Team Update: Squad cut to 19
The One New Zealand Warriors have whittled their squad down to 19 players for tomorrow’s historic 13th-round NRL clash against the Brisbane Broncos at Napier’s McLean Park (7.30pm kick-off).
As required 24 hours out from kick-off, three players have been omitted from the extended 22-man squad named on Tuesday.
Those left out are halfback Ronald Volkman, centre Ali Leiataua and prop Zyon Maiu’u, who have all been released to play for the club’s New South Wales Cup side in its 13th-round encounter with Penrith at Go Media Stadium Mt Smart on Sunday.
The two players retained from the extended bench are fullback Taine Tuaupiki and back rower Kalani Going.
All set to make his club debut tomorrow is standoff Luke Metcalf.
The 24-year-old was selected after a 40-minute try-scoring comeback appearance for the club’s New South Wales Cup side on May 13.
Match: Warriors v Broncos
Round 13 -
home Team
Warriors
away Team
Broncos
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Charnze Nicoll-KlokstadFullback for Broncos is number 1 Tristan Sailor
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Winger for Warriors is number 2 Dallin Watene-ZelezniakWinger for Broncos is number 2 Jesse Arthars
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Centre for Warriors is number 3 Rocco BerryCentre for Broncos is number 3 Kotoni Staggs
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Centre for Warriors is number 4 Adam PompeyCentre for Broncos is number 4 Herbie Farnworth
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Winger for Warriors is number 5 Marcelo MontoyaWinger for Broncos is number 5 Deine Mariner
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Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Luke MetcalfFive-Eighth for Broncos is number 6 Ezra Mam
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Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Shaun JohnsonHalfback for Broncos is number 7 Adam Reynolds
Forwards
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Prop for Warriors is number 8 Addin Fonua-BlakeProp for Broncos is number 8 Keenan Palasia
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Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Freddy LussickHooker for Broncos is number 9 Billy Walters
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Prop for Warriors is number 10 Bunty AfoaProp for Broncos is number 10 Corey Jensen
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2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Jackson Ford2nd Row for Broncos is number 11 Kurt Capewell
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2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Marata Niukore2nd Row for Broncos is number 12 Jordan Riki
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Lock for Warriors is number 13 Tohu HarrisLock for Broncos is number 13 Kobe Hetherington
Interchange
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Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Bayley SironenInterchange for Broncos is number 14 Cory Paix
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Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Josh CurranInterchange for Broncos is number 15 Xavier Willison
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Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Demitric SifakulaInterchange for Broncos is number 16 Brendan Piakura
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Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Tom AleInterchange for Broncos is number 17 Martin Taupau
Reserves
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Replacement for Warriors is number 20 Taine TuaupikiReplacement for Broncos is number 20 Delouise Hoeter
Match Officials
- Referee: Gerard Sutton
- Touch Judge: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
- Senior Review Official: Matt Noyen
Last updated:
He replaces Ronald Volkman in a line-up featuring two injury-enforced changes with hooker Wayde Egan (calf) and interchange utility Dylan Walker (toe) both ruled out.
Freddy Lussick is named at hooker with Josh Curran moving back to the interchange bench as a result of first-choice second rower Jackson Ford returning from a head knock. Two-game rookie Demitric Sifakula is added to the bench alongside Bayley Sironen and Tom Ale .
Metcalf’s debut as Warrior #281 will be his eighth first-grade outing after seven games for Cronulla Sutherland in 2021 and 2022.
While Metcalf and halfback Shaun Johnson were teammates at the Sharks it will be the first time the pair have played an NRL match together.
Metcalf was superb in the One New Zealand Warriors’ 48-12 Preseason Challenge win over the Wests Tigers on February 9 but picked up a hamstring injury on the training field days later, a setback which forced him to miss the first 10 rounds of the season.
He marked his comeback in the New South Wales Cup with a try in the One New Zealand Warriors’ 14-14 draw with Canterbury Bankstown.
McLean Park is sold out for the club’s first match in Napier but the second NRL match played in the Hawke’s Bay.
Warriors captain Tohu Harris will have the distinction of being involved on both occasions.
He was in the centres for the Melbourne Storm when they took their home game against St George Illawarra to Napier in 2015, a match Melbourne won 22-4.
Tomorrow he’ll have the honour of leading the Warriors onto the ground in front of family, friends and fans as they look to improve their promising start to the season.
They head into the 13th round with a 6-5 win-loss record lying seventh on the ladder on 14 points just two points off the lead shared by five teams.
After having the bye for last weekend's Indigenous Round, the One New Zealand Warriors will wear their 2023 Indigenous strip - Te Kāhu Kura - in Saturday's contest.
