Team List: Several changes for Warriors

Team List: Several changes for trip to Sydney

Author: Richard Becht & photosport.nz
Timestamp: Tue 2 Apr 2024, 03:59 PM

While first-choice fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad is back for his first game of the season, the One New Zealand Warriors will be missing Dylan Walker, Kurt Capewell and Luke Metcalf for their fifth-round NRL match against South Sydney at Accor Stadium on Saturday (3.00pm kick-off local time, 5.00pm NZT).

A hamstring injury kept Kiwi international Nicoll-Klokstad out of the club’s Preseason Challenge match against the Dolphins on February 24 and then the opening four rounds of the NRL season.

The 28-year-old comes back into the #1 jersey to move within three games of his 100th NRL career appearance while Roger Tuivasa-Sheck returns to the centres for his 200th milestone career game, his 116th outing for the Warriors.

Nicoll-Klokstad hasn’t had a game since his man of the match performance in the Kiwis’ record 30-0 win over the Kangaroos in the Pacific Championships final in Hamilton on November 4, a day when the fullback made 277 metres from 30 runs (101 post-contact metres) with two line break assists, a try assist, six tackles breaks and four off loads.

While the One New Zealand Warriors welcome back Nicoll-Klokstad, Walker, Capewell and Metcalf are all out.

Round 5 - Round 5 - Saturday 6 Apr

Full Time

Rabbitohs

Warriors

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Rabbitohs is number 1 Latrell Mitchell

Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
Winger for Rabbitohs is number 2 Izaac Tu’itupou Thompson

Winger for Warriors is number 4 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
Centre for Rabbitohs is number 3 Jack Wighton

Centre for Warriors is number 3 Rocco Berry
Centre for Rabbitohs is number 4 Isaiah Tass

Centre for Warriors is number 18 Adam Pompey
Winger for Rabbitohs is number 5 Taane Milne

Winger for Warriors is number 5 Marcelo Montoya
Five-Eighth for Rabbitohs is number 6 Cody Walker

Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Te Maire Martin
Halfback for Rabbitohs is number 7 Dean Hawkins

Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Shaun Johnson

Forwards

Prop for Rabbitohs is number 8 Tevita Tatola

Prop for Warriors is number 8 Addin Fonua-Blake
Hooker for Rabbitohs is number 9 Damien Cook

Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde Egan
Prop for Rabbitohs is number 10 Thomas Burgess

Prop for Warriors is number 16 Bunty Afoa
2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 11 Keaon Koloamatangi

2nd Row for Warriors is number 10 Mitchell Barnett
2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 12 Jacob Host

2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Jackson Ford
Lock for Rabbitohs is number 13 Cameron Murray

Lock for Warriors is number 13 Tohu Harris

Interchange

Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 14 Michael Chee Kam

Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Tom Ale
Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 15 Tallis Duncan

Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Jazz Tevaga
Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 16 Sean Keppie

Interchange for Warriors is number 20 Jacob Laban
Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 18 Peter Mamouzelos

Interchange for Warriors is number 21 Chanel Harris-Tavita

Reserves

Replacement for Rabbitohs is number 17 Davvy Moale

Replacement for Warriors is number 23 Ali Leiataua

Match Officials

Referee: Liam Kennedy
Touch Judge: Jon Stone
Senior Review Official: Ashley Klein

Last updated: 9/7/2024 12:25:48 PM

Metcalf is a long-term casualty after breaking the tibia in his right leg while being tackled by Knights second rower Tyson Frizell in the ninth minute of a match the Warriors went on to win 20-12.

The 25-year-old half has undergone surgery and won’t return until late in the season.

Walker was named for the last two matches against Canberra and Newcastle but was a late withdrawal both times due to an ankle complaint. He hasn’t been selected this week with Jazz Tevaga, his replacement against the Raiders and Knights, this week named on the interchange in jersey #17.

Capewell played the full 80 minutes on Sunday but later reported headaches and has been stood down as the club follows concussion protocols.

With Metcalf unavailable, One New Zealand Warriors head coach Andrew Webster has called in Te Maire Martin to start in the halves alongside Shaun Johnson, reprising the partnership he used for the opening four rounds last season before Martin missed the following round with concussion and was then sidelined for a lengthy part of the season after breaking his fibula in the sixth round match against Newcastle.

Martin, who has played for the club’s New South Wales Cup side three times in the opening four rounds this season, was influential in Sunday’s 26-12 win over Newcastle with three line break assists, two try assists, 26 runs for 144 metres and 24 tackles without a miss.

Chanel Harris-Tavita has again been listed on the extended bench. He was brought onto the interchange on Sunday, coming on to play the last 71 minutes of the match replacing Metcalf and scoring a try as well as creating one for Marcelo Montoya.

Coming into the second row for Capewell is Marata Niukore, who made his return from a foot injury with a 25-minute stint from the bench on Sunday.

Hooker Freddy Lussick and prop Tom Ale return to the interchange after being omitted for the Newcastle game, Ale playing for the New South Wales Cup side while Lussick was 18th man for the NRL team.