NRL: Gidley's withdrawal means odds shorten on Warriors

Kurt Gidley. Photo / Getty Images

Is one man worth a 60c swing in the betting odds in a league game?

When Kurt Gidley pulled out of the Newcastle Knights team to play the Warriors at Mt Smart tonight, the sports betting agencies on both sides of the Tasman made a shift of around that amount in the odds, the Warriors now around $1.60 to the Knights' $2.20 for the win after starting even at $1.90.

Gidley is suffering from calf muscle tightness after the State of Origin then backing up for the Knights in a tough game against Parramatta on Sunday.

"Kurt and I spoke after he'd been to see the physio and the reality was his calves are so tight from his workload that they're concerned that it could develop into a situation where he could tear a muscle that would put him out for weeks," said coach Brian Smith.

Gidley is replaced by Shannon McDonnell and Steve Simpson, who is returning from injury lay-off, takes over as captain.

The Knights still have significant firepower sidelined with injury or starting on the way back. Half Scott Dureau suffered a groin injury last weekend which will keep him out for a month, props Ben Cross and Dan Tolar and secondrower Cameron Ciraldo are still some weeks away from a return - if they make one this season - and Luke MacDougall and Cory Paterson are playing lower-grade football this weekend.

The main dangers for the Warriors come from the off-load and line-breaking ability of Simpson and fellow backrower Zeb Taia then the options taken by Jarrod Mullen at halfback.

The Warriors have declared there will not be yet another slow start that lets the opposition gain points and confidence and have reshuffled the starting side to ensure that is thecase.

The Knights club has been involved in fundraising for their former teammate-turned-Warrior Jesse Royal, whose 3-year-old son Matarae was recently diagnosed with a cancer of the immune system.

Mt Smart Stadium, 8.30 tonight

WARRIORS
Wade McKinnon
Kevin Locke
Patrick Ah Van
Simon Mannering
Manu Vatuvei
Lance Hohaia
Stacey Jones
Sam Rapira
Ian Henderson
Steve Price (c)
Lewis Brown
Ben Matulino
Micheal Luck

KNIGHTS
S. McDonnell
James McManus
Junior Sau
Wes Naiqama
Akulia Uate
Ben Rogers
Jarrod Mullen
Mark Taufua
Isaac DeGois
Chris Houston
Steve Simpson (c)
Zeb Taia
Matt Hilder

Warriors: Aaron Heremaia, Russell Packer, Jesse Royal, Jacob Lillyman.

Knights (from): Con Mika, Danny Wicks, Sione Tovo, Keith Lulia, Richie Fa'aoso, Marvin Karawana.