The New Zealand Warriors and the Newcastle Knights are set to clash in a high-stakes NRL semifinal at Auckland's Eden Park on Sunday, with a 4:05pm AEST kick-off deciding who will advance to the preliminary finals to face the Penrith Panthers at Accor Stadium next weekend. The loser's 2026 premiership campaign ends here.
It is a fixture loaded with significance for both clubs. The Warriors, playing at their new home venue of Eden Park, arrive with home-ground advantage and a dominant record over the Knights in 2026, while Newcastle will lean heavily on the individual brilliance of fullback Kalyn Ponga to keep their season alive.
Warriors Boosted by Halasima Return and Watene-Zelezniak Recall
The Warriors have received welcome news ahead of kick-off, with young gun Leka Halasima confirmed to start after fitness concerns threatened his availability. The 20-year-old had experienced hamstring tightness in the lead-up to last weekend's loss to the Dolphins and was initially listed in jersey 22 on Tuesday. He has since been cleared to take the field, and in doing so will play the 50th NRL game of his career — a milestone for one of the most exciting young talents the competition has seen in recent seasons.
Veteran winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak also returns to the starting side, wearing the No.23 jersey. The experienced campaigner's return adds further depth and composure to the Warriors' outside backs.
The Warriors' full starting line-up reads: Taine Tuaupiki, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Ali Leiataua, Leka Halasima, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Chanel Harris-Tavita, Te Maire Martin, James Fisher-Harris, Wayde Egan, Mitchell Barnett, Kurt Capewell, Jacob Laban, Erin Clark. The interchange features Adam Pompey, Alofiana Khan-Pereira, Sam Healey, Tanner Stowers-Smith, Demitric Vaimauga and Eddie Ieremia-Toeava.
Knights Unchanged but Boosted by Dylan Lucas Return
Newcastle have named an unchanged squad from Tuesday's selection announcement. The Knights have, however, been given a boost by the return of State of Origin representative Dylan Lucas, who had been sidelined after suffering an ankle fracture earlier in the season.
The Knights' starting 13 is: Kalyn Ponga, Dominic Young, Dane Gagai, Bradman Best, Greg Marzhew, Fletcher Sharpe, Sandon Smith, Tyson Frizell, Phoenix Crossland, Cody Hopwood, Jermaine McEwen, Francis Manuleleua, Mat Croker, with Harrison Graham, Lachlan Crouch, Pasami Saulo, Thomas Cant, Fletcher Hunt and Dylan Lucas on the interchange.
Winger Dominic Young will also be one to watch. Either side of a stint at the Roosters, the English-born flyer has proven to be an electric performer on the wing for Newcastle and figures prominently in the Knights' hopes of causing an upset.
Ponga the Key as Knights Chase Finals Glory
As has been the case for much of the 2026 season, Newcastle's fortunes will rise and fall on the shoulders of Kalyn Ponga. The Queensland State of Origin star carried enormous responsibility for the Knights earlier in the year when he shared the creative burden with Dylan Brown, but since Brown suffered an ACL injury, Ponga has become even more central to everything Newcastle do with ball in hand.
The Knights came through the elimination final last week, defeating South Sydney, and the win drew strong praise from club legends and commentators alike. Now they face a Warriors side that has beaten them convincingly twice already in 2026.
Warriors Hold the Edge Heading Into Semifinal
This afternoon's match is the third meeting between the two clubs this season, and the Warriors have won both previous contests comfortably. In Round 3, played in Newcastle, the Warriors ran out 38-12 winners, with the Knights significantly hampered after two players were sin-binned. The second meeting, at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland in Round 26, was a more competitive affair despite Newcastle again suffering from discipline problems — Jacob Saifiti was sent off in just the 12th minute for a high shot that led to a season-ending suspension. Playing most of that match with 12 men, the Knights still pushed the Warriors, ultimately going down 46-32.
Those results give the Warriors clear psychological and statistical momentum heading into Sunday's semifinal.
Elsewhere in the finals picture, the Sydney Roosters booked their place in next weekend's preliminary finals with a dominant victory over Cronulla on Saturday night, setting up a Friday night clash with the Dolphins in Brisbane. The Panthers, meanwhile, secured their own berth last Sunday, defeating the Roosters 19-12 in a tightly contested encounter, and now await the winner of today's Warriors-Knights semifinal.
The match will be officiated by referee Ashley Klein, with touch judges Phil Henderson and Tyson Brough, and Chris Butler serving as the Senior Review Official in the Bunker.
Kick-off is at 4:05pm AEST (6:05pm NZST).
