TWL Rd 3 Preview: Wahs, Knights hunt rare 3-0 start in battle of in-form, injury-hit teams

It's a battle of two unbeaten surprise packets in Newcastle on Saturday afternoon.

WARRIORS V NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS – 5.00PM (NZT)/3.00PM (AEDT) SATURDAY, MARCH 21 @ MCDONALD JONES STADIUM, NEWCASTLE

The Storylines: Two of only four teams to win in the opening two rounds square off in Newcastle on Saturday afternoon – but both are navigating injury setbacks at fullback and in the halves.

The Warriors are 2-0 for just the fourth time in their history, putting 40-plus on contenders Sydney Roosters and Canberra at home. Their defensive commitment, fitness, execution and ability to capitalise on attacking opportunities has been central to the twin runaway wins.

Tanah Boyd and Jackson Ford – essentially in the starting side for ACL duo Luke Metcalf and Mitch Barnett – have personified the Warriors’ start to the season, raking in plaudits and Dally M votes. James Fisher-Harris and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck have also been immense over the first two weeks, while Leka Halasima exploded with a two-try, 80-minute performance against the Raiders.

The Knights have been arguably the surprise packet of the season so far, though the teams they have accounted for – North Queensland and Manly – shape as among the most likely to relieve them of the wooden spoon.

But in an emphatic victory over the Sea Eagles last Sunday, Justin Holbrook’s Knights lost million-dollar men Kalyn Ponga and Dylan Brown to one-month-plus injuries. The Warriors, meanwhile, are without concussed duo Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and Chanel Harris-Tavita, as well as Kurt Capewell, who suffered a calf injury in the warm-up last week.