Defend the Kingdom: NRL Semi-Final preview
The nib Newcastle Knights NRL squad will continue their finals campaign when they travel across the Tasman for a colossal battle against the Warriors this Saturday.
The two teams are in with the Knights chasing their own slice of history and a spot in the final four of the competition.
The winner will march onto play the Brisbane Broncos in a prelimination final the following Saturday.
CANBERRA RAIDERS v nib NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Date: Saturday, September 16th
Kick-off: 6:05pm (4:05pm AEDT)
Venue: Go Media Stadium, Auckland
The match will be shown live on Nine, Nine Now, Fox League and Kayo Sports.
AOB on week two preparation and team news
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Since: 1995
Warriors: 24
Knights: 25
Draws: 1
TEAMS
Match: Warriors v Knights
Finals Week 2 -
home Team
Warriors
away Team
Knights
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Charnze Nicoll-KlokstadFullback for Knights is number 1 Kalyn Ponga
-
Winger for Warriors is number 2 Dallin Watene-ZelezniakWinger for Knights is number 2 Dominic Young
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Centre for Warriors is number 3 Rocco BerryCentre for Knights is number 3 Dane Gagai
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Centre for Warriors is number 4 Adam PompeyCentre for Knights is number 4 Bradman Best
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Winger for Warriors is number 5 Marcelo MontoyaWinger for Knights is number 5 Greg Marzhew
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Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Te Maire MartinFive-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Tyson Gamble
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Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Shaun JohnsonHalfback for Knights is number 7 Adam Clune
Forwards
-
Prop for Warriors is number 8 Addin Fonua-BlakeProp for Knights is number 8 Jacob Saifiti
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Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde EganHooker for Knights is number 9 Phoenix Crossland
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Prop for Warriors is number 10 Mitchell BarnettProp for Knights is number 10 Leo Thompson
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2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Jackson Ford2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Tyson Frizell
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2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Marata Niukore2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Dylan Lucas
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Lock for Warriors is number 13 Tohu HarrisLock for Knights is number 13 Adam Elliott
Interchange
-
Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Dylan WalkerInterchange for Knights is number 14 Kurt Mann
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Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Jazz TevagaInterchange for Knights is number 16 Jack Hetherington
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Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Bayley SironenInterchange for Knights is number 17 Mat Croker
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Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Josh CurranInterchange for Knights is number 18 Brodie Jones
Reserves
-
Replacement for Warriors is number 20 Taine TuaupikiReplacement for Knights is number 20 Fa'amanu Brown
Match Officials
- Referee: Adam Gee
- Touch Judge: Phil Henderson
- Touch Judge: Dave Munro
- Senior Review Official: Grant Atkins
Last updated:
TEAM NEWS
UPDATE: Daniel Saifiti was ruled out on Friday with Brodie Jones coming into the starting 17.
TUESDAY: Knights NRL Head Coach Adam O'Brien named his 22-man squad for their massive Semi-Final clash against the Warriors.
Jackson Hastings (ankle) and Lachlan Fitzgibbon (shoulder) have succumbed to injuries with Dylan Lucas and Adam Clune named to take their places in the starting team.
For the Warriors, Shaun Johnson has been named to return from the calf injury that kept him out of the qualifying final loss to the Panthers. Dylan Walker returns to the bench and Freddy Lussick goes to 18th Man.
Best on 2023 season and buzz around the town
FORM GUIDE
The Knights marched onto week two of the finals after a 30-28 victory over the Canberra Raiders in an Elimination Final last Sunday at McDonald Jones Stadium.
The result was the side's 10th win in succession, putting the side one victory away from equalling the Club record of 11 in a row.
The Warriors finished the regular season in fourth spot and took on the Panthers in week one.
They were defeated 32-6 away from home, and return home to New Zealand where they have won their last four games.
Ponga on team process and preparation for Warriors clash
KEY MATCH-UP
Greg Marzhew v Dallin Watene-Zelezniak: With exciting battles across the park, two wingers in red-hot form will light up Go Media Stadium on Saturday.
Marzhew has enjoyed a stellar first year in the red and blue averaging 200 run metres and scoring 21 tries along the way.
The powerful winger is on a hot-streak of try-scoring form with at least one four-pointer in nine of his last 10 games.
Greg will play opposite Watene-Zelezniak, who poses a threat for the Warriors having also scored 21 tries along with 21 line-breaks.
Young on key combinations and try-scoring record
STAT ATTACK
Dom Young now leads the competition for tries with 25 for the season.
Warriors forward Addin Fonua-Blake has the most post-contact metres in the competition with 1,582.
The Knights have the most line-breaks this season with 146.
The two sides met earlier in the year - with the Warriors winning in Round 1 before the Knights won at home in Round 5.
