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Warriors v Raiders: Curran in, CHT out; Frawley to half

If Reece Walsh had landed his last two kicks at goal last weekend, this match would have featured two teams in a tie for eighth.

Instead, the Raiders are equal eighth but probably need two wins and one Cronulla loss to reach the finals due to an inferior points differential.

The Warriors - beaten by Brisbane last weekend - need two wins and for a host of other things to go their way if they're to continue beyond round 25.

Irrespective of whether these teams reach the finals, pride will ensure this match is keenly contested.

The rundown

Team news

Warriors: Josh Curran (head knock) is in doubt with a short five-day turnaround not helping his cause this week.

Eliesa Katoa (foot) has been named but is in some doubt. 

Rocco Berry (hamstring) and Kane Evans are included in the reserves after returns from injury but are unlikely to be late inclusions.

Sean O'Sullivan is the new five-eighth with Chanel Harris-Tavita out of the side for a week with a foot injury.

Jamayne Taunoa-Brown and Jack Murchie dropped out of the playing squad on Friday.

The Warriors have lost seven games by six points or less in 2021.

Raiders: No further changes are expected with Matt Frawley to start at halfback with Sam Williams relegated to the reserves.

Jordan Rapana holds the fullback spot for now but Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad is likely to make his way back into the starting side within the next fortnight.

Corey Horsburgh returns from his two-week stint on loan to the Bulldogs and slots onto the bench with Dunamis Lui dropping out.

Semi Valemai and Trey Mooney were omitted from the reserves 24 hours before kick-off.

Raiders coach Ricky Stuart can achieve his 100th coaching victory for the club.

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Reece Walsh
    Fullback for Raiders is number 1 Jordan Rapana
  • Winger for Warriors is number 2 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
    Winger for Raiders is number 2 Bailey Simonsson
  • Centre for Warriors is number 3 Peta Hiku
    Centre for Raiders is number 3 Sebastian Kris
  • Centre for Warriors is number 20 Rocco Berry
    Centre for Raiders is number 4 Matthew Timoko
  • Winger for Warriors is number 5 Marcelo Montoya
    Winger for Raiders is number 5 Harley Smith-Shields
  • Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Sean O'Sullivan
    Five-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Jack Wighton
  • Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Chad Townsend
    Halfback for Raiders is number 7 Matt Frawley

Forwards

  • Prop for Warriors is number 8 Addin Fonua-Blake
    Prop for Raiders is number 8 Josh Papalii
  • Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde Egan
    Hooker for Raiders is number 9 Josh Hodgson
  • Prop for Warriors is number 10 Matthew Lodge
    Prop for Raiders is number 10 Joseph Tapine
  • 2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Josh Curran
    2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 Hudson Young
  • 2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Euan Aitken
    2nd Row for Raiders is number 12 Elliott Whitehead
  • Lock for Warriors is number 13 Bayley Sironen
    Lock for Raiders is number 13 Ryan Sutton

Interchange

  • Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Kodi Nikorima
    Interchange for Raiders is number 14 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
  • Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Bunty Afoa
    Interchange for Raiders is number 15 Emre Guler
  • Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Eliesa Katoa
    Interchange for Raiders is number 16 Corey Horsburgh
  • Interchange for Warriors is number 21 Kane Evans
    Interchange for Raiders is number 17 Siliva Havili

Reserves

  • Reserve for Warriors is number 17 Jazz Tevaga
    Reserve for Raiders is number 19 Dunamis Lui

Match Officials

  • Referee: Ben Cummins
  • Touch Judge: Dave Munro
  • Touch Judge: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
  • Senior Review Official: Grant Atkins

Last updated:

Key match-up

Addin Fonua-Blake v Josh Papalii. There's sure to be a ferocious battle, and plenty of respect, when this pair meet on the field. Two of the premier big men in the NRL, they love nothing more than putting their team on their back and carrying them to victory.

Stat attack

Veteran winger Jordan Rapana is having his best season in years, with his performances while filling in at fullback a highlight. Rapana ranks second in tackle busts with 118, fourth for total runs with 365 and seventh in run meters with 3231.

 

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Acknowledgement of Country

The New Zealand Warriors honour the mana of the Indigenous peoples of Aotearoa, Australia and the Pacific. We acknowledge the traditional kaitiaki of the lands, elders past and present, their stories, their traditions, their mamae and their mana motuhake.

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