Buoyed by their hard-earned 18-4 win over the Dragons, the One New Zealand Warriors face something of a litmus test when they take on Canberra in Saturday’s 17th-round New South Wales Cup clash at Go Media Stadium (2.40pm kick-off).
The Warriors have fashioned a fine run of form with seven wins, a draw and just one loss in their last nine matches to be fourth equal on points with Newtown but fifth on points for and against differential.
The only setback came in tense tussle with competition leader North Sydney when they went down 16-22.
This week the Warriors come up against a formidable opponent in the second-placed Canberra Raiders who are just three points ahead and come to Auckland on the back of five wins, a draw and also just one loss in their last seven games.
Match: Warriors v Raiders
Round 17 -
home Team
Warriors
away Team
Raiders
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Taine TuaupikiFullback for Raiders is number 20 Chevy Stewart
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Winger for Warriors is number 2 Motu PasikalaWinger for Raiders is number 2 Atini Tuialii
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Centre for Warriors is number 3 Setu TuCentre for Raiders is number 3 James Schiller
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Centre for Warriors is number 11 Eddie Ieremia-ToeavaCentre for Raiders is number 4 Prinston Esera
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Winger for Warriors is number 5 Edward KosiWinger for Raiders is number 5 Jed Stuart
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Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Ben FarrFive-Eighth for Raiders is number 1 Manaia Waitere
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Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Luke HansonHalfback for Raiders is number 6 Mitch Henderson
Forwards
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Prop for Warriors is number 8 Demitric SifakulaProp for Raiders is number 18 Emre Guler
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Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Makaia TafuaHooker for Raiders is number 23 Adrian Trevilyan
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Prop for Warriors is number 10 Bunty AfoaProp for Raiders is number 21 Corey Horsburgh
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2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Leka Halasima2nd Row for Raiders is number 13 Mitchell Spencer
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2nd Row for Warriors is number 20 Jacob Laban2nd Row for Raiders is number 19 Noah Martin
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Lock for Warriors is number 18 Tom AleLock for Raiders is number 9 Hohepa Puru
Interchange
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Interchange for Warriors is number 13 Kalani GoingInterchange for Raiders is number 8 Peter Taateo
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Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Maia SandsInterchange for Raiders is number 10 Jake Clydsdale
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Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Tanner Stowers-SmithInterchange for Raiders is number 14 Owen Pattie
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Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Walter FifitaInterchange for Raiders is number 16 Josh Billing
Reserves
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Replacement for Warriors is number 15 Harry DurbinReplacement for Raiders is number 15 Kalani Skipps
Last updated:
When the teams met in Canberra in the third round of the competition, the Raiders inflicted a galling 42-4 defeat on the Warriors.
Much has changed for the Warriors since then, though, as they’ve settled into the tempo of the season in stringing together impressive results; now comes a much sterner test.
The squad named on Tuesday has varying degrees of NRL experience in fullback Taine Tuaupiki, winger Edward Kosi, centre Moala Graham-Taufa, prop Demitric Sifakula, loose forward Kalani Going and, most notably, 138-game NRL front rower Bunty Afoa.
As well as Sifakula, there’s youth and promise throughout the side in winger Motu Pasikala, halfback Luke Hanson, hooker Makaia Tafua, second rowers Leka Halasima and Eddie Ieremia plus interchange forwards Harry Durbin and Tanner Stowers-Smith. All have played for either the club’s SG Ball Cup (under-19) or Jersey Flegg Cup (under-21) sides – or both - or were eligible to do so.
Apart from the younger set winger-centre Stu Tu, just back from an injury stint, standoff Ben Farr and back rower Maia Sands provide plenty of NSW Cup experience while on the interchange Walter Fifita made his debut just last week.
Back on home turf for the second week running, the Warriors will be chasing their fourth straight win since losing to the Bears.
