Defend the Kingdom: Warriors v Knights

Author: Newcastle Knights
Timestamp: Fri 3 Mar 2023, 10:32 AM

Anticipation is building for the 2023 campaign and to kick things off, our nib Newcastle Knights have crossed the Tasman to take on the Warriors.

With plenty of new signings in the team and coming off a huge pre-season, the Knights are set to tackle the new campaign.

We will take on the Warriors in our first-ever game in Wellington and first match in New Zealand since 2019.

WARRIORS v nib NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS

Date: Friday, 3 March

Kick-off: 6:00pm

Venue: Sky Stadium, Wellington

The match will be shown live on Fox League and Kayo Sports.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Since: 1995

Warriors: 22

Knights: 23

Draws: 1

TEAMS

Round 1 - Round 1 - Friday 3 Mar

Full Time

Warriors

Knights

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad

Fullback for Knights is number 1 Lachlan Miller
Winger for Warriors is number 5 Marcelo Montoya

Winger for Knights is number 2 Hymel Hunt
Centre for Warriors is number 3 Brayden Wiliame

Centre for Knights is number 3 Enari Tuala
Centre for Warriors is number 4 Adam Pompey

Centre for Knights is number 4 Bradman Best
Winger for Warriors is number 23 Edward Kosi

Winger for Knights is number 5 Dominic Young
Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Te Maire Martin

Five-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Kalyn Ponga
Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Shaun Johnson

Halfback for Knights is number 7 Jackson Hastings

Forwards

Prop for Warriors is number 8 Addin Fonua-Blake

Prop for Knights is number 8 Daniel Saifiti
Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde Egan

Hooker for Knights is number 9 Jayden Brailey
Prop for Warriors is number 10 Mitchell Barnett

Prop for Knights is number 10 Jacob Saifiti
2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Jackson Ford

2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Tyson Frizell
2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Marata Niukore

2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Lachlan Fitzgibbon
Lock for Warriors is number 13 Tohu Harris

Lock for Knights is number 13 Kurt Mann

Interchange

Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Dylan Walker

Interchange for Knights is number 14 Phoenix Crossland
Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Bunty Afoa

Interchange for Knights is number 15 Adam Elliott
Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Josh Curran

Interchange for Knights is number 16 Jack Hetherington
Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Tom Ale

Interchange for Knights is number 17 Leo Thompson

Reserves

Replacement for Warriors is number 20 Freddy Lussick

Replacement for Knights is number 18 Jack Johns

Match Officials

Referee: Chris Sutton
Touch Judge: Liam Kennedy
Touch Judge: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
Senior Review Official: Ben Cummins

Last updated: 6/3/2024 4:46:41 AM

TEAM NEWS

UPDATE: No changes to the Knights team at the 24 hour update.

Meanwhile for the Warriors, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak has dropped out due to a calf injury and his place on the wing has been taken by Edward Kosi.

TUESDAY: Knights Head Coach Adam O'Brien has named his 22-man squad for our Round 1 clash against the New Zealand Warriors.

Knights debutants Adam Elliott (335), Jackson Hastings (336), Jack Hetherington (337) and Lachlan Miller (338) have been appointed their Knights player number, as they prepare for their first competition match for the Club in the season opener.

For the Warriors, Marata Niukore, Dylan Walker, Mitch Barnett, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and Te Maire Martin headline a new-look Warriors team.

Centre Brayden Wiliame has been named to play his first NRL game since round 18, 2021 following a stint in French rugby. Former Dragon Jackson Ford makes his club debut in the back row alongside Niukore.

KEY MATCH-UP

Addin Fonua-Blake v Daniel Saifiti: Two powerhouse forwards will go toe-to-toe in the middle with D-Saf taking on Fonua-Blake.

D-Saf will line-up alongside twin brother Jacob in the front-row with both players aiming to provide plenty of go forward for the Knights.

Daniel has averaged 15 offloads a year over the last three seasons and has averaged just under 1000 post contact metres since 2020.

Newcastle will look to stop Fonua-Blake who ran for 1,472 post contact metres in 2022.

STAT ATTACK

The match will be the first time the Knights have played a first grade game in Wellington while the match is also the first for the side in New Zealand since 2019.

The Knights have won the last three matches against the Warriors including a 24-16 win last season.

Lachlan Miller ran for 175 run metres in the trial against Parramatta Eels.

In their pre-season trials, the Warriors won 48-12 against the Tigers and 24-6 loss against the Storm.