NZ Warriors – Newcastle | 2.00pm Sunday 31 May, Mt Smart Stadium
The Warriors have worked their way into the top eight off the back of consecutive wins on the road and back on home turf they will surely fancy their chances of further moving up the ladder when they lock horns with a desperately out-of-sorts Newcastle. Sam Tomkins has never really settled in Auckland but there’s no denying his ability and the Wigan junior will give the Warriors a massive boost this weekend as he looks to round off his NRL career in style over the coming months. The Knights badly missed back-row lynchpins Beau Scott and Jeremy Smith as they meekly surrendered a twelve-point lead to go down to an undermanned Broncos side on Monday night and coach Rick Stone will have his work cut out to restore lost confidence. Newcastle did notch a strong win over the Warriors in the opening round but they have a horrible record across the Tasman having won just once over there in the past decade and you’d have to think that the Warriors would have far too much firepower for them.
Last time they met: Round 1 – Newcastle 24-14 NZ Warriors
NZ by 13
The Warriors have worked their way into the top eight off the back of consecutive wins on the road and back on home turf they will surely fancy their chances of further moving up the ladder when they lock horns with a desperately out-of-sorts Newcastle. Sam Tomkins has never really settled in Auckland but there’s no denying his ability and the Wigan junior will give the Warriors a massive boost this weekend as he looks to round off his NRL career in style over the coming months. The Knights badly missed back-row lynchpins Beau Scott and Jeremy Smith as they meekly surrendered a twelve-point lead to go down to an undermanned Broncos side on Monday night and coach Rick Stone will have his work cut out to restore lost confidence. Newcastle did notch a strong win over the Warriors in the opening round but they have a horrible record across the Tasman having won just once over there in the past decade and you’d have to think that the Warriors would have far too much firepower for them.
Last time they met: Round 1 – Newcastle 24-14 NZ Warriors
NZ by 13