=>||SPORT | Rugby_NRL||@!@~: New Zealand Warriors vs Newcastle Knights: Live Stream Online NRL Rugby

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Warriors coach Stephen Kearney has admitted key mid-season Kodi Nikorima took Sunday’s golden point loss to Penrith particularly tough, but he’s backing the livewire playmaking to bounce back against Newcastle.

The Warriors went down 19-18 in a crazy game that had two sin-binnings and refereeing blunders that put a dampener on the result.

Read on to get the lowdown on the crunch clash between the Knights and Warriors in the Saturday Selection, brought to you by Bundaberg Rum.

“We know Kodi can provide a great deal of threat when he runs the footy,” Kearney said.

“He plays alongside (Blake) Greeny in terms of co-ordinating the attack with Roger (Tuivasa-Sheck). I want him to do that consistently.

“I think he’s hurting, he knows he could’ve been a lot better on Sunday.”

Saturday’s clash with the Knights at McDonald Jones Stadium looms as a crucial game for the Kearney’s men with the home side missing a host of talent to Origin and injury including Mitchell Pearce, David Klemmer, Kalyn Ponga, Tim Glasby and Daniel Saifiti.

The Warriors sit in 13th on the ladder, two wins outside the top eight, and have managed just three wins from their past 10 games.

But the good news is that all three of these wins have come away from their home ground of Mt Smart Stadium.

The last time these two sides met was in Round 8, the Knights running out 36-18 winners.

Kearney praised the fifth-placed Knights’ and said he was looking forward to the Newcastle atmosphere.

“They’ve been playing really good footy over the past month and a bit,” Kearney said.

“Even when Kalyn’s not in there they’re playing with a great deal of confidence.

“It presents a wonderful challenge for us, one we’re looking forward to.

“I know they’re getting really good crowds so it’ll be a great occasion.”