Second rower Kurt Capewell and prop Bunty Afoa have been named to return for the One New Zealand Warriors’ ninth-round NRL clash against the Knights at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle on Sunday (2.00pm kick-off local time; 4.00pm NZT).
After missing the Anzac Day encounter against Gold Coast following a blow to his throat in the seventh-round match against the Dragons, Capewell makes his 146th appearance to restore the team’s first-choice starting pack.
Afoa has missed the last three fixtures against Manly Warringah, St George Illawarra and Gold Coast after leaving the field with a hamstring injury 25 minutes into the fifth-round win over South Sydney on April 6.
Together Capewell and Afoa provide a major injection of experience to the team with 279 NRL appearances between them.
With Capewell back, four-game rookie Jacob Laban moves back to the interchange after his first starting appearance against the Titans last week.
Match: Knights v Warriors
Round 9 -
home Team
Knights
away Team
Warriors
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Knights is number 1 David ArmstrongFullback for Warriors is number 1 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
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Winger for Knights is number 2 Greg MarzhewWinger for Warriors is number 2 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
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Centre for Knights is number 3 Dane GagaiCentre for Warriors is number 3 Rocco Berry
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Centre for Knights is number 4 Bradman BestCentre for Warriors is number 4 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
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Winger for Knights is number 5 Enari TualaWinger for Warriors is number 5 Marcelo Montoya
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Five-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Tyson GambleFive-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Te Maire Martin
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Halfback for Knights is number 7 Jackson HastingsHalfback for Warriors is number 7 Shaun Johnson
Forwards
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Prop for Knights is number 10 Leo ThompsonProp for Warriors is number 8 Addin Fonua-Blake
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Hooker for Knights is number 9 Jayden BraileyHooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde Egan
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Prop for Knights is number 15 Daniel SaifitiProp for Warriors is number 10 Mitchell Barnett
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2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Dylan Lucas2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Jackson Ford
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2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Kai Pearce-Paul2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Kurt Capewell
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Lock for Knights is number 13 Adam ElliottLock for Warriors is number 13 Tohu Harris
Interchange
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Interchange for Knights is number 14 Phoenix CrosslandInterchange for Warriors is number 14 Dylan Walker
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Interchange for Knights is number 16 Jed CartwrightInterchange for Warriors is number 15 Tom Ale
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Interchange for Knights is number 17 Brodie JonesInterchange for Warriors is number 17 Bunty Afoa
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Interchange for Knights is number 19 Jack HetheringtonInterchange for Warriors is number 18 Adam Pompey
Reserves
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Replacement for Knights is number 21 Thomas CantReplacement for Warriors is number 16 Jacob Laban
Match Officials
- Referee: Chris Butler
- Senior Review Official: Liam Kennedy
Last updated:
Afoa rejoins the interchange alongside Laban, utility Dylan Walker and front rower Tom Ale with Anzac Day debutant prop Zyon Maiu’u (20) moving to the extended bench.
Also named in the 22-man squad are centre Adam Pompey, winger Edward Kosi, fullback Taine Tuaupiki and another 20-year-old prop Tanner Stowers-Smith.
The match against the Knights is the first of three consecutive Sunday games in Australia for the One New Zealand Warriors with the Sydney Roosters to follow at Allianz Stadium on May 12 and then the ‘home’ game against three-time premiers the Penrith Panthers during the NRL’s Magic Round at Suncorp Stadium on May 19.
Both teams go into this week’s contest on the back of indifferent form.
The Warriors have followed their 34-4 fifth-round win over South Sydney with their 22-22 golden point draw with Manly Warringah, a 12-30 reverse against St George Illawarra and an agonising 24-27 loss to the Titans.
After beating the Dragons in round five, the Knights have lost 20-22 to the Roosters and 12-36 to Canterbury-Bankstown but beat the Dolphins 18-14 in Brisbane last Sunday.
The rivals sit one spot apart on the ladder, the Warriors 12th on seven points while the Knights are 13th on six points.
Despite their recent form, the One New Zealand Warriors are to the fore in a number of performance measures.
Fonua-Blake powers up against Titans
After eight rounds they lead all teams for most metres gained (14,964) – almost1000 metres more than the next best – most runs (1655) and most kick return metres (1806). They’re top for most kicks (186), second for total kick metres (4988), first for most decoy runs (428), third for most post-contact metres (4964), second for most line engaged runs (221), second for completion rates (82 per cent), third equal for most tackle breaks (266) and in the top four for possession (52%).
In individual statistics, Addin Fonua-Blake leads all players for most post-contact metres (601) and is third behind fullbacks Dylan Edwards and Tom Trbojevic for most metres (1538).
Shaun Johnson has the best numbers for line engaged runs (83), line break assists (9), kick metres (4637), kicks (163) and attacking kicks (88) and is second for most try assists (8).
On the milestone front, winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak his 198th career game this week leaving him in line to reach his 200th against his original club Penrith.
