Continuity in selection is always a challenge in pathways teams and that’s certainly the case for the One New Zealand Warriors as they face Melbourne in their 12th-round Jersey Flegg Cup (under-21) match at Te pā o Rarotonga on Sunday (3.00pm kick-off).
On one hand development is a key focus resulting in players being promoted to a higher grade while on the other injuries and form have a significant impact.
The combined forces have brought about multiple changes from the lineup used in last week’s 10-20 loss to the Rabbitohs in Sydney.
More selection movement may follow before kick-off but when the team was named on Tuesday only six players were listed in the positions they started in against South Sydney.
Two of them are wingers Garry Tuilekutu and Raphael Sio in a backline which is otherwise reshuffled.
Match: Warriors v Storm
Round 12 -
home Team
Warriors
away Team
Storm
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Salesi PiliuFullback for Storm is number 1 Matthew Hill
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Winger for Warriors is number 2 Garry TuilekutuWinger for Storm is number 2 Bradley Avery
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Centre for Warriors is number 3 Nganaiaiafu VakeCentre for Storm is number 3 Coby Williamson
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Centre for Warriors is number 4 Sialetili FaeamaniCentre for Storm is number 4 Liam Williams
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Winger for Warriors is number 5 Rapheal SioWinger for Storm is number 5 Maanaima Amosa
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Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Jesse SoricFive-Eighth for Storm is number 6 Stanley Huen
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Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Maui Winitana-PatelesioHalfback for Storm is number 7 Joshua Berryman
Forwards
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Prop for Warriors is number 8 Rodney TuipulotuveaProp for Storm is number 8 Jak Goulding
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Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Jeriko Filipi-TalisauHooker for Storm is number 9 Gabriel Satrick
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Prop for Warriors is number 10 Tobias CrosbyProp for Storm is number 10 K-CI Newton-Whare
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2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Alvin Chong Nee2nd Row for Storm is number 11 Hudson Brown
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2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Presley Seumanu Tigafua2nd Row for Storm is number 12 Preston Conn
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Lock for Warriors is number 13 Ieti SamueluLock for Storm is number 13 De'Ontae Perese
Interchange
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Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Augustino FilipoInterchange for Storm is number 14 Suliasi Prescott
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Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Paaua Papuni-abbottInterchange for Storm is number 15 Suli Pole
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Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Ben PeniInterchange for Storm is number 16 Jordan Blundell
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Interchange for Warriors is number 20 Nehemiah AmoroaInterchange for Storm is number 17 Sheldon Diaz
Reserves
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Replacement for Warriors is number 21 Tallan EganReplacement for Storm is number 18 Anisi Salani
Last updated:
William Piliu moves from the centres to fullback, Siale Faeamani replaces him in the centres and Nganatatafu Vake returns as the other centre with Alvin Chong Nee moving back into the second row. There’s also a changed halves pairing with Jesse Soric and Maui Winitana-Patelesio selected.
Prop Toby Crosby boosts the forward pack coming back into the side after playing for the club’s New South Wales Cup side in last Saturday’s 22-10 win over Penrith.
There is also movement in the back row and the bench as the Warriors face a Storm side running two places ahead of them in 10th place.
When the sides met in round two, the Warriors were on the end of a heavy 10-36 loss but they’ve made significant progress since stringing together a series of solid performances.
The Storm come off a bye after a win over Parramatta in round 10 preceded by three consecutive losses.
