Veteran prop Bunty Afoa leads a contingent of 11 players with NRL experience named for the One New Zealand Warriors’ week one New South Wales Cup finals encounter with Penrith at Leichhardt Oval in Sydney on Saturday (1.00pm kick-off local time; 3.00pm NZT).
Finishing the regular season in fourth spot after last weekend’s 36-39 loss to Newtown, the Warriors face the fifth-ranked Panthers in a sudden-death shootout.
The 28-year-old Afoa, boasting 138 NRL games over nine seasons, has been a recent regular in the New South Wales Cup with a total of eight appearances.
He and 41-game NRL front rower Tom Ale lead a starting pack which includes three NRL rookies in the back row; captain Kalani Going, who made his only NRL appearance last year, maintains his record of playing every game this year while exciting 2024 NRL debutants Jacob Laban and Leka Halasima are in the second row.
Match: Warriors v Panthers
Finals Week 1 -
home Team
Warriors
away Team
Panthers
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Taine TuaupikiFullback for Panthers is number 1 Isaiah Iongi
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Winger for Warriors is number 2 Setu TuWinger for Panthers is number 2 Asu Kepaoa
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Centre for Warriors is number 3 Moala Graham-TaufaCentre for Panthers is number 3 Tyrone Peachey
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Centre for Warriors is number 4 Ali LeiatauaCentre for Panthers is number 4 Casey McLean
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Winger for Warriors is number 5 Edward KosiWinger for Panthers is number 5 Jesse McLean
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Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Luke HansonFive-Eighth for Panthers is number 6 Daine Laurie
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Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Paul RoacheHalfback for Panthers is number 7 Soni Luke
Forwards
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Prop for Warriors is number 8 Tom AleProp for Panthers is number 8 Jordan Grant
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Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Makaia TafuaHooker for Panthers is number 9 Luke Sommerton
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Prop for Warriors is number 10 Bunty AfoaProp for Panthers is number 19 Matthew Eisenhuth
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2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Jacob Laban2nd Row for Panthers is number 11 Mavrik Geyer
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2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Leka Halasima2nd Row for Panthers is number 12 Zac Lipowicz
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Lock for Warriors is number 13 Kalani GoingLock for Panthers is number 13 Luron Patea
Interchange
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Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Geronimo DoyleInterchange for Panthers is number 10 Austin Dias
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Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Tanner Stowers-SmithInterchange for Panthers is number 14 Billy Scott
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Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Zyon Maiu'uInterchange for Panthers is number 16 Preston Riki
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Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Eddie Ieremia-ToeavaInterchange for Panthers is number 17 Harrison Hassett
Reserves
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Replacement for Warriors is number 18 Caleb LaimanReplacement for Panthers is number 18 Sione Fonua
Last updated:
Starting at halfback is four-game NRL utility Paul Roache while the centres are Ali Leiataua and Moala Graham-Taufa, Leiataua making a huge impact in the Warriors’ dramatic NRL win over Cronulla Sutherland on Saturday night.
Another star of the victory Taine Tuaupiki returns at fullback while Edward Kosi with 32 first-grade appearances to his name is on the wing.
The 11th player with first-grade experience is 2024 rookie prop Zyon Maiu’u, who’s on the bench.
NSW Cup Highlights: Magic victory on the road
Missing from the squad are first-choice players Ben Farr (concussion) and prop-second rower Demitric Sifakula.
The side is built around a core of regulars. Going and 19-year-old bench forward Eddie Ieremia played all 24 regular season games, prop Tanner Stowers Smith has made 22 appearances, winger Edward Kosi 19, fellow winger Setu Tu 18, Graham-Taufa and standoff Luke Hanson 17, hooker Makaia Tafua 16, Maiu’u 15 and Roache and Laban 14.
The regular season matches between the two sides finished in a 22-22 draw at North Harbour Stadium and a 22-10 win to the Warriors at North Sydney Oval.
