Team LIst: Four players back from injury
Marata Niukore, Rocco Berry, Freddy Lussick and Chanel Harris-Tavita return from injury for the One New Zealand Warriors’ Indigenous Round encounter with the Dolphins at the temporarily named Te pā o Rarotonga on Sunday (6.05pm kick-off; game day partners: Warriors Community Foundation and Kidz First).
Centre Berry (hand), second rower Niukore (foot), hooker Lussick (concussion) and utility Harris-Tavita (calf) have been named in the extended squad for the club’s first match on home soil since the Anzac Day contest against the Gold Coast Titans.
While those four players come off the injury list, hooker Wayde Egan (concussion) and centre Ali Leiataua (ankle) join the casualties.
Egan is following NRL protocols after a head knock early in Sunday’s clash against the Panthers forced him out of the contest. With the club having a bye in round 13, Egan will be in line to make his return for the away match against North Queensland on June 8.
Rookie Leiataua, playing just his second NRL fixture, was a try-scoring hero in the 22-20 win over the Panthers but picked up an ankle injury which is set to keep him out until early July.
Match: Warriors v Dolphins
Round 12 -
home Team
Warriors
away Team
Dolphins
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Warriors is number 2 Dallin Watene-ZelezniakFullback for Dolphins is number 1 Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
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Winger for Warriors is number 5 Marcelo MontoyaWinger for Dolphins is number 2 Jamayne Isaako
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Centre for Warriors is number 4 Adam PompeyCentre for Dolphins is number 3 Jake Averillo
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Centre for Warriors is number 23 Moala Graham-TaufaCentre for Dolphins is number 4 Herbie Farnworth
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Winger for Warriors is number 22 Edward KosiWinger for Dolphins is number 5 Jack Bostock
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Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 20 Chanel Harris-TavitaFive-Eighth for Dolphins is number 6 Kodi Nikorima
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Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Te Maire MartinHalfback for Dolphins is number 7 Isaiya Katoa
Forwards
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Prop for Warriors is number 10 Bunty AfoaProp for Dolphins is number 8 Jesse Bromwich
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Hooker for Warriors is number 18 Paul RoacheHooker for Dolphins is number 9 Jeremy Marshall-King
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Prop for Warriors is number 17 Marata NiukoreProp for Dolphins is number 11 Felise Kaufusi
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2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Jackson Ford2nd Row for Dolphins is number 12 Euan Aitken
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2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Mitchell Barnett2nd Row for Dolphins is number 17 Connelly Lemuelu
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Lock for Warriors is number 13 Dylan WalkerLock for Dolphins is number 13 Max Plath
Interchange
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Interchange for Warriors is number 9 Freddy LussickInterchange for Dolphins is number 10 Mark Nicholls
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Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Tom AleInterchange for Dolphins is number 14 Josh Kerr
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Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Jazz TevagaInterchange for Dolphins is number 15 Kenneath Bromwich
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Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Jacob LabanInterchange for Dolphins is number 16 Ray Stone
Reserves
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Replacement for Warriors is number 21 Zyon Maiu'uReplacement for Dolphins is number 18 Oryn Keeley
Match Officials
- Referee: Liam Kennedy
- Senior Review Official: Gerard Sutton
Last updated:
Along with Egan and Leiataua, captain Tohu Harris, halfback Shaun Johnson, centre Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, second rower Kurt Capewell and standoff Luke Metcalf remain in recovery.
With some reinforcements coming back, One New Zealand Warriors head coach Andrew Webster has Berry back in the centres, where he has been for 10 of the club’s 11 games this year, while Lussick is named to start at hooker, Niukore on the interchange and Harris-Tavita on the extended bench.
The powerful Niukore is eyeing just his second game of the season after last playing in the round four home win against Newcastle. Harris-Tavita’s last outing was the round six draw with Manly Warringah.
With Johnson out, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad is again named at standoff and Taine Tuaupiki at fullback with Dylan Walker starting at loose forward for the unavailable Harris. Mitchell Barnett will captain the side this week.
The Dolphins head to Auckland in strong form, having won their last three games and seven in all to sit fourth on the ladder on 16 points.
The Warriors' exhilarating and courageous performance against the three-times premiership-winning Penrith Panthers ended a tough series of three matches in Australia.
