Atonement will be the big driver when the One New Zealand Warriors face the Parramatta Eels in Saturday’s 19th-round New South Wales Cup encounter at Lidcombe Oval in Sydney (3.00pm kick-off local time; 5.00pm NZT).
They’ll be seeking a swift response after last weekend’s 16-46 loss to the Bulldogs which saw them slip from third to fifth on the ladder.
The nature of the performance was unexpected given the Warriors' strong run of form over the previous 10 matches which had seen them clock up eight wins, a draw and just one loss.
To bounce back they’ll have to do so against the ninth-placed Eels coming off four wins in their last five starts.
Aiding the Warriors’ cause will be the return of hard-running prop Zyon Maiu’u, who will be having his first game back from an ankle injury since the round 13 win over the Roosters.
Match: Eels v Warriors
Round 19 -
home Team
Eels
away Team
Warriors
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Eels is number 1 Zac CiniFullback for Warriors is number 1 Setu Tu
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Winger for Eels is number 2 Mohamed AlameddineWinger for Warriors is number 2 Motu Pasikala
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Centre for Eels is number 3 Samuel LoizouCentre for Warriors is number 3 Nganaiaiafu Vake
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Centre for Eels is number 4 Morgan HarperCentre for Warriors is number 4 Sio Kali
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Winger for Eels is number 5 Isaac LumelumeWinger for Warriors is number 5 Edward Kosi
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Five-Eighth for Eels is number 6 Joshua LynnFive-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Ben Farr
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Halfback for Eels is number 7 Ethan SandersHalfback for Warriors is number 7 Luke Hanson
Forwards
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Prop for Eels is number 8 Wiremu GreigProp for Warriors is number 8 Demitric Sifakula
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Hooker for Eels is number 9 Joey LussickHooker for Warriors is number 9 Makaia Tafua
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Prop for Eels is number 10 Reece AldertonProp for Warriors is number 20 Jacob Laban
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2nd Row for Eels is number 11 Dan Keir2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Eddie Ieremia-Toeava
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2nd Row for Eels is number 12 Jock Brazel2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Maia Sands
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Lock for Eels is number 13 Brock ParkerLock for Warriors is number 13 Kalani Going
Interchange
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Interchange for Eels is number 14 Meni LukeInterchange for Warriors is number 10 Tanner Stowers-Smith
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Interchange for Eels is number 15 Saxon PrykeInterchange for Warriors is number 16 Zyon Maiu'u
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Interchange for Eels is number 16 Adam SpicerInterchange for Warriors is number 21 Toni Tupouniua
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Interchange for Eels is number 17 Max TupouInterchange for Warriors is number 22 Caleb Laiman
Reserves
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Replacement for Eels is number 18 Sam Tuivaiti
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Reserve for Warriors is number 18 Walter Fifita
Last updated:
The 21-year-old, who made his NRL debut against Gold Coast on Anzac Day, has been listed on the bench with Demitric Sifakula and Tanner Stowers-Smith named as the starting props.
With the club’s NRL side having a bye this week, the New South Wales squad is thin on first-grade experience. Apart from Maiu’u the only other NRL players are winger Edward Kosi, centre Moala Graham-Taufa, Sifakula and captain Kalani Going. Missing from last week's lineup are Bunty Afoa, Ali Leiataua and Jacob Laban.
Of the players named on Tuesday, seven have played for either the SG Ball Cup (under-19) or Jersey Flegg Cup (under-21) sides this season while another four were eligible but have been used at NSW Cup level only.
