Warriors vs Knights

Tries to Edward Kosi and Bunty Afoa ensure the hosts go into the sheds in front after falling behind early in Wellington.

The first Friday night double-header of the year sees the Warriors play Newcastle in Wellington, before Penrith faces Brisbane at home to kick off its title ...

Welcome to Wide World of Sports' LIVE blog of Friday night's NRL action, featuring the Panthers, Broncos, W...

Meanwhile, Melbourne flyer Xavier Coates is set to miss one to two games after spraining an SC joint in the Parramatta clash. In news unrelated to the seesawing Warriors-Knights affair, Storm superstar Cameron Munster is expected to miss Melbourne's next two to three games after underdoing surgery today.

The Warriors and Knights have traded blows in the first half, as the score sits 10-6 to the hosts. Kalyn Ponga orchestrated the first try for Lachlan ...

Superstar Kalyn Ponga found the backrower with a smart short ball, and the 28-year-old was able to weave past defenders. The Knights have drawn first blood only two minutes into their clash with the Warriors courtesy of Lachlan Fitzgibbon. In his first NRL game for the Warriors upon return, the former Raider crossed for a four-pointer, handing his the upper hand. The Warriors have scored their first of the night after some impressive ball handling from prop Tohu Harris. The Warriors and Knights have traded blows as the score sits 14-12 to the hosts as Phoenix Crossland has been sent to the bin. Kalyn Ponga was able to tip the ball on to Bradman Best who drew his man in comfortably.

All the action in the NRL opener between the Warriors and Knights.

Josh Curran, and Johnson went close, before Knights prop Adam Elliott was lucky to escape the sin bin, after a late shoulder charge on Walker. Walker delivered the impact Webster had promised and there was some vintage Warriors play for a few minutes, with offloads and flick passes at pace. After all the buildup, it was an anti-climactic start, with Knights back rower Lachlan Fitzgibbon crossing after Nicoll-Klokstad had spilt a bomb. The Warriors had a messy first quarter – struggling to make inroads against swift line speed – but finally got going with Ed Kosi’s 25th minute try. After conceding a try in the first minute their line was only crossed once more, while they responded with four tries of their own. The Warriors will face better teams than the Knights this season, but they now have something to build on.

Just the one change across the teamlists here, with the Warriors losing Dallin Watene-Zelezniak from the initially named side earlier in the week.

Jack Johns Jack Hetherington 17. 1. He's got a calf injury so he'll sit today out, with Edward Kosi coming in to replace him on the wing. Lachlan Fitzgibbon 13. Lachlan Miller 2.

A pair of try-saving tackles in the final 13 minutes ensured the Andrew Webster era at the Warriors got off to a winning start on Friday night, ...

We have got a lot to work on, but I'm really proud of the character of the group." Newcastle now enjoy a nine-day turnaround before facing the Wests Tigers in Round 2, by which time they hope Frizell (head knock) Dane Gagai (hamstring) and Greg Marzhew (hip) will be available for selection again. "We've won the first couple of [Round 1] games previous to this, but I reckon there's more character in this team. But there were three big chunks of resilience that we had to have tonight, and I was really proud of that." A simply incredible try-saving tackle after Kalyn Ponga had carved through the defence. "I am proud of the boys...