Fullback Taine Tuaupiki comes into the One New Zealand Warriors’ New South Wales Cup side for the first time this season for Saturday’s fifth-round match against defending premier South Sydney at Accor Stadium (12.40pm kick-off local time; 2.40pm NZT).
The 24-year-old started in each of the club’s first three NRL matches but was ruled out of the fourth-round encounter with Newcastle last Sunday after a head knock early in the second half of the match against Canberra on March 22.
Replacing injured first-choice fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Tuaupiki was impressive in the two and a half games he played, averaging 168 metres with a total of 15 tackle breaks while he made 14 tackles with just one miss.
With Nicoll-Klokstad back in the NRL line-up this week, Tuaupiki now bolsters the club’s reserve grade lineup.
Match: Rabbitohs v Warriors
Round 5 -
home Team
Rabbitohs
away Team
Warriors
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Rabbitohs is number 1 Jye GrayFullback for Warriors is number 1 Taine Tuaupiki
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Winger for Rabbitohs is number 2 Leon Te HauWinger for Warriors is number 2 Setu Tu
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Centre for Rabbitohs is number 3 Braidon BurnsCentre for Warriors is number 3 Moala Graham-Taufa
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Centre for Rabbitohs is number 4 Jacob GagaiCentre for Warriors is number 22 Sio Kali
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Winger for Rabbitohs is number 5 Richard KennarWinger for Warriors is number 5 Edward Kosi
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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 Lachlan IliasHalfback for Warriors is number 9 Paul Roache
Forwards
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Prop for Rabbitohs is number 8 Yileen GordonProp for Warriors is number 8 Zyon Maiu'u
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Hooker for Rabbitohs is number 17 Marco MorettiHooker for Warriors is number 20 Freddy Lussick
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Prop for Rabbitohs is number 20 Davvy MoaleProp for Warriors is number 10 Tanner Stowers-Smith
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2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 11 Kaylen Miller2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Eddie Ieremia-Toeava
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2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 12 Adam Christensen2nd Row for Warriors is number 17 Maia Sands
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Lock for Rabbitohs is number 13 Chase ChapmanLock for Warriors is number 13 Kalani Going
Interchange
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Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 10 Brock GrayInterchange for Warriors is number 7 Geronimo Doyle
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Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 14 Ryan GrayInterchange for Warriors is number 15 Harry Durbin
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Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 15 Matt FrenchInterchange for Warriors is number 16 Toni Tupouniua
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Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 16 Maila Aluni-ChanfoonInterchange for Warriors is number 21 Kayliss Fatialofa
Reserves
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Replacement for Rabbitohs is number 22 Bear WilliamsReplacement for Warriors is number 18 Compton Fuatimau
Last updated:
His inclusion sees Ben Farr, outstanding in Sunday’s 26-12 win over Newcastle, named in the halves while halfback Te Maire Martin has been selected in the NRL side after his influential performance in the victory against the Knights.
There’s one change in the starting forward pack used against Newcastle with Tom Ale back on NRL duty after a strong effort in reserve grade which sees Tanner Stowers-Smith listed to start.
Jersey Flegg Cup captain Harry Durbin comes onto the interchange alongside SG Ball Cup co-captain Jaydee Auloa, who made his NSW Cup debut last Sunday.
The Warriors are coming off their best performance so far this season.
Rebounding from consecutive heavy losses to North Sydney and Canberra, they were on point against Newcastle dominating all key markers – possession 57%-43%, completions 78%-66%, run metres 2059-1382, post-contact metres 876-548, line breaks 7-3 and tackles breaks 58-22. They also missed just 22 tackles to Newcastle’s 58.
The Rabbitohs lost the first two games of the season but beat the Bulldogs 22-20 last weekend for their first win.
