down on the weekend with us giving too many penalties away,” he said.
“As long as we can hang on to the footy and not give too many penalties away, we should get over the top of them.”
A new name in the Knights’ line-up at centre is Dean Kouka Smith who has recently joined the NYC Knights after a pre-season with the Sydney Roosters.
“He’s a strong lad and has played a bit of first grade over in Auckland in New Zealand (local competition). He’s quite fast so hopefully he can provide us some spark in attack,” he said.
The Knights will also receive a boost from Sam Stone and Jayden Butterfield who come back into consideration after injury.
“For a few of the players, it’s actually a homecoming, hopefully they are all excited for different reasons and they can all play well,” he said about the New Zealand born contingent in the side.
Where it will be won:
Discipline.
“As long as we cannot give away too many penalties and we can get through our sets and starve them of the ball, then we will be fine,” Lowrie concluded.
