New Zealand Warriors vs Newcastle Knights – Regular Season – Preview & Prediction | NRL 2023

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THE FACTS

When is New Zealand Warriors vs Newcastle Knights on and what time does it start? New Zealand Warriors vs Newcastle Knights will take place on Friday 3rd March, 2022 – 07:00 (UK)

Where is New Zealand Warriors vs Newcastle Knights taking place? New Zealand Warriors vs Newcastle Knights will take place at Sky Stadium in Wellington, New Zealand

Where can I get tickets for New Zealand Warriors vs Newcastle Knights? Click here for ticket information on 2023 NRL matches

What channel is New Zealand Warriors vs Newcastle Knights on? Sky Sports Arena will be televising selected NRL games in the UK and you can find their schedule here. For Australian broadcasters, you can find a list here

Where can I stream New Zealand Warriors vs Newcastle Knights? If televised on Sky Sports, then subscribers will be able to stream the match live via Sky Go. Alternatively, the match will be available to subscribers of Watch NRL

THE TEAM NEWS

NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS

• New Zealand Warriors will move in a different direction this season with Andrew Webster leading a new-look coaching team in an effort to extract more from the underperforming side.
• The Warriors have made some significant changes to their roster and will benefit from plenty more home fixtures this year but an injury to Luke Metcalf is a big blow ahead of this round 1 contest.

Starting 13: Nicoll-Klokstad, Watene-Zelezniak, Wiliame, Pompey, Montoya, Martin, Johnson, Fonua-Blake, Egan, Barnett, Ford, Niukore, Harris – Interchanges: Walker, Afoa, Curran, Ale – Reserves: Vailea, Lussick, Volkman, Tuaupiki, Kosi

Unavailable: Luke Metcalf (Injured), Valingi Kepu (Injured), Jazz Tevaga (Injured), Rocco Berry (Injured)

NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS

• Newcastle Knights were very poor last season and head coach Adam O’Brien will be under huge pressure to retain his job in 2023 with his future at the club potentially hinging on a key positional switch.
• Key man Kalyn Ponga has been moved to the halves and will line-up at five-eighth alongside new signing Jackson Hastings while there is another new face in the spine with Lachlan Miller set to debut at fullback having joined from Cronulla Sharks.

Starting 13: Miller, Hunt, Tuala, Best, Young, Ponga, Hastings, D. Saifiti, Brailey, J. Saifiti, Frizell, Fitzgibbon, Mann – Interchanges: Crossland, Elliott, Hetherington, Thompson – Reserves: Johns, Gamble, Jones, Lucas, Hodgson

Unavailable: Dane Gagai (Injured), Mat Croker (Suspended), Simi Sasagi (Injured)

THE PREDICTION

These two teams could both be battling it out at the wrong end of the ladder this season and will be desperate to get off to a strong start. New Zealand Warriors will benefit from a much friendlier draw this year with lots of home games rostered and that could prove to be pivotal to their chances of a successful season. Newcastle Knights have plenty to prove under boss Adam O’Brien and he could find himself under huge pressure in the early rounds. They lost eight of their last nine games to finish 2022 and another defeat is on the cards here with the Warriors able to make home advantage count.