NSW Cup Team List: Bunty Afoa bolsters Warriors' pack

Author: Richard Becht & photosport.nz
Timestamp: Fri 14 Jun 2024, 03:04 PM

Some heavyweight NRL experience will be on hand when the One New Zealand Warriors take on the Western Suburbs Magpies in Saturday’s 15th-round New South Wales Cup contest at Leichhardt Oval in Sydney (12.40pm kick-off local time; 2.40pm NZT).

Starting in the front row will be 138-game NRL veteran Bunty Afoa, a key contributor in the Warriors’ gritty wins over Penrith and the Dolphins.

With a number of players available again last weekend, Afoa missed the match against North Queensland enjoying a week off with the New South Wales Cup side having a bye.

Freshened up he’s in a front row which had Makaia Taufa listed at hooker and back rower Demitric Sifakula as the other prop when the team was released on Tuesday.

Afoa has other NRL squad company as well with Taine Tuaupiki at fullback, Edward Kosi on the wing, Moala Graham-Taufa in the centres and Jacob Laban in the second row.

Round 15 - Round 15 - Saturday 15 Jun

Full Time

Magpies

Warriors

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Magpies is number 6 Curtis Wilson

Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Taine Tuaupiki
Winger for Magpies is number 2 Luke Laulilii

Winger for Warriors is number 2 Motu Pasikala
Centre for Magpies is number 4 Declan Casey

Centre for Warriors is number 3 Eddie Ieremia-Toeava
Centre for Magpies is number 5 Solomone Saukuru

Centre for Warriors is number 4 Moala Graham-Taufa
Winger for Magpies is number 19 Navren Willett

Winger for Warriors is number 5 Edward Kosi
Five-Eighth for Magpies is number 21 Noah Ryan

Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Ben Farr
Halfback for Magpies is number 7 Adam Doueihi

Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Luke Hanson

Forwards

Prop for Magpies is number 8 Tim Johannssen

Prop for Warriors is number 8 Demitric Sifakula
Hooker for Magpies is number 9 James Valevatu

Hooker for Warriors is number 20 Freddy Lussick
Prop for Magpies is number 18 Herman Tofaeono

Prop for Warriors is number 10 Bunty Afoa
2nd Row for Magpies is number 11 Tony Sukkar

2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Leka Halasima
2nd Row for Magpies is number 12 Zakauri Clarke

2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Jacob Laban
Lock for Magpies is number 13 Kit Laulilii

Lock for Warriors is number 13 Kalani Going

Interchange

Interchange for Magpies is number 14 Bailey Hodges

Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Caleb Laiman
Interchange for Magpies is number 16 Sione Vaihu

Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Harry Durbin
Interchange for Magpies is number 17 Cayne Nicholas

Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Maia Sands
Interchange for Magpies is number 20 Josh Finau

Interchange for Warriors is number 21 Rodney Tuipulotuvea

Reserves

Replacement for Magpies is number 1 Ryan Garner

Replacement for Warriors is number 18 Compton Fuatimau

Last updated: 6/16/2024 10:40:47 AM

After leading the club’s Jersey Flegg Cup (under-21) side to victory over the Silktails in Lautoka last Saturday, Harry Durbin comes back into the squad on the interchange.

Ever-present captain Kalani Going will make his 14th consecutive appearance in a campaign which has seen him average 132 metres and 31 tackles a game.

With five wins, a draw and just one loss in their last seven matches (plus two points from a bye), the Warriors have climbed to 17 points to sit sixth on the ladder.

They face a Magpies which has won just twice this season, losing each of its last four games.