Finals Team Update: Shaun Johnson firms

Author: Richard Becht & photosport.nz
Timestamp: Fri 15 Sep 2023, 04:05 PM

Player of the year Shaun Johnson remains in the team 24 hours out from the One New Zealand Warriors’ NRL semifinal against the Newcastle Knights at Go Media Stadium tomorrow (6.05pm kick-off).

The three players omitted from the extended squad at the 24-hour mark are front rowers Tom Ale and Bunty Afoa plus winger Edward Kosi.

Retained in the 19-man game day line-up are hooker Freddy Lussick and fullback Taine Tuaupiki.

A calf complaint ruled the 250-game veteran Johnson out of the qualifying final against Penrith on his 33rd birthday last Saturday.

In Johnson’s absence against the Panthers, Te Maire Martin was moved to halfback for just his second first-grade outing since breaking his left fibula in early April.

Ironically that was against the Knights, the injury coming just after halftime in the 24-34 sixth-round loss in Newcastle. That was also the last time Johnson and Martin were in the side together.

Finals Week 2 - Finals Week 2 - Saturday 16 Sep

Full Time

Warriors

Knights

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad

Fullback for Knights is number 1 Kalyn Ponga
Winger for Warriors is number 2 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak

Winger for Knights is number 2 Dominic Young
Centre for Warriors is number 3 Rocco Berry

Centre for Knights is number 3 Dane Gagai
Centre for Warriors is number 4 Adam Pompey

Centre for Knights is number 4 Bradman Best
Winger for Warriors is number 5 Marcelo Montoya

Winger for Knights is number 5 Greg Marzhew
Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Te Maire Martin

Five-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Tyson Gamble
Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Shaun Johnson

Halfback for Knights is number 7 Adam Clune

Forwards

Prop for Warriors is number 8 Addin Fonua-Blake

Prop for Knights is number 8 Jacob Saifiti
Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde Egan

Hooker for Knights is number 9 Phoenix Crossland
Prop for Warriors is number 10 Mitchell Barnett

Prop for Knights is number 10 Leo Thompson
2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Jackson Ford

2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Tyson Frizell
2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Marata Niukore

2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Dylan Lucas
Lock for Warriors is number 13 Tohu Harris

Lock for Knights is number 13 Adam Elliott

Interchange

Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Dylan Walker

Interchange for Knights is number 14 Kurt Mann
Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Jazz Tevaga

Interchange for Knights is number 16 Jack Hetherington
Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Bayley Sironen

Interchange for Knights is number 17 Mat Croker
Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Josh Curran

Interchange for Knights is number 18 Brodie Jones

Reserves

Replacement for Warriors is number 20 Taine Tuaupiki

Replacement for Knights is number 20 Fa'amanu Brown

Match Officials

Referee: Adam Gee
Touch Judge: Phil Henderson
Touch Judge: Dave Munro
Senior Review Official: Grant Atkins

Last updated: 9/7/2024 12:25:52 PM

Earlier they were also paired up against the Knights in the club’s first-round encounter in Wellington when the One New Zealand Warriors launched their season with a gritty 20-12 win.

The starting pack named for tomorrow’s final is the same as the one used in Wellington on March 3 when new signing Mitchell Barnett was in the front row against his former teammates, one of six players making their club debuts.

The performance in the capital provided the foundations for a season which saw the One New Zealand Warriors go on to register 16 wins and claim a top four spot to guarantee a home final for the first time since 2008.

While the One New Zealand Warriors go into tomorrow's semi-final on the back of a 6-32 loss to defending premier Penrith, the Knights edged Canberra 30-28 in a dramatic extra-time contest in Newcastle on Sunday. It was the Knights’ 10th win on end, one short of the club record of 11.

They finished the regular season in fifth spot on 35 points, three behind the Warriors.

There has been little between the two clubs in 48 meetings since 1995 with the One New Zealand Warriors winning 23 times, the Knights 24 with one draw.

This will be the first match between them in Auckland since 2019 when Newcastle won 36-18.

In their only previous home finals, the One New Zealand Warriors beat Canberra 36-20 in 2002, lost to Parramatta 10-12 in 2007 and beat the Sydney Roosters 30-13 in 2008.

This will be the first time the Warriors and Newcastle have met in what will be the home side’s 19th play-off match in history.