NSW Cup Team List: Injury-enforced changes for Warriors

Author: Richard Becht & photosport.nz
Timestamp: Fri 3 May 2024, 12:18 PM

Injuries in the gritty draw with Penrith have forced the One New Zealand Warriors to make some changes for their round nine New South Wales Cup clash against the Knights at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle on Sunday (11.30am kick-off local time; 1.30pm NZT).

To eke a point out of the contest against the competition-leading Panthers was impressive enough - but all the more so given the adversity they endured throughout the match.

Winger Setu Tu was helped from the field early on with a knee injury which has sidelined him for a yet to be confirmed length of time while hooker-half Paul Roache is following NRL protocols this week after leaving the field in the 65th minute of the contest.

Standoff Ben Farr and prop-second rower Eddie Ieremia were also off the field at different stages being assessed after head knocks but were cleared to go back on while experienced NRL centre Adam Pompey, who started in the second row, was another to leave the field. Pompey has recovered to be named on the NRL side’s extended bench this week.

As well as Tu and Roache, centre Ali Leiataua is out this week resulting in Moala Graham-Taufa returning to start in the centres with 18-year-old Motu Pasikala named as Tu’s replacement. The rest of the backline listed is the same as the one that started against Penrith.

Round 9 - Round 9 - Sunday 5 May

Full Time

Knights

Warriors

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Knights is number 1 Will Pryce

Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Taine Tuaupiki
Winger for Knights is number 2 Laitia Moceidreke

Winger for Warriors is number 2 Motu Pasikala
Centre for Knights is number 3 Thomas Jenkins

Centre for Warriors is number 3 Sio Kali
Centre for Knights is number 4 Krystian Mapapalangi

Centre for Warriors is number 4 Moala Graham-Taufa
Winger for Knights is number 5 Kyle McCarthy

Winger for Warriors is number 5 Edward Kosi
Five-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Liam Sutton

Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Ben Farr
Halfback for Knights is number 7 Jack Cogger

Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Luke Hanson

Forwards

Prop for Knights is number 10 Sebastian Su'a

Prop for Warriors is number 10 Tanner Stowers-Smith
Hooker for Knights is number 9 Riley Jones

Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Makaia Tafua
Prop for Knights is number 15 John Toleafoa

Prop for Warriors is number 18 Zyon Maiu'u
2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Elijah Salesa leaumoana

2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Eddie Ieremia-Toeava
2nd Row for Knights is number 18 Mat Croker

2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Maia Sands
Lock for Knights is number 13 Jaxson Rahme

Lock for Warriors is number 13 Kalani Going

Interchange

Interchange for Knights is number 8 Paul Bryan

Interchange for Warriors is number 8 Harry Durbin
Interchange for Knights is number 14 Zach Herring

Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Kayliss Fatialofa
Interchange for Knights is number 16 Callan Burgess

Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Toni Tupouniua
Interchange for Knights is number 17 Jack Cullen

Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Geronimo Doyle

Reserves

Replacement for Knights is number 19 Myles Martin

Replacement for Warriors is number 14 Jacob Auloa

Last updated: 5/6/2024 1:48:37 AM

Returning on the bench is young hooker Jaydee Auloa (19), who started the season playing in the SG Ball Cup competition. Pasikala was also in the SG Ball squad but was then promoted to the Jersey Flegg Cup team and now to reserve grade while halfback Luke Hanson (20), front rower Harry Durbin (20), centre Sio Kali (18), hooker Makaia Tafua (19) and back rower Kayliss Fatialofa (19) have all come up after playing in the lower grades earlier in the season. Ieremia (19) was eligible to play SG Ball but has been developing at reserve grade level this season.

Prop Tanner Stowers-Smith is still only 20 but established himself in the New South Wales Cup last season.

Despite their injury setbacks, the youthful Warriors pushed the Panthers close to their first defeat of the season last week to continue a solid run in the competition.

After opening with a 28-24 win over Newtown, the Warriors lost heavily to North Sydney and Canberra before beating the Knights 26-12, losing by six points to both the Rabbitohs and the Sea Eagles, snatching a stunning late 26-24 win over St George Illawarra and drawing with Penrith last Saturday.

The Knights sit one point ahead on the ladder on eight points following a 34-12 win over South Sydney last week.