Confirmed Lineup: Harris-Tavita onto bench
Chanel Harris-Tavita will make his NRL comeback tonight after being brought onto the bench in a late change for the One New Zealand Warriors’ second-round NRL encounter with the Melbourne Storm at AAMI Park (9.35pm kick-off).
The 24-year-old will play his 55th first-grade match in the Michael Moore Trophy contest, his first for the club since taking a break from the game after the 2022 season.
The change comes after the squad was updated at the 24-hour deadline last night when middle forward Jazz Tevaga was listed on the bench to replace the injured Wayde Egan.
Tevaga is now confirmed as 18th man with Te Maire Martin 19th man.
With Egan out, back-up dummy half Freddy Lussick starts at hooker.
Match: Storm v Warriors
Round 2 -
home Team
Storm
away Team
Warriors
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Storm is number 1 Ryan PapenhuyzenFullback for Warriors is number 1 Taine Tuaupiki
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Winger for Storm is number 2 Will WarbrickWinger for Warriors is number 2 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
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Centre for Storm is number 3 Reimis SmithCentre for Warriors is number 3 Rocco Berry
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Centre for Storm is number 4 Nick MeaneyCentre for Warriors is number 4 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
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Winger for Storm is number 5 Xavier CoatesWinger for Warriors is number 5 Marcelo Montoya
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Five-Eighth for Storm is number 6 Jonah PezetFive-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Luke Metcalf
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Halfback for Storm is number 7 Jahrome HughesHalfback for Warriors is number 7 Shaun Johnson
Forwards
-
Prop for Storm is number 8 Tui KamikamicaProp for Warriors is number 8 Addin Fonua-Blake
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Hooker for Storm is number 9 Harry GrantHooker for Warriors is number 14 Freddy Lussick
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Prop for Storm is number 10 Josh KingProp for Warriors is number 10 Mitchell Barnett
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2nd Row for Storm is number 11 Joe Chan2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Jackson Ford
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2nd Row for Storm is number 12 Eliesa Katoa2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Kurt Capewell
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Lock for Storm is number 13 Trent LoieroLock for Warriors is number 13 Tohu Harris
Interchange
-
Interchange for Storm is number 14 Tyran WishartInterchange for Warriors is number 15 Tom Ale
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Interchange for Storm is number 15 Christian WelchInterchange for Warriors is number 16 Bunty Afoa
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Interchange for Storm is number 16 Chris LewisInterchange for Warriors is number 17 Dylan Walker
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Interchange for Storm is number 17 Alec MacDonaldInterchange for Warriors is number 23 Chanel Harris-Tavita
Reserves
-
Replacement for Storm is number 19 Kane BradleyReplacement for Warriors is number 20 Jazz Tevaga
Match Officials
- Referee: Chris Butler
- Touch Judge: Dave Munro
- Touch Judge: Kasey Badger
- Senior Review Official: Matt Noyen
Last updated:
Egan (elbow) was initially named in an unchanged starting line-up on Tuesday but was ruled out yesterday.
Head coach Andrew Webster made just one change to the extended 22-man squad with Harris-Tavita included in jersey #23 in place of second rower Jacob Laban.
After spending a season away from football, Harris-Tavita made his comeback at halfback in the One New Zealand Warriors’ 28-24 New South Wales Cup win over Newtown last Friday night. He scored a try, kicked four goals from four attempts and provided two try assists in his 61-minute shift.
While the One New Zealand Warriors were unable to convert a fast start into a first-up win last week, they impressed in a number of areas with an 81 per cent completion rate, 1968 metres gained to the Sharks’ 1467, a 34-19 advantage in tackle breaks and just 19 tackles missed.
Three players topped 200 metres, captain Tohu Harris making a game-high 237 from 27 runs, prop Addin Fonua-Blake 220 from 22 runs (plus six tackle breaks) and fullback Taine Tuaupiki 203 from 19 runs (also six tackle breaks) in his 72 minutes on the field.
Eight other players topped 100 metres – Mitchell Barnett 174, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 173, Dylan Walker 159, Dallin Watene Zelezniak 151, Rocco Berry 125, Shaun Johnson 113, Jackson Ford 110 and Marcelo Montoya 105.
Giving every Melbourne-Warriors contest extra edge is the Michael Moore Trophy, which hasn’t been in the Warriors’ hands since 2015 with the Storm winning 14 consecutive matches since then. The last time the One New Zealand Warriors won in Melbourne was on Anzac Day 2014 when they prevailed 16-10 in what was Andrew McFadden’s first NRL win as head coach.
This will be the 51st contest between the clubs, Melbourne holding a commanding 32-16 advantage with two draws.
