NRL: Warriors name unchanged starting side against Newcastle

  • 07/08/2018

Stephen Kearney has shown faith in the NZ Warriors side that held on late to beat the St George Dragons 18-12 last Saturday.

The Warriors host the Newcastle Knights on Friday night in Auckland, looking to go within one win of securing NRL playoff football for the first time since 2011.

Coach Kearney has named an unchanged starting line-up from that which took the park at Illawarra over the weekend, while also picking the required eight-man bench.

Kiwi Peta Hiku has been named in the 17 jersey for the clash, perhaps a signal that he will return to the side against Newcastle.

Off-contract hooker Issac Luke will play his 250th NRL game, if he recovers from a calf complaint.

A win for the Warriors will take them six points above the ninth-placed Wests Tigers, who play the Canberra Raiders on Sunday.

With just four rounds remaining, the Warriors can guarantee a spot in the playoffs with two more victories.

The Auckland-based club currently sit in eighth, on 26-points, equal with both the Cronulla Sharks and Brisbane Broncos.

If results go their way this weekend, Stephen Kearney's side could find themselves as high as sixth, with the Broncos and Sharks facing North Queensland and the Melbourne Storm respectively.

Tohu Harris remains in the medical ward, after undergoing minor knee surgery last week – there is no timeline on when he is expected back.

The Knights have had their best season in recent memory, scoring eight wins from 20 games, but the NSW club is out of the playoff hunt.

Warriors: 1-Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 2-David Fusitu'a, 3-Gerard Beale, 4-Solomone Kata, 5-Ken Maumalo, 6-Blake Green, 7-Shaun Johnson, 8-James Gavet, 9-Issac Luke, 10-Agnatius Paasi, 11-Isaiah Papali'i, 12-Adam Blair, 13-Simon Mannering 

Interchange (four to be ommitted): 14-Jazz Tevaga, 15-Leivaha Pulu, 16-Bunty Afoa, 17-Peta Hiku, 18-Anthony Gelling, 20-Joseph Vuna, 21-Chris Satae, 22-Karl Lawton.

Newshub.

Join us at 8pm Friday for live updates of the Warriors vs Knights NRL clash.