Kiwis coach Michael Maguire is set to stick by Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, despite the prop facing a three-match ban that may sideline him until the knock-out stages of the World Cup.
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The Warriors now boast one of the most formidable front-row partnerships in the game with Matt Lodge and Addin Fonua-Blake posting huge numbers in round 18. Lodge finished atop the weekly VB Hard Earned standings with an index score of 92 in Sunday s gutsy loss to the Panthers, pushing through 80 minutes as a result of his team s high injury toll. And Fonua-Blake - who played 76 minutes - was only four points behind, ranking third with Eel Nathan Brown pipping him on 89. After gaining a mid-season release from the Broncos, Lodge has played two matches for the Warriors and looks to have been rejuvenated.
Newcastle go into their 2021 season opener against the Bulldogs at McDonald Jones Stadium with star recruit Tyson Frizell in their pack and a finals campaign under their belts but lacking all-important momentum. The Knights suffered a third successive defeat in their only 2021 trial against Melbourne, capping a sequence stretching back to their round 20 loss to the Titans which features heavy losing margins of 20 (Storm), 26 (Rabbitohs) and 30 points (Titans). To add injury to insult Newcastle look certain to be without gun fullback Kalyn Ponga until possibly round four. Canterbury, on the other hand, may have avoided another wooden spoon thanks to points difference in 2020 but look capable of flipping the script on their more heralded opponents after a gritty come-from-behind win in their trial against Cronulla.