Confirmed Line-up: One New Zealand Warriors make late switch

Confirmed Line-up: Late switch made to starting side

Author: Richard Becht & photosport.nz
Timestamp: Sun 9 Apr 2023, 05:15 PM

One New Zealand Warriors head coach Andrew Webster has made a late switch for tonight’s sixth-round NRL clash against Newcastle at McDonald Jones Stadium (6.15pm kick-off local time; 8.15pm NZT).

After originally being named on the interchange, Josh Curran will now start in the second row replacing the suspended Marata Niukore.

Curran made a match-winning impact in last week's 32-30 triumph over Cronulla-Sutherland. On the field for just 18 minutes, he ran a hard line superbly for the try that enabled the One New Zealand Warriors to level up 30-30.

Then he produced a supreme effort play in the final minute when he swooped on a loose ball, toed it ahead and was then impeded in his bid to secure it leading to the penalty Shaun Johnson slotted for victory.

Curran's inclusion sees Bayley Sironen joining Dylan Walker, Tom Ale and Taine Tuaupiki on the bench. Young back rower Demitric Sifakule is 18th man.

Yesterday captain Tohu Harris was officially omitted from the squad as he strives to recover from the knee injury he suffered in the 16-14 home win over Canterbury Bankstown on March 26.

Round 6 - Round 6 - Sunday 9 Apr

Full Time

Knights

Warriors

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Knights is number 1 Lachlan Miller

Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
Winger for Knights is number 2 Dominic Young

Winger for Warriors is number 2 Edward Kosi
Centre for Knights is number 3 Dane Gagai

Centre for Warriors is number 3 Viliami Vailea
Centre for Knights is number 4 Bradman Best

Centre for Warriors is number 4 Adam Pompey
Winger for Knights is number 5 Greg Marzhew

Winger for Warriors is number 5 Marcelo Montoya
Five-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Phoenix Crossland

Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Te Maire Martin
Halfback for Knights is number 7 Jackson Hastings

Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Shaun Johnson

Forwards

Prop for Knights is number 8 Daniel Saifiti

Prop for Warriors is number 8 Addin Fonua-Blake
Hooker for Knights is number 9 Jayden Brailey

Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde Egan
Prop for Knights is number 10 Leo Thompson

Prop for Warriors is number 10 Bunty Afoa
2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Tyson Frizell

2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Jackson Ford
2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Lachlan Fitzgibbon

2nd Row for Warriors is number 15 Josh Curran
Lock for Knights is number 16 Mat Croker

Lock for Warriors is number 16 Jazz Tevaga

Interchange

Interchange for Knights is number 13 Jack Johns

Interchange for Warriors is number 12 Bayley Sironen
Interchange for Knights is number 14 Kurt Mann

Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Dylan Walker
Interchange for Knights is number 15 Jack Hetherington

Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Tom Ale
Interchange for Knights is number 17 Brodie Jones

Interchange for Warriors is number 20 Taine Tuaupiki

Reserves

Replacement for Knights is number 19 Dylan Lucas

Replacement for Warriors is number 23 Demitric Sifakula

Match Officials

Referee: Liam Kennedy
Touch Judge: Drew Oultram
Senior Review Official: Adam Gee

Last updated: 9/7/2024 12:26:07 PM

Jazz Tevaga, who filled Harris’ position last week, has been brought off the bench to take on the role again.

Fullack Tuaupiki is in line for second NRL appearance after being named to replace Tevaga on the interchange.

Apart from Harris the other two players omitted from the extended squad yesterday were halfback Ronald Volkman and Freddy Lussick.

Te Maire Martin replaces Volkman at standoff after concussion protocols ruled him out of last Sunday’s dramatic 32-20 victory over Cronulla-Sutherland while second rower Marata Niukore is suspended for the next two matches following an early guilty plea on a dangerous contact charge.

Niukore, who scored his first try for the club on Sunday, is replaced by Bayley Sironen with Josh Curran, who made a telling late impact against Cronulla, on the interchange after being a late replacement for Harris last weekend.

Kiwi winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak is named as 18th man as he returns from the calf injury which side-lined him following the club’s second trial against Melbourne in Christchurch in February.

A significant points-scoring milestone is within reach of player of the moment Johnson tomorrow. After picking up 16 points against the Sharks, he's on 997 points for the One New Zealand Warriors needing just three more to become the first player in history to reach the 1000-point mark for the club.

Johnson nailed the maximum six Dally M points as he orchestrated arguably the most astonishing comeback in the club’s history after being 0-20 behind just 18 minutes into the contest.

It wasn’t the biggest. That belongs to the 2021 side which came back from 21 points down (10-31) after 51 minutes to beat the Raiders 34-31 in Canberra.

The effort against the Sharks equalled the margin in another unforgettable fightback in 2005 when the Warriors also recovered from a 0-20 deficit to win 30-26 in Newcastle.

The One New Zealand Warriors and Newcastle meet for the second time in the opening six weeks of the season on Sunday.

The Andrew Webster-coached side launched their campaign with a solid 20-12 home win over the Knights at Sky Stadium in Wellington on March 3.

Sunday’s win over the Sharks boosted them to a 4-1 record, a start bettered only by the 2018 side’s 5-0 effort. It had them sitting second on the ladder at the end of the round, matching the 2018 team’s position at the same stage.

The Knights have gone on to produce wins over the Wests Tigers and Canberra plus an extra-time 32-32 draw with Manly Warringah last week.