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Matty Johns backs ‘fresher’ Knights to oust Warriors at Eden Park
Sport Nation • September 18th, 2026 11:56 am
Jabob Laban scored a try against the Knights at Go Media Stadium in August | Photo: Brent Phibbs/Photosport
Fox Sports commentator and former Knight Matty Johns believes Newcastle's fresher legs could prove decisive against the Warriors at Eden Park, potentially sending Newcastle into next week’s semi-final against the Panthers.
The Knights had their final bye in Round 27, while the Warriors’ last break came way back in Round 18.
Since then, Andrew Webster’s side has played 10 straight games and lost key players including Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Jackson Ford, Luke Metcalf and Leka Halasima to injury.
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak celebrates scoring a try with Leka Halasima | Photo: Marty Melville/Photosport
“I just think the Knights are fresher,” Johns told Sport Nation Afternoons, after indicating he expects another dominant performance from Knights fullback Kalyn Ponga.
Watene-Zelezniak and Halasima are named in the reserves, with a chance to play pending their status after contact training.
Watene-Zelezniak suffered a broken clavicle while attempting to score a try against South Sydney but is pushing to return for the crucial clash.
On Thursday, Warriors assistant coach Slade Griffin told Sport Nation that Watene-Zelezniak had come through training this week but still had boxes to tick.
Halasima’s return remains less certain, with Griffin warned the Warriors could not “muck around” with a soft tissue injury.
It could leave Webster with a major selection headache if either are cleared to return.
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad has filled in on the right wing, while Taine Tuaupiki has remained at fullback, having scored all of the Warriors’ points in last week’s loss to the Dolphins.
Johns believes Justin Holbrook has revolutionised the team’s style in recent weeks since losing Trey Mooney and Jacob Saifiti by designing play “that avoids that centre field war.”
That style of play is designed around Ponga’s field position.
“One of the things he's done very well is say to Kalyn Ponga, ‘Kalyn, don't go chasing the ball, we'll bring the ball to you in the sweet spot', and they do that.”
Kalyn Ponga | Photo: Jono Searle/AAP
Knights second-rower Dylan Lucas also remains in the reserves and has until Saturday to prove his fitness for a shock return from a broken ankle sustained in Round 21.
The elimination match was moved from the Warriors’ spiritual home at Go Media Stadium to the iconic Eden Park to accommodate an extra 25,000 fans - and sold out in just 10 minutes.
Johns believes the change of venue could work in Newcastle’s favour, especially as the Warriors have only won one of their six games at Eden Park.
“I tell you now the Newcastle boys are pumped that it's moved to Eden Park. They're there, they can't wait to play there.”
Andrew Webster on the Knights challenge at Eden Park | Sport Nation
With the entire country expected to continue getting behind the Warriors, Johns believes the weight of expectation could work against them.
“I was sitting there thinking to myself, ‘who's under the most pressure here, is it the Knights or the Wahs?’ and I said, ‘well it's the Wahs because of the very fact that they've got the whole country behind them.’
“I would say that over here in Australia, if their team is eliminated, I would say they're on the Wahs bandwagon.”
Tune into Sport Nation for live commentary of the NZ Warriors all season long - download the app today on Google Play and the App Store.
Listen to the full interview below:
