A resurgent Warriors side made it three wins from their past four outings with a 24 – 16 win over the Titans on the Gold Coast last week.

In a tight contest the Warriors, who started a short priced favourite due to a significant Origin and injury toll for the Titans, were behind at the break 16 – 14.

It was a game the Warriors may have let slip if played earlier in the year but some patience and poise in attack kept the Titans in their own half for the majority of the second stanza and scoreless, whilst the Warriors crossed twice.

Special Offer: $250 New Zealand Warriors vs Newcastle Knights FREE BET

The win now sees the Warriors within reach of the top eight and with this game the first of five home games over the next seven weeks, they’re well positioned to make their way into the top half of the competition heading into the business end of the season.

Halfback Sean Johnson hobbled of late in the game last week with an ankle injury and whilst named in the starting line-up for this clash, is rated only a 50/50 chance of taking his spot.

He is the driving force for the Warriors in attack and if unable to take the field, will be significant loss for the home-side.

KNIGHTS
Just when the Knights season couldn’t get any worse – it does.

Last week Nathan Tinkler walked away as Owner of the Knights in typically controversial circumstances and Manly’s Daley Cherry-Evans kicked a field in the dying minutes to send the Knights down 15 – 14, their fourth straight loss.

The Knights were courageous against Manly and led for the majority of the match but at the crunch, winning teams now how to get the job done and there just hasn’t been enough winning at Newcastle this year.

The Knights have only scored more than 14 points once in their past five matches and have won one from five on the road.

Despite languishing at the bottom of the table, the Knights will still have two representatives in Wednesday night’s Origin with Darius Boyd on the wing for Queensland and Beau Scott packing down in the forwards for the Blues.

Both will make the trip to NZ and have been named in the side along with Jeremy Smith and centre, Joey Leilua.

Should the Origin reps back up, it gives the Knights their strongest line-up for the year and no excuses but winning just isn’t coming easy for them at the moment.

HEAD TO HEAD
The Warriors have dominated the Knights in recent years, having won six of the last seven matches between the two sides by an average margin of ten points.

With Warriors travelling well at present, there only loss in the past month was a narrow defeat at the hands of a full strength Canterbury side, it’s hard to tip against them.

For a bit of value, Prop Ben Matulino has scored in each of his past three games and will drop back to the second row for this game, meaning he’ll be punching the Knights line a little wider out still and is $3.50 to score a try at any time – not a bad price.

TIP:Warriors 1 – 12

Odds Comparison:

New Zealand Warriors	1.42	1.40	1.38	1.40	1.42	1.42
Newcastle Knights	2.85	3.00	3.00	3.00	2.85	2.90

All odds are subject to change. Odds listed are correct at the time of the latest update.

Teams:

Warriors: Sam Tomkins, David Fusitua, Konrad Hurrell, Ngani Laumape, Manu Vatuvei, Chad Townsend, Shaun Johnson, Jacob Lillyman, Nathan Friend, Suaia Matagi, Jayson Bukuya, Ben Matulino, Simon Mannering. Interchange: Siliva Havili, Sam Rapira, Feleti Mateo, Sebastine Ikahihifo, Tuimoala Lolohea, Agnatius Paasi

Knights: Darius Boyd, James McManus, Dane Gagai, Joey Leilua, Akuila Uate, Jarrod Mullen, Tyrone Roberts, Kade Snowden, Kurt Gidley (c), Willie Mason, Beau Scott, Robbie Rochow, Jeremy Smith. Interchange: Adam Clydsdale, Korbin Sims, Adam Cuthbertson, Chris Houston, David Fa’alogo