New injuries to four players have forced major changes to the One New Zealand Warriors’ lineup for Sunday’s Magic Round encounter with three-time premier Penrith at Suncorp Stadium (1.50pm kick-off local time; 3.50pm NZT).
Halfback Shaun Johnson, centre Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Rocco Berry and Freddy Lussick have all joined other regular first graders Kurt Capewell, Marata Niukore, Chanel Harris-Tavita and Luke Metcalf on the injury list.
It has been confirmed 2023 player of the year Johnson suffered a minor pectoral muscle injury in last Sunday’s loss to the Sydney Roosters. It will keep him out of the club’s next two matches against the Panthers and the Dolphins with the expectation he’ll return after the club’s round 13 bye.
Centre Tuivasa-Sheck is out until round 17 with a hamstring strain, fellow centre Berry (fractured hand) is expected to be back after the bye and back-up hooker Lussick is following concussion protocols after a head knock on Sunday.
Match: Warriors v Panthers
Round 11 -
home Team
Warriors
away Team
Panthers
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Taine TuaupikiFullback for Panthers is number 1 Dylan Edwards
-
Winger for Warriors is number 2 Dallin Watene-ZelezniakWinger for Panthers is number 2 Sunia Turuva
-
Centre for Warriors is number 3 Ali LeiatauaCentre for Panthers is number 3 Izack Tago
-
Centre for Warriors is number 4 Adam PompeyCentre for Panthers is number 18 Paul Alamoti
-
Winger for Warriors is number 5 Marcelo MontoyaWinger for Panthers is number 5 Brian To'o
-
Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Charnze Nicoll-KlokstadFive-Eighth for Panthers is number 6 Jack Cole
-
Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Te Maire MartinHalfback for Panthers is number 7 Jarome Luai
Forwards
-
Prop for Warriors is number 8 Addin Fonua-BlakeProp for Panthers is number 10 James Fisher-Harris
-
Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde EganHooker for Panthers is number 9 Mitch Kenny
-
Prop for Warriors is number 10 Bunty AfoaProp for Panthers is number 15 Lindsay Smith
-
2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Jackson Ford2nd Row for Panthers is number 11 Luke Garner
-
2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Mitchell Barnett2nd Row for Panthers is number 12 Liam Martin
-
Lock for Warriors is number 14 Dylan WalkerLock for Panthers is number 13 Isaah Yeo
Interchange
-
Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Tom AleInterchange for Panthers is number 8 Moses Leota
-
Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Jazz TevagaInterchange for Panthers is number 16 Matthew Eisenhuth
-
Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Jacob LabanInterchange for Panthers is number 20 Tyrone Peachey
-
Interchange for Warriors is number 21 Paul RoacheInterchange for Panthers is number 22 Scott Sorensen
Reserves
-
Replacement for Warriors is number 18 Zyon Maiu'uReplacement for Panthers is number 17 Mavrik Geyer
Match Officials
- Referee: Grant Atkins
- Touch Judge: Dave Munro
- Touch Judge: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
- Senior Review Official: Matt Noyen
Last updated:
With the Warriors now deprived of a combined total of almost 900 NRL appearances, One New Zealand Warriors head coach Andrew Webster has been forced to name a much-changed backline and extended bench.
With three of the club’s four NRL halves injured – Johnson, Harris-Tavita and Metcalf – Webster has moved Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad from fullback to standoff with Te Maire Martin taking over at halfback.
That sees Taine Tuaupiki named at fullback for his ninth NRL appearance, his first outing since the round three win against Canberra in Christchurch.
Adam Pompey, who came in for Tuivasa-Sheck on Sunday, is paired in the centres with Ali Leiataua, set to play just his second first-grade game after debuting against Canberra last June.
Returning on the left wing is Marcelo Montoya for an occasion which coincides with the 200th career appearance for his established wing partner Dallin Watene-Zelezniak.
The starting forward pack is the same as the combination originally selected for last week’s contest with the Roosters. Dylan Walker, Tom Ale and Jazz Tevaga are again on the interchange with rookie Jacob Laban joining them.