Confirmed Line-up: Key changes for One New Zealand Warriors

Author: Richard Becht & photosport.nz
Timestamp: Sat 15 Apr 2023, 02:13 PM

Late changes have been confirmed to the One New Zealand Warriors’ starting line-up for their seventh-round NRL encounter with North Queensland at Mount Smart Stadium today (5.00pm kick-off).

In a key switch in the outside backs, head coach Andrew Webster has brought veteran Dallin Watene-Zelezniak in on the wing with Marcelo Montoya moving to the centres. Viliami Vailea drops out of the side.

Jazz Tevaga comes off the bench to start in the front row with Bunty Afoa reverting to the interchange and Josh Curran, originally named on the bench, starts in the second row in a swap with Bayley Sironen.

Last night captain Tohu Harris was confirmed to make his comeback.

For the last two matches against Cronulla Sutherland and Newcastle, Harris was named on Tuesday but was then one of the three players omitted from the extended squad 24 hours before kick-off as he failed to recover from his knee injury.

He’s playing his first match since he was injured in the March 26 match against Canterbury Bankstown at Mount Smart Stadium.

Round 7 - Round 7 - Saturday 15 Apr

Full Time

Warriors

Cowboys

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad

Fullback for Cowboys is number 1 Scott Drinkwater
Winger for Warriors is number 2 Edward Kosi

Winger for Cowboys is number 2 Kyle Feldt
Centre for Warriors is number 4 Adam Pompey

Centre for Cowboys is number 3 Valentine Holmes
Centre for Warriors is number 5 Marcelo Montoya

Centre for Cowboys is number 4 Peta Hiku
Winger for Warriors is number 18 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak

Winger for Cowboys is number 5 Murray Taulagi
Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Dylan Walker

Five-Eighth for Cowboys is number 6 Tom Dearden
Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Shaun Johnson

Halfback for Cowboys is number 7 Chad Townsend

Forwards

Prop for Warriors is number 8 Addin Fonua-Blake

Prop for Cowboys is number 11 Coen Hess
Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Freddy Lussick

Hooker for Cowboys is number 9 Reece Robson
Prop for Warriors is number 16 Jazz Tevaga

Prop for Cowboys is number 14 Jake Granville
2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Jackson Ford

2nd Row for Cowboys is number 12 Jeremiah Nanai
2nd Row for Warriors is number 15 Josh Curran

2nd Row for Cowboys is number 18 Jack Gosiewski
Lock for Warriors is number 13 Tohu Harris

Lock for Cowboys is number 13 Jason Taumalolo

Interchange

Interchange for Warriors is number 10 Bunty Afoa

Interchange for Cowboys is number 8 Mitchell Dunn
Interchange for Warriors is number 12 Bayley Sironen

Interchange for Cowboys is number 10 Reuben Cotter
Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Taine Tuaupiki

Interchange for Cowboys is number 15 Tom Chester
Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Tom Ale

Interchange for Cowboys is number 16 Jamayne Taunoa-Brown

Reserves

Replacement for Warriors is number 21 Demitric Sifakula

Replacement for Cowboys is number 17 Riley Price

Match Officials

Referee: Chris Sutton
Touch Judge: Dave Munro
Senior Review Official: Grant Atkins

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

With Wayde Egan following NRL concussion protocols, Freddy Lussick is named for his second start of the season having previously filled in when Egan was ruled out of the first home game of the season at Mount Smart on March 26.

Te Maire Martin’s return from a one-game absence through concussion ended sadly on Sunday night when he was helped from the field after 46 minutes.

He is facing eight weeks on the sideline following confirmation he fractured his left fibula in his bid to score a try in the contest in Newcastle.

In his absence One New Zealand Warriors head coach Andrew Webster has turned to the vastly experienced Dylan Walker to partner Shaun Johnson in halves.

So far this season Walker has been extensively used off the bench in the middle of the field but has also shifted into a playmaking role as he did after Martin left the field in Newcastle.

Of Walker’s 192 NRL appearances, more than 40 have been in the #6 jersey for South Sydney and, mainly, for Manly Warringah.

Jazz Tevaga is on the interchange along with fullback Taine Tuaupiki, back rower Josh Curran and impressive 24-year-old middle forward Tom Ale.

The fast-developing Ale is showing the benefit of consistent exposure at first-grade level. Used from the bench in all six games so far, he had his longest shift of his career playing for 46 minutes on Sunday night. Despite being used from the interchange he made more metres (145 from 14 runs) than any other forward on the park and totalled 31 tackles without a miss.

Again named in jersey #18 is veteran winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak as he strives to return to the NRL for the first time this season after being out with a calf injury. He had a four-try haul and topped 200 metres in his comeback with the club’s New South Wales Cup side in Sunday’s 54-14 win over the Knights.

Saturday’s game is the second against the Cowboys in four weeks following the One New Zealand Warriors’ memorable 26-12 victory in Townsville. They also played the Knights twice in a matter of weeks and will do likewise with the Roosters and the Bulldogs in the next month.