Trial Team Update: No changes

Author: Richard Becht & photosport.nz
Timestamp: Sun 18 Feb 2024, 12:59 PM

No line-up changes for the One New Zealand Warriors for today's sold-out Preseason Challenge against the Wests Tigers at Apollo Projects Stadium in Christchurch (4.00pm kick-off).

The match sees Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Chanel Harris-Tavita wearing One New Zealand Warriors colours again after long absences.

Former captain Tuivasa-Sheck (30) starts in the centres and the 24-year-old Harris-Tavita at halfback in a squad which includes 13 players with first-grade experience.

Tuivasa-Sheck’s last NRL appearance – his 111th for the club – was against Penrith on July 18, 2021, at Suncorp Stadium before he was granted an early release to switch to rugby union.

Harris-Tavita stepped away from the NRL after his 54th career outing, the season-ending loss against Gold Coast at Go Media Stadium on September 3, 2022.

Tuivasa-Sheck’s rugby league comeback was heralded in April last year when he signed a three-year contract to become a Warrior again while Harris-Tavita’s return to the One New Zealand Warriors after a year away from the game was announced just a month later in May.

Tuivasa-Sheck is paired alongside left winger Marcelo Montoya – named captain for this game – while Harris-Tavita is teamed in the halves with Luke Metcalf.

Round 1 - Round 1 - Sunday 18 Feb

Full Time

Warriors

Wests Tigers

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Taine Tuaupiki

Fullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Jahream Bula
Winger for Warriors is number 2 Setu Tu

Winger for Wests Tigers is number 2 Charlie Staines
Centre for Warriors is number 3 Ali Leiataua

Centre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Solomona Faataape
Centre for Warriors is number 4 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck

Centre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Declan Casey
Winger for Warriors is number 5 Marcelo Montoya

Winger for Wests Tigers is number 5 Junior Tupou
Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Chanel Harris-Tavita

Five-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Jayden Sullivan
Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Luke Metcalf

Halfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Aidan Sezer

Forwards

Prop for Warriors is number 8 Bunty Afoa

Prop for Wests Tigers is number 8 Stefano Utoikamanu
Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Freddy Lussick

Hooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Apisai Koroisau
Prop for Warriors is number 10 Tom Ale

Prop for Wests Tigers is number 10 David Klemmer
2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Jackson Ford

2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Isaiah Papali'i
2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Jacob Laban

2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Asu Kepaoa
Lock for Warriors is number 13 Kalani Going

Lock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Alex Seyfarth

Interchange

Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Eddie Ieremia-Toeava

Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Iverson Matai
Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Zyon Maiu'u

Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Josh Feledy
Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Tanner Stowers-Smith

Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Fonua Pole
Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Leka Halasima

Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Samuela Fainu

Reserves

Reserve for Warriors is number 18 Patrick Moimoi

Reserve for Wests Tigers is number 18 Kit Laulilii
Reserve for Warriors is number 20 Etuate Fukofuka

Reserve for Wests Tigers is number 19 Sione Fainu
Reserve for Warriors is number 21 Toni Tupouniua

Reserve for Wests Tigers is number 20 Jake Simpkin
Reserve for Warriors is number 22 Ben Farr

Reserve for Wests Tigers is number 21 Tallyn Da Silva
Reserve for Warriors is number 23 Luke Hanson

Reserve for Wests Tigers is number 22 Heath Mason
Reserve for Warriors is number 24 Moala Graham-Taufa

Reserve for Wests Tigers is number 23 Alex Lobb
Reserve for Warriors is number 25 Geronimo Doyle

Reserve for Wests Tigers is number 24 Tony Sukkar
Reserve for Warriors is number 26 Quinnlan Tupou

Reserve for Wests Tigers is number 25 Navren Willett
Reserve for Warriors is number 27 Paul Roache

Reserve for Wests Tigers is number 26 Nick Lui-Toso
Reserve for Wests Tigers is number 27 Reuben Porter
Reserve for Wests Tigers is number 28 Sione Latoa-Vaihu

Match Officials

Referee: Chris Sutton
Senior Review Official: Gerard Sutton

Last updated: 2/21/2024 5:06:22 AM

Also included in the backline are 2023 NRL rookies fullback Taine Tuaupiki and centre Ali Leiataua with New South Wales Cup regular Setu Tu on the right wing.

The 129-game NRL veteran Bunty Afoa leads the starting pack alongside hooker Freddy Lussick, prop Tom Ale and second rower Jackson Ford, all of whom featured strongly during the One New Zealand Warriors’ memorable 2023 season.

Completing the starting forwards are the exciting Jacob Laban (19) and 2023 NRL rookie Kalani Going. Both represented the New Zealand Kiwis A against Mate Ma’a Tonga A last October.

Among those on the extended bench are NRL top 30 squad member Zyon Maiu’u plus five players on development contracts in Leka Halasima, Tanner Stowers-Smith, Ben Farr, Etuate Fukofuka and Patrick Moimoi. Also named is promising playmaker Luke Hanson, who has been brought to the club from Penrith’s Jersey Flegg Cup side.

Tries aplenty as One New Zealand Warriors launch season

The match will be especially poignant for Christchurch-born and raised Stowers-Smith as he faces the prospect of playing in front of family and friends.

The 19-year-old St Bede’s College product and Halswell Hornets junior had a remarkable 2023 season. He started by captaining the club’s SG Ball Cup (under-19) side, stepped up to become a regular with the New Zealand South Wales Cup team and finished the year by being brought into the New Zealand Kiwis A squad.

As a side note, 14 of the squad named for this weekend's trial were also used in the corresponding Preseason Challenge encounter with the Tigers at Go Media Stadium last February.