Confirmed Lineup: Halasima called up for debut
Teenaged back rower Leka Halasima has been called up to make his NRL debut in the One New Zealand Warriors’ 18th-round encounter with the in-form Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs at Accor Stadium in Sydney today (3.00pm kick-off local time; 5.00pm NZT).
The promotion comes after the Mangere East Hawks and Otahuhu Leopards junior was moved into the game day 19 yesterday as a result of captain Tohu Harris being ruled out indefinitely with a chronic wrist injury.
The 18-year-old is the fifth NRL debutant to graduate from the Warriors’ development system in the last two seasons following second rower Demitric Sifakula (#278), centre Ali Leiataua (#282), back rower Jacob Laban (#286) and prop Zyon Maiu’u (#287).
Born in Tofoa in Tonga, Halasima exploded onto the scene as a 17-year-old with the SG Ball Cup (then an under-18 competition) side last year, playing six matches, scoring two tries, averaging 125 metres and making 35 tackle breaks. He was named the club's SG Ball Cup player of the year.
Such was his potential he was quickly pushed up into the New South Wales Cup team where he played 18 matches, scored six tries, averaged 103 metres and made 56 tackle breaks.
Match: Bulldogs v Warriors
Round 18 -
home Team
Bulldogs
away Team
Warriors
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Bulldogs is number 1 Connor TraceyFullback for Warriors is number 1 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
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Winger for Bulldogs is number 2 Jacob KirazWinger for Warriors is number 2 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
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Centre for Bulldogs is number 3 Bronson XerriCentre for Warriors is number 3 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
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Centre for Bulldogs is number 4 Stephen CrichtonCentre for Warriors is number 4 Adam Pompey
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Winger for Bulldogs is number 5 Blake WilsonWinger for Warriors is number 5 Marcelo Montoya
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Five-Eighth for Bulldogs is number 6 Matt BurtonFive-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Chanel Harris-Tavita
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Halfback for Bulldogs is number 7 Toby SextonHalfback for Warriors is number 7 Te Maire Martin
Forwards
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Prop for Bulldogs is number 8 Max KingProp for Warriors is number 8 Addin Fonua-Blake
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Hooker for Bulldogs is number 9 Reed MahoneyHooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde Egan
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Prop for Bulldogs is number 10 Samuel HughesProp for Warriors is number 10 Mitchell Barnett
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2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 11 Viliame Kikau2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Marata Niukore
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2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 12 Jaeman Salmon2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Kurt Capewell
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Lock for Bulldogs is number 14 Kurt MannLock for Warriors is number 15 Dylan Walker
Interchange
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Interchange for Bulldogs is number 13 Bailey HaywardInterchange for Warriors is number 14 Freddy Lussick
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Interchange for Bulldogs is number 15 Josh CurranInterchange for Warriors is number 16 Jazz Tevaga
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Interchange for Bulldogs is number 16 Kurtis MorrinInterchange for Warriors is number 17 Jackson Ford
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Interchange for Bulldogs is number 17 Lipoi HopoiInterchange for Warriors is number 23 Leka Halasima
Reserves
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Replacement for Bulldogs is number 19 Jeral SkeltonReplacement for Warriors is number 20 Taine Tuaupiki
Match Officials
- Referee: Chris Butler
- Touch Judge: Drew Oultram
- Senior Review Official: Adam Gee
Last updated:
In an injury-disrupted 2024 season he has scored three tries in seven NSW Cup outings, averaged 144 metres and made 34 tackle breaks including an exceptional 13 against the Dragons.
With Harris out, Dylan Walker today starts at loose forward for the sixth time in the Warriors’ last seven games.
Along with Harris the other two players omitted from the extended squad at the 24-hour deadline were back rower Jacob Laban and centre Ali Leiataua.
After being named on the bench but ultimately starting against Brisbane, back rower Kurt Capewell is in the run-on side for his 150-game milestone appearance.
The 30-year-old Queensland Origin representative will be playing his 11th game for the club following 64 matches for Cronulla Sutherland from 2016-2019, 32 for Penrith in 2020-2021 and 43 for Brisbane in 2022-2023.
He’s paired in the second row with Marata Niukore while New South Wales Origin forward Mitchell Barnett is selected in the front row where he started against the Broncos.
The backline is unchanged from the one used against the Broncos when standoff Chanel Harris-Tavita, halfback Te Maire Martin, centre Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak provided five of their side’s six tries.
While the Warriors are coming off an exceptional turnaround, rebounding from a 6-66 loss to the Titans to beat the Broncos 32-16, they face a searching test against a high-flying Canterbury Bankstown side now running sixth in the competition on 20 points having won four of its last five matches. The Warriors are three points behind in 14th spot on a congested table.
The Warriors have won the last six encounters with the Bulldogs and eight of the last 10 since 2016 but the Canterbury Bankstown side is vastly improved this year after finishing 15th last season.
