Sitting near the top of the ladder, the One New Zealand Warriors have it all to play for against the Knights on Sunday with a top two finish giving them a home final at Go Media Stadium.
Despite a number of injury set-backs, the Warriors have taken the challenges in their stride this season and will be hoping to keep winning momentum rolling into and throughout the finals.
Next-player-up has been their mindset this year, but their latest loss - winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak - will be keenly felt, with the 'flying mullet' in rare try-scoring form. He even managed to cross for one last week despite it later being revealed he had a broken collarbone.
And now they're without senior halves Te Maire Martin and Chanel Harris-Tavita for this contest with debutant Jett Cleary and 2026 rookie Luke Hanson called up.
The Knights have headed across the ditch no doubt still smarting from a poor loss last week against Manly, who thoroughly out-pointed and out-enthused them 44-24 despite the stakes being so high for the Newcastle side.
The loss came in front of their home fans, on old boys' day and jeopardised their chances of hosting a home final by finishing the regular season at fifth or sixth place on the ladder.
Plenty at stake for both teams with finals fast approaching.
Match: Warriors v Knights
Round 26 -
home Team
Warriors
1st Position
away Team
Knights
7th Position
Venue: Go Media Stadium, Auckland
Team news
One New Zealand Warriors: Halfback Jett Cleary will make his NRL debut alongside Luke Hanson as coach Andrew Webster opts to rest Te Maire Martin and Chanel Harris-Tavita. Martin was named on Tuesday to return from a hamstring complaint which kept him out for three games while Harris-Tavita has a minor hamstring issue. The loss of Dallin Watene-Zelezniak with a broken collarbone brings Luke Laulilii onto the wing for his first appearance since round 11 (with Wests Tigers). DWZ has undergone surgery to repair the damage and is expected to return during the finals.
Knights: Centre Dane Gagai's return from a hamstring injury sees Fletcher Hunt push out to the wing to replace Dom Young (suspended). Back rower Tyson Frizell (suspended) and hooker Phoenix Crossland (knee) will also miss the match so Harrison Graham starts at No 9 and Francis Manuleleua returns from concussion. Pasami Saulo and Diesel Hagan are the additions to the bench. No changes in Saturday's 24-hour update.
Match: Warriors v Knights
Round 26 -
home Team
Warriors
away Team
Knights
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Taine TuaupikiFullback for Knights is number 1 Kalyn Ponga
-
Winger for Warriors is number 2 Luke LauliliiWinger for Knights is number 2 Fletcher Hunt
-
Centre for Warriors is number 3 Ali LeiatauaCentre for Knights is number 3 Dane Gagai
-
Centre for Warriors is number 4 Leka HalasimaCentre for Knights is number 4 Bradman Best
-
Winger for Warriors is number 5 Alofiana Khan-PereiraWinger for Knights is number 5 Greg Marzhew
-
Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 22 Luke HansonFive-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Fletcher Sharpe
-
Halfback for Warriors is number 23 Jett ClearyHalfback for Knights is number 7 Sandon Smith
Forwards
-
Prop for Warriors is number 8 James Fisher-HarrisProp for Knights is number 8 Jacob Saifiti
-
Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde EganHooker for Knights is number 9 Harrison Graham
-
Prop for Warriors is number 10 Mitchell BarnettProp for Knights is number 10 Trey Mooney
-
2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Kurt Capewell2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Jermaine McEwen
-
2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Jacob Laban2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Francis Manuleleua
-
Lock for Warriors is number 13 Erin ClarkLock for Knights is number 13 Mat Croker
Interchange
-
Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Tanner Stowers-SmithInterchange for Knights is number 14 Thomas Cant
-
Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Demitric VaimaugaInterchange for Knights is number 15 Cody Hopwood
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Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Eddie Ieremia-ToeavaInterchange for Knights is number 16 Lachlan Crouch
-
Interchange for Warriors is number 18 Adam PompeyInterchange for Knights is number 17 Pasami Saulo
-
Replacement for Warriors is number 14 Sam Healey
-
Reserve for Warriors is number 21 Makaia TafuaReserve for Knights is number 18 Toby Winter
-
Reserve for Knights is number 19 Diesel Hagan
Match Officials
- Referee: Adam Gee
- Touch Judge: Phil Henderson
- Senior Review Official: Chris Butler
Last updated:
Stat attack
- The Warriors have won five of their last six games against the Knights.
- The Knights have not won in New Zealand since 2019.
- The Warriors have scored 155 points in their last four games.
- Knights winger Greg Marzhew has scored seven tries in his last six games.
- Warriors winger Alofi’ana Khan-Pereira has scored six tries in his last seven games.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
