Props Bunty Afoa and Tom Ale along with utility back Ben Farr have been omitted from the One New Zealand Warriors’ extended squad for tomorrow night’s round 21 clash against the Wests Tigers at Go Media Stadium (8.00pm kick-off).
Winger-fullback Setu Tu and back rower Demitric Sifakula have been retained in the 19-man game day lineup with Tu, yet to make his NRL debut, listed as 18th man and 2023 rookie Sifakula as 19th man.
It leaves the Warriors on track to use the 17 players named on Tuesday.
More injuries to outside backs have caused another backline reshuffle for the sold-out match against the Tigers.
When they last played at home against the Broncos four weeks ago the Warriors started and finished with their strongest available backline in a 32-16 victory.
Match: Warriors v Wests Tigers
Round 21 -
home Team
Warriors
away Team
Wests Tigers
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Roger Tuivasa-SheckFullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Jahream Bula
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Winger for Warriors is number 2 Dallin Watene-ZelezniakWinger for Wests Tigers is number 2 Luke Laulilii
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Centre for Warriors is number 3 Ali LeiatauaCentre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Solomona Faataape
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Centre for Warriors is number 4 Moala Graham-TaufaCentre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Starford To'a
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Winger for Warriors is number 5 Edward KosiWinger for Wests Tigers is number 5 Charlie Staines
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Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Chanel Harris-TavitaFive-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Lachlan Galvin
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Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Te Maire MartinHalfback for Wests Tigers is number 9 Apisai Koroisau
Forwards
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Prop for Warriors is number 8 Addin Fonua-BlakeProp for Wests Tigers is number 8 Stefano Utoikamanu
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Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde EganHooker for Wests Tigers is number 14 Tallyn Da Silva
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Prop for Warriors is number 10 Mitchell BarnettProp for Wests Tigers is number 10 Fonua Pole
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2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Marata Niukore2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Reuben Porter
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2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Kurt Capewell2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Samuela Fainu
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Lock for Warriors is number 13 Dylan WalkerLock for Wests Tigers is number 17 Alex Twal
Interchange
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Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Freddy LussickInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 7 Latu Fainu
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Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Jackson FordInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 13 Isaiah Papali'i
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Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Jazz TevagaInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Alex Seyfarth
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Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Leka HalasimaInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Sione Fainu
Reserves
-
Replacement for Warriors is number 18 Tom AleReplacement for Wests Tigers is number 18 Heath Mason
Match Officials
- Referee: Peter Gough
- Touch Judge: Drew Oultram
- Senior Review Official: Todd Smith
Last updated:
The same combination ran on the following week against the Bulldogs only for three of them to be forced off the field – fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (calf) off in the 39th minute, right winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (head knock) in the 46th minute and left winger Marcelo Montoya (groin) in the 63rd minute.
Then last Friday night against Canberra replacement fullback Taine Tuaupiki was ruled out of the contest after an eighth-minute head knock while centre Adam Pompey (knee) left the field in the opening minute of the second half.
For two games on end second rower Kurt Capewell and rookie Leka Halasima had to play big minutes in the centres as the backline was reshaped on the run.
Now, with Nicoll-Klokstad, Montoya, Tuaupiki and Pompey all out this week, the Warriors can form a complete backline from a list of injured players which also includes centre Rocco Berry (shoulder), standoff Luke Metcalf (leg) and halfback Shaun Johnson (chronic Achilles tendinopathy).
For tomorrow night’s return to Go Media Stadium, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck switches to fullback where he played for 72 minutes after starting on the left wing against the Raiders. That sees Edward Kosi take Tuivasa-Sheck’s spot and New South Wales Cup regular Moala Graham-Taufa is named for his third NRL appearance in the centres.
The 25-year-old Kosi returns for his fourth match this season and the 31st of his career after last playing in the shattering loss to Gold Coast in round 16.
Graham-Taufa (22) made his club debut as a game day replacement in the memorable 24-20 win over the Dolphins on May 26. He was the Warriors’ unused reserve against the Broncos and the Raiders.
Only Watene-Zelezniak, centre Ali Leiataua and halves Chanel Harris-Tavita and Te Maire Martin are set to run out in the same positions they started in against the Raiders.
The starting pack remains intact for the fourth straight game with a front row of Addin Fonua-Blake, Wayde Egan and Mitchell Barnett, Marata Niukore and Kurt Capewell in the second row and Dylan Walker at loose forward while the interchange is the same as the one used against the Bulldogs and the Raiders.
