Confirmed Lineup: Changes to Warriors' starting pack

Confirmed Lineup: Starting pack switched for finale

Author: Richard Becht & photosport.nz
Timestamp: Sat 31 Aug 2024, 06:35 PM

Three changes have been made to the One New Zealand Warriors’ starting forward pack for their 2024 season finale against Cronulla Sutherland at PointsBet Stadium in Sydney tonight (7.35pm kick-off local time; 9.35pm NZT).

Jazz Tevaga has been brought off the bench to again start at prop while Freddy Lussick comes into the starting side at hooker.

That sees Wayde Egan moved to the interchange for his 100th appearance for the club, captain Mitchell Barnett switched to the second row and Marata Niukore going to the bench.

The confirmed bench comprises Egan, Niukore, prop Tom Ale and middle forward Demitric Sifakula. Chanel Harris-Tavita in the 18th man.

Dropped off the extended bench at the 24-hour deadline were winger Edward Kosi, utility Paul Roache and second rower Jacob Laban.

When he enters the contest, Egan will become player #30 – in what is the club’s season #30 – to reach the 100-game milestone for the Warriors.

Round 26 - Round 26 - Saturday 31 Aug

Full Time

Sharks

Warriors

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Sharks is number 1 William Kennedy

Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Taine Tuaupiki
Winger for Sharks is number 2 Sione Katoa

Winger for Warriors is number 2 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
Centre for Sharks is number 4 Kayal Iro

Centre for Warriors is number 3 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
Centre for Sharks is number 6 Daniel Atkinson

Centre for Warriors is number 4 Ali Leiataua
Winger for Sharks is number 5 Samuel Stonestreet

Winger for Warriors is number 5 Marcelo Montoya
Five-Eighth for Sharks is number 22 Nicholas Hynes

Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Luke Metcalf
Halfback for Sharks is number 7 Braydon Trindall

Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Shaun Johnson

Forwards

Prop for Sharks is number 8 Toby Rudolf

Prop for Warriors is number 8 Addin Fonua-Blake
Hooker for Sharks is number 9 Blayke Brailey

Hooker for Warriors is number 14 Freddy Lussick
Prop for Sharks is number 10 Oregon Kaufusi

Prop for Warriors is number 16 Jazz Tevaga
2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Briton Nikora

2nd Row for Warriors is number 10 Mitchell Barnett
2nd Row for Sharks is number 12 Teig Wilton

2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Kurt Capewell
Lock for Sharks is number 13 Cameron McInnes

Lock for Warriors is number 13 Dylan Walker

Interchange

Interchange for Sharks is number 14 Jack Williams

Interchange for Warriors is number 9 Wayde Egan
Interchange for Sharks is number 15 Royce Hunt

Interchange for Warriors is number 11 Marata Niukore
Interchange for Sharks is number 16 Braden Hamlin-Uele

Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Tom Ale
Interchange for Sharks is number 17 Thomas Hazelton

Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Demitric Sifakula

Reserves

Replacement for Sharks is number 18 Chris Vea'ila

Replacement for Warriors is number 18 Chanel Harris-Tavita

Match Officials

Referee: Chris Butler
Touch Judge: Drew Oultram
Touch Judge: Phil Henderson
Senior Review Official: Grant Atkins

Last updated: 9/7/2024 12:25:33 PM

His achievement comes on a night when halfback Shaun Johnson, middle forward Jazz Tevaga and prop Addin Fonua-Blake are playing their final games for the Warriors.

In a double coincidence Johnson makes his 268th and final career appearance against the club he represented for three seasons from 2019-2021 while Fonua-Blake faces the side he’s joining from next season.

And in another twist the One New Zealand Warriors end their campaign against the same side it started against with a 12-16 loss at Go Media Stadium on March 8.

They have lost frontline centres Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Adam Pompey for the match.

Tuivasa-Sheck is following NRL head injury protocols after being unable to return to the field following a tackle by Bulldogs centre Stephen Crichton early in the second half of last Friday’s clash when the Warriors were leading 18-16.

Crichton was placed on report only at the time but NRL head of football Graham Annesley admitted he should have been sent to the sin bin for a tackle which has ended Tuivasa-Sheck’s season. Pompey’s season was also over just 21 minutes into the game when he left the field with a knee injury.

With Rocco Berry sidelined with a shoulder injury, One New Zealand Warriors head coach Andrew Webster has reshuffled his centres and fullback with Taine Tuaupiki and Ali Leiataua called up from the club’s New South Wales Cup side.

First-choice fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad will start in the centres with Leiataua while Tuaupiki is in the #1 jersey.

In last Friday’s emphatic 42-10 NSW Cup win over the Bulldogs, Tuaupiki made 143 metres from 22 runs with three line break assists, four try assists and nine tackle breaks.

He’ll make his sixth NRL appearance of the season and the 11th of his career tonight while Leiataua will also play his sixth NRL match of the year.

For hooker Egan, his 100-game achievement for the Warriors is one of the most unusual in NRL history.

After making his club debut against the Knights in Newcastle in the opening round of the 2020 season, his first 50 outings were all played in Australia before playing at Go Media Stadium for the first time in the homecoming match against the Wests Tigers on July 3, 2020. Of his 99 games so far, only 22 have been played at his home ground.