The One New Zealand Warriors are as selected for tonight’s round 24 NRL encounter with the Wests Tigers at a sold-out FMG Waikato Stadium in Hamilton (7.30pm kick-off).
Hooker Freddy Lussick is 18th man, backing up after starting for the club’s New South Wales Cup side against Western Suburbs in the curtain raiser.
The Andrew Webster-coached Warriors are seeking a fifth consecutive win to solidify their hold on third spot on the ladder.
Taine Tuaupiki was confirmed at fullback on Tuesday to replace the unavailable Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad in the only change to the One New Zealand Warriors’ line-up from the side used in last week’s 28-18 win over Gold Coast.
Nicoll-Klokstad is subject to NRL concussion protocols after being forced off the field following a high tackle from Titans prop Moeaki Fotuaika last Friday night.
The 23-year-old Tuaupiki was activated as 18th man to replace Nicoll-Klokstad after Fotuaika was sent off and will start this week in what will be his fourth NRL appearance.
Match: Wests Tigers v Warriors
Round 24 -
home Team
Wests Tigers
away Team
Warriors
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Jahream BulaFullback for Warriors is number 1 Taine Tuaupiki
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Winger for Wests Tigers is number 2 David NofoalumaWinger for Warriors is number 2 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
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Centre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Starford To'aCentre for Warriors is number 3 Rocco Berry
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Centre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Asu KepaoaCentre for Warriors is number 4 Adam Pompey
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Winger for Wests Tigers is number 5 Junior TupouWinger for Warriors is number 5 Marcelo Montoya
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Five-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Daine LaurieFive-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Luke Metcalf
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Halfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Luke BrooksHalfback for Warriors is number 7 Shaun Johnson
Forwards
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Prop for Wests Tigers is number 8 Stefano UtoikamanuProp for Warriors is number 8 Addin Fonua-Blake
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Hooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Apisai KoroisauHooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde Egan
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Prop for Wests Tigers is number 10 David KlemmerProp for Warriors is number 10 Mitchell Barnett
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2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Isaiah Papali'i2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Jackson Ford
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2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 John Bateman2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Marata Niukore
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Lock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Fonua PoleLock for Warriors is number 13 Tohu Harris
Interchange
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Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Jake SimpkinInterchange for Warriors is number 14 Dylan Walker
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Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Alex SeyfarthInterchange for Warriors is number 15 Jazz Tevaga
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Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Alex TwalInterchange for Warriors is number 16 Bayley Sironen
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Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Shawn BloreInterchange for Warriors is number 17 Josh Curran
Reserves
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Replacement for Wests Tigers is number 18 Justin MatamuaReplacement for Warriors is number 18 Freddy Lussick
Match Officials
- Referee: Chris Butler
- Touch Judge: Chris Sutton
- Touch Judge: Nick Beashel
- Senior Review Official: Matt Noyen
Last updated:
He was impressive in his 63 minutes against Gold Coast making 165 metres from 17 runs with six tackle breaks and five tackles.
The away game at a sold out FMG Waikato Stadium will be the 700th in the One New Zealand Warriors’ history and the 248th career appearance for halfback Shaun Johnson.
The Warriors haven’t lost an away game since falling to Penrith in early May; with a 7-3 record on the road they have the opportunity this week to equal the club record of eight for most away victories in a season. That was set the last time the Warriors reached the finals in 2018 when they finished the regular season with an 8-4 away record.
Hamilton-raised Dallin Watene-Zelezniak will be looking to extend a stunning try-scoring streak which has seen him score 15 tries in his last 10 outings failing to score only in the home loss to South Sydney. While Francis Meli touched down 10 times in five games late in the 2003 season, no player in the club’s history has matched Watene-Zelezniak’s strike rate over a period of 10 or more matches. Record try scorer Manu Vatuvei had 13 tries in an 11-game stretch in 2010 while David Fusitu’a put together a run of 11 tries in 10 games in 2017.
Saturday’s match will be the One New Zealand Warriors’ fifth NRL outing in Hamilton, a venue where they are yet to win having lost a ‘home’ game there to St George Illawarra (14-30) in 2017 and away matches against Canterbury Bankstown (12-16) in 2014 as well as Parramatta in 2006 (14-22) and 2005 (18-28).
