The One New Zealand Warriors will field the same lineup for the third time in as many games in tonight’s round three NRLW match against the Knights at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle (6.15pm kk-off local time; 8.15pm NZT).
On Tuesday head coach Ron Griffiths named the same 17 players used in the season-opening loss to the Sydney Roosters and last Sunday’s 14-0 shutout against the Eels.
The match is a homecoming for Griffiths as he faces the club he guided to back-to-back NRLW premierships in 2022 and 2023.
Loose forward Laishon Albert-Jones was in the Knights’ 2023 grand final side while centre Emmanita Paki was in the lineup for the 2022 premiership victory.
The Warriors take on a Newcastle side which has started its campaign in similar fashion with a first-up 12-26 loss to the Bulldogs followed by a 26-6 victory over the Cowboys in round two.
Match: Knights v Warriors
Round 3 -
home Team
Knights
away Team
Warriors
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Knights is number 1 Botille Vette-WelshFullback for Warriors is number 1 Apii Nicholls
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Winger for Knights is number 2 Sheridan GallagherWinger for Warriors is number 2 Michaela Brake
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Centre for Knights is number 3 Shanice ParkerCentre for Warriors is number 3 Tysha Ikenasio
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Centre for Knights is number 4 Tenika WillisonCentre for Warriors is number 4 Emmanita Paki
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Winger for Knights is number 5 Tess StainesWinger for Warriors is number 5 Payton Takimoana
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Five-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Georgia RocheFive-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Patricia Maliepo
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Halfback for Knights is number 7 Jesse SouthwellHalfback for Warriors is number 7 Emily Curtain
Forwards
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Prop for Knights is number 8 Tayla PredebonProp for Warriors is number 8 Harata Butler
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Hooker for Knights is number 9 Olivia HigginsHooker for Warriors is number 9 Capri Paekau
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Prop for Knights is number 10 Tiana DavisonProp for Warriors is number 10 Lavinia Kitai
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2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Evah McEwen2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Shakira Baker
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2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Yasmin Clydsdale2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Kaiyah Atai
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Lock for Knights is number 13 Kayla RomaniukLock for Warriors is number 13 Laishon Albert-Jones
Interchange
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Interchange for Knights is number 14 Jules KirkpatrickInterchange for Warriors is number 14 Lydia Turua-Quedley
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Interchange for Knights is number 15 Simone KarpaniInterchange for Warriors is number 15 Maarire Puketapu
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Interchange for Knights is number 16 Sienna YeoInterchange for Warriors is number 16 Ashlee Matapo
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Interchange for Knights is number 17 Grace KukutaiInterchange for Warriors is number 17 Matekino Gray
Reserves
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Replacement for Knights is number 18 Viena TinaoReplacement for Warriors is number 18 Makayla Eli
Match Officials
- Referee: Kasey Badger
- Senior Review Official: Gerard Sutton
Last updated:
After losing 6-30 to last year’s premiers the Roosters, the One New Zealand Warriors underlined the benefit of their first run as a team – and the first game of rugby league for a number of the players – with a much-improved performance against the Eels.
Parramatta had come into the contest on the back of an 18-16 win over the Sharks but were immediately rocked as the Warriors struck with two slick tries in the opening five minutes, first through Michaela Brake on the right and then Payton Takimoana on the left.
For almost an hour they had to call on their defensive resilience to protect their lead.
Tysha Ikenasio’s try 14 minutes from fulltime gave them a buffer before they drew on their fighting mettle again to become the first Warriors side to register a clean sheet.
That they did so despite Parramatta benefiting from a lopsided 8-1 penalty count made the feat all the more impressive.
While the Warriors had a number of standout performers none were better than captain Apii Nicholls who mixed her work with the ball and her positional play with outstanding defensive work highlighted by her thumping shot on Eels fullback Abbi Church (which has been voted the NRLW tackle of the week).
Nicholls’ all-round display earned her a maximum six points in the NRLW Dally M Medal race.
The Warriors also picked up the NRLW try of the week with Brake’s effort, her first in just her second-ever rugby league match. The Black Ferns sevens star had game high numbers for most metres (243) and post-contact metres (59) plus an astounding 16 tackle breaks to equal the competition record for most in a match.
