NSW Cup Team List: Edward Kosi, Moala Graham-Taufa back for Warriors

Author: Richard Becht & photosport.nz
Timestamp: Fri 31 May 2024, 10:06 AM

After their NRL heroics last Sunday, Edward Kosi and Moala Graham-Taufa are back on New South Wales Cup duty for the One New Zealand Warriors’ 13th-round clash against the Sydney Roosters at Wentworth Park in Sydney on Sunday (3.00pm kick-off local time; 5.00pm NZT).

They both received game day call-ups for the Warriors’ Indigenous Round clash against the Dolphins.

First head coach Andrew Webster contacted Marist Saints junior Graham-Taufa to let the 22-year-old know he would be playing his first NRL match for the Warriors replacing the unavailable Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (who had himself been moved to the centres from standoff for the ruled-out Rocco Berry).

And then Webster called Kosi to inform him he’d be on the right wing instead of Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, who was needed at fullback in place of Taine Tuaupiki (a late withdrawal to be with his partner for the imminent birth of their first child).

It was an unconventional way for the NSW Cup right-edge teammates to prepare for such a critical NRL clash, more so for Graham-Taufa on club debut as Warrior #288.

Round 13 - Round 13 - Sunday 2 Jun

Full Time

Roosters

Warriors

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Roosters is number 1 Callum Gromek

Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Ben Farr
Winger for Roosters is number 5 Harry McKeon

Winger for Warriors is number 2 Motu Pasikala
Centre for Roosters is number 2 Ethan Clark-Wood

Centre for Warriors is number 4 Moala Graham-Taufa
Centre for Roosters is number 3 Kyron Fekitoa

Centre for Warriors is number 11 Eddie Ieremia-Toeava
Winger for Roosters is number 13 Turoa Williams

Winger for Warriors is number 5 Edward Kosi
Five-Eighth for Roosters is number 6 Jake Elliott

Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Caleb Laiman
Halfback for Roosters is number 7 Hugo Savala

Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Luke Hanson

Forwards

Prop for Roosters is number 10 Taylor Losalu

Prop for Warriors is number 8 Zyon Maiu'u
Hooker for Roosters is number 9 Michael Coleman

Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Makaia Tafua
Prop for Roosters is number 17 Lafi Tuinauvai

Prop for Warriors is number 10 Tanner Stowers-Smith
2nd Row for Roosters is number 11 Phoenix Steinwede

2nd Row for Warriors is number 15 Leka Halasima
2nd Row for Roosters is number 14 Hayden Barton

2nd Row for Warriors is number 20 Jacob Laban
Lock for Roosters is number 16 Lomi Saukuru

Lock for Warriors is number 13 Kalani Going

Interchange

Interchange for Roosters is number 8 Xavier Va'a

Interchange for Warriors is number 12 Maia Sands
Interchange for Roosters is number 12 Meli Nasau

Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Jacob Auloa
Interchange for Roosters is number 18 Corey Ross

Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Toni Tupouniua
Interchange for Roosters is number 22 Tayson Fakaosi

Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Demitric Sifakula

Reserves

Replacement for Roosters is number 30 Reece Foley

Replacement for Warriors is number 18 Compton Fuatimau

Last updated: 6/2/2024 9:31:15 PM

He’d previously made his NRL debut with the Sydney Roosters in 2021 but was on the field for only two minutes as 18th man to replace Joey Manu after he’d been forced off following a well-documented dangerous tackle by South Sydney’s Latrell Mitchell.

On a dramatic day Graham-Taufa and Kosi made key contributions to an exceptional team display which secured a superb 24-20 victory.

Kosi ran for 163 metres from 16 runs (only Watene-Zelezniak and Mitchell Barnett topped that among Warriors players) with two tackle breaks while Graham-Taufa finished with 121 metres from 17 runs with five tackle breaks and no errors.

Now the pair return to New South Wales Cup football as the seventh-placed Warriors take on the Roosters for the second time in just three weeks.

When they last met at North Harbour Stadium on May 12 – with Graham-Taufa on the wing and Kosi with the NRL side – the Warriors prevailed 26-20.

Since then they have upset previous competition leader Penrith and came close to another against-the-odds victory against the highly-placed North Sydney last weekend; the Roosters have had a bye followed by a loss to the Raiders in the last two rounds to leave them 12th.

Apart from Graham-Taufa and Kosi, 2024 NRL rookie Zyon Maiu’u returns to the front row after being 18th man for the first-grade team’s wins over the Panthers and Dolphins.