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

March 30, 2024 5:26 am.by Jack Hudson

New Zealand Warriors vs Newcastle Knights NRL Round 4 Preview


New Zealand Warriors vs Newcastle Knights NRL Betting Odds & Game Info
Best odds	Warriors -277.78 at Bet365 \| Knights +210 at Neds
When	Sunday, March 31 \| 4:05pm AEST
Where	GO Media Stadium, Auckland
Last time they met	Warriors 40–10 Knights (Rd 2, 2023)
Watch live	Fox Sports, Kayo

Warriors vs Knights NRL R4 best bets

Warriors -8.5

-117.65
@
PlayUp

Addin Fonua-Blake anytime tryscorer

+260
@
Neds

Luke Metcalf anytime tryscorer

+175
@
Bet365

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

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
Rocco Berry
Adam Popey
Marcelo Montoya
Luke Metcalf
Shaun Johnson
Addin Fonua-Blake
Wayde Egan
Mitchell Barnett
Jackson Ford
Kurt Capewell
Tohu Harris
Freddy Lussick
Marata Niukore
Bunty Afoa
Dylan Walker

Newcastle Knights

Kalyn Ponga
Thomas Jenkins
Dane Gagai
Bradman Best
Enari Tuala
Tyson Gamble
Jack Cogger
Jacob Saifiti
Phoenix Crossland
Daniel Saifiti
Tyson Frizell
Kai Pearce-Paul
Adam Elliot
Jayden Brailey
Mat Croker
Jack Hetherington
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.