NRL round 4 preview: Warriors v Knights tips & best bets | 31/3

Warriors vs Knights NRL R4 best bets

Round 4 – New Zealand Warriors vs Newcastle Knights NRL match preview

Sunday afternoon football for round four of the NRL Premiership kicks off in Auckland with the New Zealand Warriors hosting the Newcastle Knights at Go Media Stadium.

Both sides suffered losses in their first two rounds of this season before the New Zealand Warriors beat the Raiders and the Knights beat the Storm in round three.

Newcastle Knights head coach Adam O’Brien has been forced to replace Leo Thompson (suspension) in the front row, with Daniel Saifiti named to start and Jack Hetherington added to the interchange bench. Centre Dane Gagai has been ruled out with a “medical condition” and his replacement is yet to be confirmed.

Warriors head coach Andrew Webster has also changed his side, replacing Taine Tuaupiki (injured, concussion) at fullback with Roger Tuivasa-Sheck. Wayde Egan has been named to start at hooker, along with Marata Niukore and Dylan Walker, who will come off the interchange bench.

Warriors v Knights NRL R4 team lists

New Zealand Warriors

1. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
3. Rocco Berry
4. Adam Popey
5. Marcelo Montoya
6. Luke Metcalf
7. Shaun Johnson
8. Addin Fonua-Blake
9. Wayde Egan
10. Mitchell Barnett
11. Jackson Ford
12. Kurt Capewell
13. Tohu Harris
14. Freddy Lussick
15. Marata Niukore
16. Bunty Afoa
17. Dylan Walker

Newcastle Knights

1. Kalyn Ponga
2. Thomas Jenkins
3. Dane Gagai
4. Bradman Best
5. Enari Tuala
6. Tyson Gamble
7. Jack Cogger
8. Jacob Saifiti
9. Phoenix Crossland
10. Daniel Saifiti
11. Tyson Frizell
12. Kai Pearce-Paul
13. Adam Elliot
14. Jayden Brailey
15. Mat Croker
16. Jack Hetherington
17. Brodie Jones

Warriors v Knights betting predictions

This is a rematch of last year’s semi-final, and the Knights will be expected to struggle without Thompson and Gagai on the field as the Warriors welcome back Egan, Niukore, and Walker. The Knights have also lost eight of their last nine matches in New Zealand. The Warriors have won three of their last five matches against the Knights and should cover the -8.5 point line to win again ($1.85) on Sunday.

Addin Fonua-Blake is one of the best front-row forwards in the NRL, and in his last twelve months as head coach, Webster has also turned the star middle into a try-scoring machine. The Warriors have designed attacking plays close to the try line brilliantly, setting up attacking shape towards a corner and using Fonua-Blake as the lead runner who crashes over the try line. Having scored in each of his last four matches, Fonua-Blake is great value to score again at any time ($3.60) this Sunday with the top NRL bookmakers.

Luke Metcalf is starting to find his best form early in the season for the Warriors through his agile footwork and electric speed off the line. Metcalf is a brilliant footballer who can simply play what he sees in front of him and find a way to score. Metcalf has scored a try in three of his last five games in New Zealand and should be able to score at any time ($2.75) again this weekend.

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