One New Zealand Warriors head coach Andrew Webster has named an unchanged starting lineup for Friday night’s seventh-round NRL match against St George Illawarra at WIN Stadium in Wollongong (6.00pm kick-off local time; 8.00pm NZT).
The clash will mark a special moment for prop Mitchell Barnett, who will be making his 150th career appearance after joining the club last season following 126 games for the Newcastle Knights and two for the Canberra Raiders.
His milestone comes two weeks after centre Roger Tuivasa-Sheck’s 200th game while more big moments loom for fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and second rower Kurt Capewell.
Nicoll-Klokstad plays his 99th match this week, Watene-Zelezniak his 196th and Capewell his 145th.
While the starting combination is intact after last Saturday’s sapping 22-22 golden point draw with Manly Warringah, there is a change on the bench with middle forward Jazz Tevaga facing a stint on the sideline after being forced off with a hamstring strain just nine minutes into his stint from the interchange.
Match: Dragons v Warriors
Round 7 -
home Team
Dragons
away Team
Warriors
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Dragons is number 1 Tyrell SloanFullback for Warriors is number 1 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
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Winger for Dragons is number 2 Christian TuipulotuWinger for Warriors is number 2 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
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Centre for Dragons is number 3 Mosese SuliCentre for Warriors is number 3 Rocco Berry
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Centre for Dragons is number 4 Zac LomaxCentre for Warriors is number 4 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
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Winger for Dragons is number 5 Mikaele RavalawaWinger for Warriors is number 5 Marcelo Montoya
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Five-Eighth for Dragons is number 6 Kyle FlanaganFive-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Te Maire Martin
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Halfback for Dragons is number 7 Ben HuntHalfback for Warriors is number 7 Shaun Johnson
Forwards
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Prop for Dragons is number 8 Francis MoloProp for Warriors is number 8 Addin Fonua-Blake
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Hooker for Dragons is number 9 Jacob LiddleHooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde Egan
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Prop for Dragons is number 10 Hame SeleProp for Warriors is number 10 Mitchell Barnett
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2nd Row for Dragons is number 11 Raymond Faitala-Mariner2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Jackson Ford
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2nd Row for Dragons is number 12 Jaydn Su'a2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Kurt Capewell
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Lock for Dragons is number 13 Tom EisenhuthLock for Warriors is number 13 Tohu Harris
Interchange
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Interchange for Dragons is number 15 Blake LawrieInterchange for Warriors is number 15 Tom Ale
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Interchange for Dragons is number 16 Jack De BelinInterchange for Warriors is number 16 Jacob Laban
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Interchange for Dragons is number 17 Ben Murdoch-MasilaInterchange for Warriors is number 17 Adam Pompey
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Interchange for Dragons is number 22 Fa'amanu BrownInterchange for Warriors is number 23 Paul Roache
Reserves
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Replacement for Dragons is number 18 Michael MoloReplacement for Warriors is number 18 Zyon Maiu'u
Match Officials
- Referee: Gerard Sutton
- Touch Judge: Phil Henderson
- Touch Judge: Kasey Badger
- Senior Review Official: Liam Kennedy
Last updated:
The 28-year-old 123-game veteran is now one of four 100-game plus frontline middle forwards on the injury list alongside Dylan Walker (221 games), Bunty Afoa (134) and Marata Niukore (119).
Rookie Jacob Laban, who turns 20 tomorrow (April 17), is on the interchange for the third week running with prop Tom Ale and utility Chanel Harris-Tavita while centre Adam Pompey joins them.
Included on the extended bench are Zyon Maiu’u, Taine Tuaupiki, Ali Leiataua, Edward Kosi and Paul Roache.
The One New Zealand Warriors are unbeaten in their last four outings ahead of their trip to Wollongong.
They boast the best defence in the competition conceding just 94 points in six matches, an average of 15.66 points a game while they’re also first for most metres gained (11,445), all runs (1269), kick return metres (1367) and total kicks (143) as well as being second for tackle breaks (197), third equal on set completions (81%) and rating prominently in a number of other key measures.
In individual categories Shaun Johnson leads all players for line engaged runs (64), all kicks (123) and attacking kicks (64) while he’s first equal for line breaks assists (7) and second for kick metres (3493).