Check out the match preview and prediction for the 2025 National Rugby League round 20 clash between the Newcastle Knights and the New Zealand Warriors.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
Newcastle Knights v New Zealand Warriors
Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
Date: Sunday July 20, 4:05pm (AEST)
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Knights: 1. Dane Gagai 2. Dominic Young 3. Fletcher Hunt 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Jackson Hastings 7. Jack Cogger 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Leo Thompson 11. Brodie Jones 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Phoenix Crossland 14. Tyson Gamble 15. Mathew Croker 16. Tyson Frizell 17. Jermaine McEwen 18. Thomas Cant 19. James Schiller 20. Elijah Leaumoana 21. Jack Hetherington 22. Kyle McCarthy
Warriors: 1. Taine Tuaupiki 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Adam Pompey 4. Kurt Capewell 5. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Tanah Boyd 8. James Fisher-Harris 9. Wayde Egan 10. Jackson Ford 11. Leka Halasima 12. Marata Niukore 13. Erin Clark 14. Te Maire Martin 15. Jacob Laban 16. Demitric Vaimauga 17. Tanner Stowers-Smith 18. Samuel Healey 20. Eddie Ieremia 21. Bunty Afoa 22. Ali Leiataua 23. Kayliss Fatialofa
Referee: Grant Atkins
Bunker: Chris Butler
MATCHDAY PREVIEW
The Newcastle Knights welcome their rivals from across the Tasman as they take on the New Zealand Warriors in the final game of round 20 on Sunday afternoon. The Knights come into this clash looking to snap a two-game losing streak while the Warriors look to make it two wins on the trot for the first time since round 13.
The Knights jumped out to a fast lead against the Storm in their last start, before being run down by the premiership heavyweights, succumbing to a 32-14 defeat; while the Warriors put the Tigers away with a late flurry of points, seeing the Warriors leave with the win (34-14) to further cement their spot in the top four.
The Novocastrians have been hit with an injury crisis and have been forced to use some young talent to fill the gaps; however, it’s the work of the 34-year-old Dane Gagai that has been the most impactful. Gagai hadn’t started at fullback since August 2018 and the wily veteran didn’t miss a beat in his return to the position, clocking up 250 metres with six tackle breaks and a try assist to boot. If the Knights want to win against this Warriors side, Gagai is going to play a crucial role in their chances.
Fans of the Warriors could be forgiven for thinking that their side was going to struggle without their livewire halfback and the club’s leading try-scorer, with Luke Metcalf out for the rest of the season, but in stepped Tanah Boyd to take the reins. While Boyd doesn’t possess the same running threat as Metcalf, the 24-year-old has a great long kicking game and provides a more structured base for their attack that could really unlock some of their young attacking weapons such as Tuaupiki, Laban, and Halasima. Underestimating the Warriors without their leading man could prove costly in the run to the finals.
These two sides split the 10 game record with five wins a-piece, while the Warriors have the advantage all time with 26 wins to the Knights’ 25. In squad news, Dylan Lucas is out for the rest of the season for the Knights with Brodie Jones coming into the starting side, while the Warriors shift Kurt Capewell to the centres to cover for the injured Rocco Berry.
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Warriors by 16 points.
Check out our round 20 predictions here.
What’s your prediction? Drop it in the comments below.
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