Sky Stadium will play host to Friday's Round 1 NRL game between New Zealand Warriors and Newcastle Knights. The game kicks off at 6:00 pm with New Zealand Warriors heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the New Zealand Warriors vs. Newcastle Knights game and give you our free tips and bets.
When: Friday March 3, 2023 at 6:00 pm
Where: Sky Stadium
Bet: Bet On This Match HERE
New Zealand Warriors vs Newcastle Knights Odds
New Zealand Warriors vs Newcastle Knights Preview
The Warriors and Newcastle Knights are bottom-four bound in 2023 according to most pundits and punters.
Friday’s clash in Wellington provides a massive opportunity for both clubs to create some early-season breathing space.
There’s certainly more optimism around the Warriors, despite the obvious deficiencies in their roster.
Andrew Webster arrives highly rated and his charges are by all accounts loving the new regime, while the effect of their return to New Zealand after three years in COVID limbo can’t be understated.
The Warriors’ team list was as expected, with the exception of Adam Pompey and Brayden Wiliame being named as the centre pairing with young gun Viliami Vailea left in the reserves, and the Shaun Johnson-Te Maire Martin halves combination gets its first airing.
Charnze-Nicoll Klokstad, Marata Niukore and Dylan Walker add much-needed class, but the knock on the Warriors is a lack of front-row quality outside of Addin Fonua-Blake.
That’s the big test first up against the Knights’ Saifiti brothers, with Mitch Barnett facing his former teammates from prop.
Focus on Adam O’Brien’s embattled Knights focuses on Kalyn Ponga’s shift to five-eighth alongside halfback recruit Jackson Hastings.
Limited speedster Lachlan Miller slots in at fullback, while Enari Tuala gets the centre nod to replace injured Dane Gagai, while Adam Elliott makes his club debut from the bench.
The Knights have won their last three against the Warriors, including a 24-16 result in Redcliffe in Round 12 last season and the Novocastrians have won just two of their last 14 in New Zealand.
Though no doubt delighted to be back on home soil on a regular basis, the Warriors have a phenomenally bad record at New Zealand venues other than Mt Smart: eight wins from 31 matches.
In Wellington, they have picked up just three wins and a draw from 10 visits – though the three wins came in their last four matches at ‘The Cake Tin’.
The Warriors are also just 8-18 all-time in Round 1.
These teams won just six games apiece in 2022 and only two each from the end of May. The Warriors have done considerably more to turn around their sinking ship over the summer and were much more promising in the trials – they should get the invaluable two points on back of renewed defensive vigour.
Content provided by Ladbrokes
Head To Head Bet
We're tipping New Zealand Warriors to win at $1.53 odds.
First Try Scorer
First Try Scorer: Marcelo Montoya at $8.75.
New Zealand Warriors vs Newcastle Knights Teams
Warriors team: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Brayden Wiliame 4. Adam Pompey 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Te Maire Martin 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Wayde Egan 10. Mitchell Barnett 11. Jackson Ford 12. Marata Niukore 13. Tohu Harris 14. Dylan Walker 15. Bunty Afoa 16. Josh Curran 17. Tom Ale 18. Viliami Vailea 20. Freddy Lussick 21. Ronald Volkman 22. Taine Tuaupiki 23. Edward Kosi
Knights team: 1. Lachlan Miller 2. Hymel Hunt 3. Enari Tuala 4. Bradman Best 5. Dominic Young 6. Kalyn Ponga 7. Jackson Hastings 8. Daniel Saifiti 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Jacob Saifiti 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Lachlan Fitzgibbon 13. Kurt Mann 14. Phoenix Crossland 15. Adam Elliott 16. Jack Hetherington 17. Leo Thompson 18. Jack Johns 19. Tyson Gamble 20. Brodie Jones 21. Dylan Lucas 22. Bailey Hodgson