Injuries bite Vodafone Warriors again for final match

Injuries force more shuffling for last game of season

Author: Richard Becht & photosport.nz
Timestamp: Tue 31 Aug 2021, 03:05 PM

Injuries have forced head coach Nathan Brown to make more changes for the Vodafone Warriors’ season-ending 25th-round NRL match against the Gold Coast Titans at Cbus Super Stadium in Robina on Sunday (2.00pm kick-off local time; 4.00pm NZT).

Veteran Chad Townsend’s troublesome right shoulder injury has ruled him out of making a farewell appearance to end his second stint with the club meaning twin left footers Sean O’Sullivan and Chanel Harris-Tavita will line up in the halves this week.

On top of that the Vodafone Warriors will be without interchange prop Bunty Afoa after he picked up a hamstring injury at training today.

The enforced halves change caps a challenging first year for Brown with injury enabling him to start with the same playmaking combination for three games or more on end just twice this season.

After losing Harris-Tavita with a serious foot injury in the second-round match against the Newcastle Knights, O’Sullivan and Kodi Nikorima were the starting halves for the next four games against Canberra, the Sydney Roosters, Manly Warringah and St George Illawarra.

Round 25 - Round 25 - Sunday 5 Sep

Full Time

Titans

Warriors

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Titans is number 1 Jayden Campbell

Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Reece Walsh
Winger for Titans is number 2 Phillip Sami

Winger for Warriors is number 2 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
Centre for Titans is number 3 Brian Kelly

Centre for Warriors is number 3 Peta Hiku
Centre for Titans is number 4 Patrick Herbert

Centre for Warriors is number 4 Rocco Berry
Winger for Titans is number 5 Corey Thompson

Winger for Warriors is number 5 Marcelo Montoya
Five-Eighth for Titans is number 6 Tyrone Peachey

Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Chanel Harris-Tavita
Halfback for Titans is number 7 Jamal Fogarty

Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Sean O'Sullivan

Forwards

Prop for Titans is number 8 Jarrod Wallace

Prop for Warriors is number 8 Addin Fonua-Blake
Hooker for Titans is number 9 Mitch Rein

Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde Egan
Prop for Titans is number 10 Moeaki Fotuaika

Prop for Warriors is number 10 Matthew Lodge
2nd Row for Titans is number 12 Beau Fermor

2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Josh Curran
2nd Row for Titans is number 17 Sam McIntyre

2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Euan Aitken
Lock for Titans is number 13 Tino Fa'asuamaleaui

Lock for Warriors is number 13 Bayley Sironen

Interchange

Interchange for Titans is number 14 Erin Clark

Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Eliesa Katoa
Interchange for Titans is number 15 David Fifita

Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Kane Evans
Interchange for Titans is number 16 Jaimin Jolliffe

Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Jamayne Taunoa-Brown
Interchange for Titans is number 19 Sam Lisone

Interchange for Warriors is number 18 Jazz Tevaga

Reserves

Reserve for Titans is number 20 Toby Sexton

Reserve for Warriors is number 14 Kodi Nikorima

Match Officials

Referee: Ashley Klein
Touch Judge: Liam Kennedy
Touch Judge: Belinda Sharpe
Senior Review Official: Alan Shortall

Last updated: 9/7/2024 12:26:43 PM

When Harris-Tavita returned from his foot injury, he and Nikorima were restored in the halves for five straight games against Manly Warringah, Parramatta, Wests Tigers, North Queensland and Melbourne before Harris-Tavita was again out of action with a pectoral injury.

At other times the starting halves named on game day have been Nikorima and Bayley Sironen, Nikorima and Walsh, Townsend and O'Sullivan, Townsend and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Townsend and Nikorima, O’Sullivan and Peta Hiku and Townsend and Harris-Tavita.

Townsend leaves with a total of 46 games for the Vodafone Warriors with this term limited to just five matches.

Another player farewelling the club is experienced centre Peta Hiku, who will be making his 73rd appearance on Sunday.

Midseason signing Matt Lodge is free to play after beating a grade one dangerous contact charge at last night's judiciary hearing.