Team Update: Shaun Johnson out for match against Dolphins

Team Update: SJ out of Suncorp Stadium showdown

Author: Richard Becht & photosport.nz
Timestamp: Sat 10 Aug 2024, 02:01 PM

Halfback Shaun Johnson will miss the One New Zealand Warriors’ 23rd-round NRL encounter with the Dolphins at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane tomorrow (2.00pm kickoff local time; 4.00pm NZT).

Five days after announcing he’ll retire at the end of this season – his 14th in the NRL – the 33-year-old has been ruled out with a quadricep injury he picked up in last week’s loss to Parramatta.

He’ll miss the match against the Dolphins but is expected to be available for the round 24 encounter with the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles in Sydney next Friday night (August 16).

Te Maire Martin, who was named in jersey #18 on Tuesday, comes into halfback after playing for club’s New South Wales Cup side last week.

Also dropping out of the extended squad are second rower Leka Halasima and centre Moala Graham-Taufa. Rookie back rower Demitric Sifakula moves onto the interchange for his fourth NRL outing in all and his first since being used against Brisbane in Napier last May.

Sifakula has been making his comeback from ACL surgery with the NSW Cup side.

The other two players retained in the 19-man game day squad are fullback Taine Tuaupiki and prop Bunty Afoa.

Round 23 - Round 23 - Sunday 11 Aug

Full Time

Dolphins

Warriors

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Dolphins is number 1 Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow

Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
Winger for Dolphins is number 2 Jamayne Isaako

Winger for Warriors is number 2 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
Centre for Dolphins is number 3 Jake Averillo

Centre for Warriors is number 3 Ali Leiataua
Centre for Dolphins is number 4 Herbie Farnworth

Centre for Warriors is number 4 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
Winger for Dolphins is number 5 Jack Bostock

Winger for Warriors is number 5 Edward Kosi
Five-Eighth for Dolphins is number 6 Kodi Nikorima

Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Chanel Harris-Tavita
Halfback for Dolphins is number 7 Isaiya Katoa

Halfback for Warriors is number 18 Te Maire Martin

Forwards

Prop for Dolphins is number 8 Jesse Bromwich

Prop for Warriors is number 8 Addin Fonua-Blake
Hooker for Dolphins is number 9 Max Plath

Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde Egan
Prop for Dolphins is number 10 Tevita Pangai Junior

Prop for Warriors is number 10 Mitchell Barnett
2nd Row for Dolphins is number 11 Felise Kaufusi

2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Marata Niukore
2nd Row for Dolphins is number 12 Connelly Lemuelu

2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Kurt Capewell
Lock for Dolphins is number 13 Kenneath Bromwich

Lock for Warriors is number 13 Dylan Walker

Interchange

Interchange for Dolphins is number 14 Oryn Keeley

Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Freddy Lussick
Interchange for Dolphins is number 15 Mark Nicholls

Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Tom Ale
Interchange for Dolphins is number 16 Ray Stone

Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Jazz Tevaga
Interchange for Dolphins is number 17 Sean O'Sullivan

Interchange for Warriors is number 20 Demitric Sifakula

Reserves

Replacement for Warriors is number 21 Taine Tuaupiki
Reserve for Dolphins is number 18 Lachlan Hubner

Match Officials

Referee: Wyatt Raymond
Touch Judge: Chris Sutton
Senior Review Official: Grant Atkins

Last updated: 9/7/2024 12:25:35 PM

Coming back into the side on the left wing is Edward Kosi, a try scorer in the 28-16 win over Wests Tigers on July 26. His return sees Roger Tuivasa-Sheck shifted to the centres replacing Graham-Taufa.

The starting pack is unchanged for the fifth consecutive match with Freddy Lussick, Tom Ale, Jazz Tevaga and Sifakula making up the bench.

The match gives the team’s top try scorer Dallin Watene-Zelezniak an opportunity to move closer to reaching twin milestones of 100 NRL tries and 50 tries for the Warriors.

He sits on a career tally of 97 tries in 208 appearances as he eyes the goal of becoming only the sixth New Zealander to reach the 100 mark after Manu Vatuvei, Nigel Vagana, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Jordan Rapana and Jason Nightingale.

He needs just two more tries to register 50 for the club, a feat achieved by nine players previously. With 48 in 65 he’s in line to hit the fastest 50 (David Fusitu’a has that record, achieving it in 77 matches).

Watene-Zelezniak scored twice against in 30-8 home win over the Dolphins last season, was rested for the return match in Brisbane and was a scorer again when the Warriors beat the Dolphins 24-20 in Auckland this year.

After a hot start to the season, the Dolphins have faltered lately to slip to ninth place on 24 points, three ahead of the Warriors.