Friday’s NRL 2018 Round 22 match is between New Zealand Warriors and Newcastle Knights. The opening kick is set to commence at 18:00 local time with the game to be played at Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland. The home team New Zealand Warriors are the favourites for the match.

View our preview and teams for the game between New Zealand Warriors and Newcastle Knights.

When: 18:00 | Friday 10/08/2018

Where: Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland

Preview:

The Warriors back in New Zealand will be keen to take it to the Knights after a fantastic display against the Dragons.

In the context of their season, the Warriors can still make a late charge for the top 4 provided they get the job done.

Their inspirational skipper RTS was outstanding and the inclusions of Issac Luke and Adam Blair back into the team makes a huge difference.

Now all they need is Tohu Harris and they will be at full strength.

Not too sure the Knights can say the same with Mitchell Pearce leaving the field with a bad cork last week and with the short turnaround and an international flight, he’ll find it extremely hard to play.

If they are to take it to the Warriors, I think he needs to be on the field.

KEY BATTLE: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck v Kalyn Ponga

I am however, looking forward to the battle of the exciting number 1s.

Our highlight reel has been littered with both these superstars this year and expect more to come.

Both possess some fancy foot work and silky skills and are sure to be heavily involved.

The Verdict

I see the Warriors, who lead the Knights 10-4 since 2010, having too much advantage to play for and will expect them to get the job done.

Unibet Odds:

New Zealand Warriors at $1.38

Newcastle Knights at $3.10

Odds:

Tip: New Zealand Warriors at $1.38

Value Tip: First Try Scorer: Ken Maumalo at $10.00

More Info:

Teams:

New Zealand 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: 14 Jazz Tevaga, 15 Leivaha Pulu, 16 Bunty Afoa, 17 Peta Hiku

Reserves: 18 Anthony Gelling, 20 Joseph Vuna, 21 Chris Satae, 22 Karl Lawton.

Newcastle Knights:

1 Kalyn Ponga, 2 Ken Sio, 3 Sione Mata’utia, 4 Cory Denniss, 5 Shaun Kenny-Dowall, 6 Jack Cogger, 7 Mitchell Pearce (c), 8 Herman Ese’ese, 9 Danny Levi, 10 Daniel Saifiti, 11 Lachlan Fitzgibbon, 12 Mitch Barnett, 13 Aidan Guerra

Interchange: 14 Jamie Buhrer (c), 15 Chris Heighington, 16 Pasami Saulo, 17 JJ Felise

Reserves: 18 Nick Meaney, 19 Josh King, 20 Brock Lamb, 21 Luke Yates.

NRL News:

Issac Luke has set his sights on 300 NRL matches but whether he achieves it with the Warriors remains a guessing game.

Veteran hooker Luke will play his 250th game against Newcastle in Auckland on Friday, hoping to maintain the form that has helped propel the Warriors towards the finals.

Despite playing close to the best football of his career in the third and final season of his Warriors contract, Luke’s retention is far from assured.

The 31-year-old has insisted for several weeks he wants to stay in Auckland, brushing aside links with Super League or a return to Australia, where he played nine seasons at South Sydney.

He admitted progress in contract talks has been sluggish.

“I think I’ve expressed enough that I want to stay but that’s up to the club and my manager and I’ll let them figure that out,” he said.

“I’m just happy to be able to play football. I’m pretty happy with how I’m going.”

Father-of-five Luke says he is settled in Auckland and despite ongoing shoulder and calf muscle issues, he has set his sights on at least two more seasons in the NRL.

“I had a talk about it at my 200th – I wanted to hit 250. I’m here, now I want to get to 300.”

Stephen Kearney would only say that salary cap sensitive negotiations with Luke were the “same” as when he was quizzed by media last month.

Kearney expressed admiration for the nuggety Kiwis international, who has only missed two games this season – a 32-0 thrashing from the Sydney Roosters and the recent 36-12 humbling by the Gold Coast Titans.

The Titans result was followed by last week’s 18-12 upset of St George Illawarra in Wollongong, when Luke was as influential as ever.

“I was supposed to fly over on a Thursday (before the Dragons game), giving my injury as much time as possible. Plus we had a new baby,” Luke said.

“But I was like ‘no, get me over there now because I have to sort some of my boys out’.”