NRL rookie Ali Leiataua will make his comeback from injury in a much-changed One New Zealand Warriors line-up for today’s week one New South Wales Cup finals clash against South Sydney at North Sydney Oval (1.00pm kick-off local time; 3.00pm NZT).
A hamstring injury has kept Leiataua on the sideline since his impressive first-grade debut against Canberra in early June.
Several players from coach Slade Griffin’s line-up are unavailable after being added to the club’s rearranged NRL side for today’s final regular season encounter with the Dolphins.
Captain Kalani Going and hooker Paul Roache both make their first-grade debuts at Suncorp Stadium today while young second rower Jacob Laban is the NRL team’s 18th man.
Regular NSW Cup halfback Ronald Volkman is back in the NRL line-up along with middle forward Tom Ale, fullback Taine Tuaupiki and winger Edward Kosi.
Also on NRL duty is standoff Te Maire Martin following his comeback from injury in the New South Wales Cup.
Match: Rabbitohs v Warriors
Finals Week 1 -
home Team
Rabbitohs
away Team
Warriors
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Rabbitohs is number 1 Jacob GagaiFullback for Warriors is number 2 Setu Tu
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Winger for Rabbitohs is number 2 Tom CarrWinger for Warriors is number 5 Moala Graham-Taufa
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Centre for Rabbitohs is number 3 Josiah KarapaniCentre for Warriors is number 3 patrick moimoi
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Centre for Rabbitohs is number 4 Taane MilneCentre for Warriors is number 4 Brayden Wiliame
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Winger for Rabbitohs is number 5 Tyrone MunroWinger for Warriors is number 18 Ali Leiataua
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Five-Eighth for Rabbitohs is number 6 Dion TeaupaFive-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Ben Farr
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Halfback for Rabbitohs is number 7 Dean HawkinsHalfback for Warriors is number 1 Eiden Ackland
Forwards
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Prop for Rabbitohs is number 8 Daniel Suluka-FifitaProp for Warriors is number 8 Zyon Maiu'u
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Hooker for Rabbitohs is number 9 Peter MamouzelosHooker for Warriors is number 9 Michael Sio
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Prop for Rabbitohs is number 17 Yileen GordonProp for Warriors is number 10 James Gavet
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2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 11 Benjamin Lovett2nd Row for Warriors is number 14 Maia Sands
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2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 12 Jed Cartwright2nd Row for Warriors is number 16 Eddie Ieremia-Toeava
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Lock for Rabbitohs is number 13 Jaxson RahmeLock for Warriors is number 13 Tanner Stowers-Smith
Interchange
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Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 10 Brock GrayInterchange for Warriors is number 15 Isaiah Vagana
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Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 14 Shannon GardinerInterchange for Warriors is number 20 Presley Seumanu Tigafua
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Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 21 Matt FrenchInterchange for Warriors is number 21 Jacob David Jnr Auloa
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Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 22 Ethan O'NeillInterchange for Warriors is number 23 Paterika Vaivai
Reserves
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Replacement for Rabbitohs is number 18 Tristan AlvaradoReplacement for Warriors is number 17 Makaia Tafua
Last updated:
It means Griffin is without eight players from the side that trounced St George Illawarra 42-12 last Saturday.
That result enabled the Warriors to finish third, handing them a week one match-up against the second-placed Rabbitohs.
The confirmed side today bears limited resemblance to the line-up originally named on Tuesday. Just five players have current or previous NRL experience – Leiataua, winger Moala Graham-Taufa, centre Brayden Wiliame and front rowers James Gavet and Patrick Vaivai.
Going, Roache and Laban were all listed in the original team but had to be replaced.
There was little between the One New Zealand Warriors and South Sydney in their two regular season matches, the Rabbitohs winning 24-22 at Redfern Oval on June 3 but avenging the defeat with a 21-18 victory at Go Media Stadium on June 30.
The winners of today’s contest will play the Bears in week two while the losers will face the winners of the Raiders v Sea Eagles elimination encounter.
