Same Warriors' 17 to face Newcastle in NRL

Issac Luke will play his 200th NRL game in an unchanged Warriors side to face Newcastle.

The Warriors are sticking with a winning side to face NRL cellar dwellers Newcastle.

Coach Andrew McFadden has maintained the same starting 13 and bench who beat Brisbane 36-18 in Auckland for Saturday's clash at Hunter Stadium.

He was reluctant to change the combination who produced arguably their best performance of what has been a stuttering campaign.

Now their challenge is to back up with successive wins, he said, something they haven't achieved since round five.

"It's really good to have that continuity for a change, being able to name the same side," he said.

"But it's a really difficult road trip going to Newcastle and we're going to need everyone on deck."

Despite the Knights' record of one win from 13 games, McFadden reckoned the 5-7 Warriors would be braced for a battle at a venue they had lost at on their past two visits.

Hooker Issac Luke will play his 200th NRL game, having achieved 188 of them with South Sydney.

The 29-year-old Kiwi hooker will become the fourth member of the six starting forwards to raise a double century, joining captain Ryan Hoffman, Simon Mannering and Jacob Lillyman. Prop Ben Matulino isn't far behind on 185.

Warriors: Tuimoala Lolohea, David Fusitua, Blake Ayshford, Solomone Kata, Manu Vatuvei, Thomas Leuluai, Shaun Johnson, Jacob Lillyman, Issac Luke, Ben Matulino, Bodene Thompson, Ryan Hoffman (capt), Simon Mannering. Res: Albert Vete, Nathaniel Roache, Sam Lisone, Charlie Gubb.


Share

2 min read

Published

Source: AAP


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world