NRL Round 1 Preview and Prediction -New Zealand Warriors v Newcastle Knights @ Mount Smart Stadium
New Zealand Warriors (0-0) v Newcastle Knights (0-0) @ Mount Smart Stadium
Preview - The New Zealand Warriors will be under pressure to deliver a first up victory when they face the Newcastle Knights at Mount Smart Stadium on Sunday. The Warriors missed the finals for the fifth straight season in 2016 when another late season collapse saw them finishing in 10th place with 10 wins and 14 losses. The same old problems reared their head for the Warriors where their defensive frailties and mental weakness in parts of games were exposed, as they coughed up home games to Souths, Tigers and Parramatta late in the season. The Newcastle Knights experienced the worst season by any team since way back in 1999 when the Western Suburbs Magpies won just 1 game and conceded over 800 points in their final season as a First Grade entity. The Knights, last season, managed just one victory and one draw, conceded 800 points and fielded a vastly inexperienced and young side. Nathan Brown wasn't afraid to make big calls, dumping senior players and taking a long term view as he gave several kids a run in what was a real baptism of fire for some of Newcastle’s youngsters.
History - The Knights have a terrible record in New Zealand over the past decade losing 10 of their past 11 games against the Warriors. The Warriors have won their past 3 clashes against the Knights, including two of those by big margins.
New Zealand Warriors Scouting Report - There are not many surprises in this Warriors line up with Kieron Foran out suspended until Round 3. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck will be looking for a huge season having missed the majority of last season with a knee injury. In an interesting move, new Warriors Coach Steven Kearney has taken the captaincy off Ryan Hoffman and given it to Tuivasa-Sheck this season. The Warriors have also given young five eight Mafoa'aeata Hingano his first start in the NRL. Hingano has some wraps on him as potentially a young player that could replace Shaun Johnson one day, so it will be interesting to see if he can step up and put in a couple of great performances knowing Kieron Foran will be back available in Round 3.
Newcastle Knights Scouting Report - Twelve months after digging ditches for a living, Dylan Phythian wins a start for the Knights at fullback. It's been a dramatic rise for Phythian who spent the majority of last season on the fringes of the Knights' NSW Cup squad before winning a call up to First Grade in the final two games of the season and impressing against the Rabbitohs and Knights. Young Brock Lamb wins the race to replace Jarrad Mullen at five eight, whilst Jamie Buhrer starts his first game for the Knights in the back row.
Verdict - Warriors 1-12 in a high scoring game
I give the Knights a sneaky chance here in Round 1 given their impressive trial form and the fact you never really know what you are going to get from the Warriors. However, given the fact this game is at Mount Smart Stadium in New Zealand, I still have to think the home side will get the job done, provided they turn up with the right attitude. I think this game will be high scoring provided we get a dry track across the ditch. I expect the Warriors to play with typical freedom and try and create some second phase play against a brittle and young Knights' defence. However, I'm sure expecting the Knights to improve this season somewhat and I think they can give the Warriors some problems here. I reckon the Knights can score 3-4 tries but that probably won't be enough to get the chocolates.