As it happened: Newcastle Knights vs New Zealand Warriors - NRL

KNIGHTS 26 - 10 WARRIORS

FULLTIME: That is game in Newcastle and the Knights go crazy. That is back-to-back wins for the first time since 2015 and their fourth win of the year. 

The Knights deserved to win. They played great. For the Warriors - Issac Luke and Sam Lisone should be dropped. Both were shocking once again. 

79mins: Roache goes down the wing again and is tackled into touch. 

77mins: Nathaniel Roache makes a great run down eh wing and kicks back infield to his captain and the ball sits up for him but the last bounce goes the other way.

76mins: The Knights kick the ball into touch. The Warriors will have a scrum. 

75mins: Five minutes to go in Newcastle. The Knights have the ball. 

73mins: Trent Hodkinson lands the conversion and the Knights are already celebrating their fourth win of the year. 

71mins: TRY KNIGHTS: Brock Lamb goes over and the Newcastle fans go crazy. Sione Mata’utia makes a break and finds Josh King who finds Brock lamb and he goes over. 

70mins: 10 minutes reamin in Newcastle and the Warriors go crazy on the last tackle and the Knights are back in possession. 

69mins: The Warriors now have a seven-tackle set and on the first tackle they run the mouse trap.

68mins: Mason Lino kicks high on the last tackle, but it off the side of the boot and the Knights counter through the Mata’utia brothers. 

67mins: Trent Hodkinson drives the ball low and it rolls into touch. Warriors scrum. 

66mins: The Warriors get to tackle five and Foran kicks high and Chanel Mata'utia takes the catch. 

65mins: This time Issac Luke kicks the conversion over the black dot. 

64mins: TRY WARRIORS: The try is given and Roache ha his first career try. He has played great - and playing out of position also. 

64mins: Nathaniel Roache goes over but the referees want to go to the bunker. It will be his first career try if given. 

63mins: A bizzare play with 17 to go. Nathaniel Roache runs through and offloads to Mason Lino to is deliberately tripped by Chanel Mata'utia. That has been put on report. He should have been sent to the bin. 

61mins: On the last, the Knight run and the go close to scoring but Isaiah Papalii makes a try-saving tackle. 

60mins: Issac Luke gives away another penalty for a dangerous tackle.

59mins: The Conversion comes off the post and goes wide. 

58mins: TRY KNIGHTS: Lachlan Fitzgibbon dives over after being put in a big hole by Brock Lamb and the Knights have their third try of the game. 

57mins: I will put this again at the end of the match. But Issac Luke NEEDS TO BE DROPPED. He has been shocking once again. Newcastle have a scrum inside the Warriors half.

57mins: Trent Hodkinson puts in a great kick but the Warriors win the race to the ball. On the Fourth tackle Issac  Luke makes a mistake.  

56mins: Kieran Foran throws a short-ball to Bunty Afoa and the ball goes to ground. On the next play the Knights win a penalty and Dane Gagai takes a quick tap. 

55mins: The Warriors win a penalty. 

55mins: David Fusitu'a is heading off and Issac Luke is on. 

54mins: Time is off once more as Fus isdown injured. He an into the shoulder of Daniel Saifiti. Looks like he has hurt his mouth or nose.

53mins: It looks like Nathan Ross might have a back fracture. Knights kick on the last. 

52mins: The Warriors are close to the line. They go wide and they throw the ball out to an unmarked David Fusitu'a who dives over. But the pass goes forward. 

51mins: The Warriors win a penalty late in the set. 

51mins: Ross is lying on the ground and the mei-cab has arrived to take him away. The Warriors currently have the ball. 

50mins: The Warriors kick high on the last and the players rush up and put Chanel Mata'utia under pressure. 

49mins: He is heading off the field and Sam Stone replaces the injured flyer. 

48mins: Ross is still struggling and looks in lots of pain. 

48mins: Time is off as Nathan Ross is down injured. 

47mins: The Knights continue to attack and the Warriors remain under the pump. The Knights kick and rush up on the Warriors back three. 

46mins: The Warriors feed the scrum and this is a rare, a scum reset. 

45mins: The Knights stuff up the last play and the Warriors survive the onslaught. 

43mins: The knights attack on the last an get a fresh set of six. 

42mins: Nathaniel Roache is back on the field. 

41mins: Good start by the Warriors in the second half as they force a repeat set. 

40mins: The Knights get the second half started in Newcastle. When the Warriors have tried at the break, they have gone onto lose which is not good for the away side whose season is on the line. The Knights are on track to claim back-to-back wins for the first time since 2015. 

HALFTIME: The Knights got off to a fast start and they have been rewarded with a 16-4 halftime lead. This is shocking by the Warriors. Fans on social media are not happy. Changes will have to be made if they can't fix this.

39mins: PENALTY GOAL KNIGHTS: No mistake by Hodkinson and the Knights now lead by two-converted tries. 

37mins: Another penalty to the Knights right in front of the posts and they are going for two again? 

36mins: Issac Luke gets the match back underway and it goes out on the full. The Knights have a penalty on the halfway line. 

35mins: PENALTY GOAL KNIGHTS: Hodkinson lands the goal and the Knights lead by 10 in Newcastle. 14-4 to the home-side. 

34mins: The Knights are going for goal despite having all the momentum which confuses me.

33mins: The Knights are metres from the line, and the ball goes to ground, but the home side win a penalty as the ball was deliberately knocked down.

32mins: The Knights go on the attack and the ball goes to ground and the Warriors counter. But as the Warriors look for the break, Mason Lino drops the ball. 

31mins: Issac Luke kicks early in the set looking for a 40/20 but it lands nowhere near the sideline and Ken Sio returns the ball. On the second tackle, Kieran Foran is struggling and the Knights run straight at the struggling five-eighth.

30mins: Brock Lamb kicks the ball into touch and both sides will have a quick breather. 

29mins: Kieran Foran chips the ball on the last and it lands right in front of Ken Sio. 

28mins: Time is off as Jacob Saifiti has hurt his neck. 

27mins: Ben Matulino hits the ball up and has made a massive impact since he came on the field. Great yards by the Warriors who eventually get the kick away but it lands straight into the hands of Nathan Ross. 

26mins: From the sideline and the conversion goes wide. The Knights lead 12-4. 

24mins: TRY WARRIORS: David Fusitu'a goes over and has his first try since round 11. The Warriors spread the ball right and Fus dives over in the corner but looks like he hurt himself on the landing. 

24mins: Another penalty goes to the Warriors right in front of the posts. 

23mins: Time is off as a Knights player gets some treatment. The Warriors have the ball 25 out from the line. 

22mins: The Warriors have been let off the hook as Lachlan Fitzgibbon makes a mistake in the play-the-ball. It looked fine in my opinion. 

21mins: Now another penalty goes to the home side. They are looking good so far. 

20mins: The Warriors kick on the last. One of the better sets this game. 

19mins: Dane Gagai breaks the line and nearly goes again but Jacob Lillyman saves the day. On the last, the Knights kick and RTS dives on the ball. The Warriors then win a penalty as the Knights faield to release. 

17mins: The Knights are tackled 30 out on the last tackle and time is stopepd as Bunty Afoa heads off the field with an arm injury. 

16mins: The Warriors get to tackle five and then the away side make a mistake in the play-the-ball. Newcastle survives that attack. 

15mins: Josh King hits the ball up and he drops the ball in the tackle. Warriors scrum just inside their half. 

14mins: Another poor kick on the last tackle and the Knights run the ball back with urgency. 

13mins: The Warriors finally win a penalty. 

12mins: The Knights complete another set and Tuivasa-Sheck returns the ball. After three tackles, all the Warriors players are finally onside. 

11mins: Trent Hodkinson lands his second conversion and now has 600 NRL career points. 

10mins: TRY KNIGHTS: The try went up as 'no try' and the call is overturned and Barnett has his second. Poor defence by the Warriors, who already looked tired. 

9mins: The Knight get inside the 10 and Mitch Barnett powers his way over the line and the Knights are claiming another one. 

8mins: Another penalty to Newcastle as the Warriors are caught inside the 10 on the fourth tackle. 

7mins: No mistake by Trent Hodkinson and the Knights lead 6-0 early in Newcastle. 

5mins: TRY KNIGHTS: Mitch Barnett scores the first try of the game. The Knights go from right to left and Barnett catches the ball with nobody marking him he and runs straight over the line. 

4mins: Newcastle attack up the middle from the scrum. On the fourth tackle Natahn Ross runs thorugh and RTS makes a try-saving tackle. 

3mins: The Warriors have a seven-tackle set and on the third tackle Ken Maumalo drops the ball. Not a great start by both sides. 

2mins: Penalty to the Knights for not releasing. They make some good metres and get to the 30-metre line on the last. The home side kick the ball and it goes dead-in-goal. 

1mins: The Warriors are right in ron of the line after the first tackle. Kieran Foran kicks on the last and the Knights just get to the ball first. Not a great kick. 

KICKOFF: We are underway in Newcastle. The Warriors get the match started and Ken Sio drops the ball right from the kickoff. 

4:58 pm: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck leads the Warriors out onto the field. 

4:56 pm: The last time the Warriors faced the Knights, the Warriors won 26-22 back in round one. 

4:50 pm: The Warriors have made a number of changes to their squad for this must-win clash. Jazz Tevaga will play in his first match of the season, while Nathaniel Roache makes his return to the side. 

Hello and welcome to live updates of the Newcastle Knights hosting the New Zealand Warriors at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.

We bring you live streaming written commentary, video highlights (be sure to refresh your browser) and all the action. VIDEO will be available as soon as the final whistle goes.

Commentary will start from around 4:50 pm (NZT). In the meantime check out the video above as Stephen Kearney talks about the importance of th must-win clash against Newcastle. 

Lineups

Knights

1. Nathan Ross, 2. Ken Sio, 3. Dane Gagai, 4. Peter Mata’utia, 21. Chanel Mata'utia, 6. Brock Lamb, 7. Trent Hodkinson, 8. Daniel Saifiti, 9. Jamie Buhrer, 10. Josh King, 11. Sione Mata’utia, 16. Lachlan Fitzgibbon, 13. Mitch Barnett

Interchange: 14. Danny Levi, 15. Luke Yates, 17. Jacob Saifiti, 19. Sam Stone

Warriors

1. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 2. David Fusitu'a, 3. Blake Ayshford, 4. Solomone Kata, 5. Ken Maumalo, 6.Kieran Foran, 7. Mason Lino, 8. Jacob Lillyman, 9. Issac Luke, 15. Sam Lisone, 13. Simon Mannering, 12. Bunty Afoa, 18. Jazz Tevaga
 
Interchange: 10. Ben Matulino, 11. Isaiah Papalii, 17. James Bell, 21. Nathaniel Roache

Match facts and stats

Referees: Chris Sutton and Chris James

Sideline Officials: Russell Turner and Nick Morel

Review Officials: Bryan Norrie and Bernard Sutton

The Vodafone Warriors have won the last four clashes but the Knights have won two of the last three matches in Newcastle (2014 and 2015).

Past meetings

*Head to head: Played 37, Knights 17, Warriors s 19, Drawn 1

In Newcastle: Played 16, Knights 9, Warriors 7, Drawn 0

Last time played: Warriors 26 def Knights 22, March 5, 2017

Last time in Newcastle: Warriors 50 def Knights 14, June 11, 2016

Head-to-head: Knights - $2.05 Warriors - $1.70

*Stats from NRL.com

Pre-match banter - Warriors supporters suffer the most in club's inability to produce finals football - Tawera Nikau

Former Kiwis forward Tawera Nikau feels for Warriors fans as the club is set to miss the finals for a sixth-straight year.

The Warriors still have a mathematical chance of making the finals for the first time since 2011, but it's unlikely they will end their hoodoo.

The beleaguered club will need to win their final five games of the season, while having a number of results going their way.

Nikau, who played 19 Tests for the Kiwis between 1989 and 1997, stressed that players need to be more accountable if the Warriors are to make the finals again.

"I feel really sad for the Warriors' supporters because every year it is the same thing, 'we are going to do this, we are going to make the top four' and it doesn't eventuate," Nikau told Trackside Radio.

"Einstein's definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result, and that isn't happening.

"What it comes back to is the player being accountable for their performances.

"If I'm a professional rugby league player and I don't do my job, I should be kicked back to reserve grade. If you can't do your job, maybe you should go do something else, 'cause at the end of the day that is what you get paid to do.

"You are supposed to perform for 80 minutes a week, so the challenge is what I can do as a player to do the best possible job every week.

"For me, a few players in the Warriors have let their teammates down every week."

Nikau was a part of the Melbourne Storm side which won the club's first title in 1999. One of his teammates was current Warriors coach Stephen Kearney.

The lock-forward played a big role in the match, inspiring the Storm's 20-18 win over the Dragons - who held a 14-0 lead at the break.

Nikau said Kearney needs to start making some tough calls and build a solid forward pack if the Warriors are to once again be a force to be reckoned with.

"I know Stephen has been in the Brisbane and Melbourne system, but it takes time to effect change and if players are not performing they need to be moved on and he will have to make some tough calls.

"If you look at the recruitment for next year, they have signed Tohu Harris and Levivaha Pulu - two back rowers and nobody else, nobody with any substance.

"One thing I know having played in the forwards is that you have to lay a foundation. You have to lay a solid foundation up front to control the rucks before your backs can do any work and for me, the Warriors have not delivered up front this year.

"Ben Matulino is leaving next year and you haven't got anybody to replace him next year. Kieran Foran is going so you are losing some leadership, Ryan Hoffman is going and Simon Mannering is thwarting away.

"I think they are struggling in the front row department, they're struggling in the forward pack. Tohu will add some punch but you need some go-forward through the middle."

The Warriors face the last-place Newcastle Knights on Saturday afternoon with plenty on the line for both sides.

The Warriors will be hoping to snap a four-game losing streak while picking up a rare win without halfback Shaun Johnson. The Knights will be hunting back-to-back wins for the first time since 2015, after dethroning the Dragons 21-14 last week.

With the season all but over for the Warriors, Nikau believes this is a good opportunity for the players to show why they deserve a spot in the squad for 2018.

"In terms of the players, it is a good chance for some of the player to stake their claim for next year.

"They are coming up against the Knights, who are the wooden spooners, but in saying that we saw the Knights dispose of the Dragons last week.

"Newcastle is a team that never give up, they are right in there until the end of the game - although they have been at the bottom of the table, there have been a few games they lost in the final minutes.

"Lots of the players are playing for credibility in Stephen Kearney's eyes, so as a player you want to go out there and challenge yourself.

"It will be interesting to see how the Warriors perform against the bottom side in the competition."

Newshub.