While they’re the defending premiers, the One New Zealand Warriors will start with a clean slate when they open their Harold Matthews Cup (under-17) campaign against the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles in Sydney on Sunday (12.00pm kick-off local time; 2.00pm NZT).
The Warriors caused a shock of seismic proportions last year when they became the first club in the competition’s history to win on debut.
However, this year’s team bears limited resemblance to the line-up which went all the way to glory to topple Western Suburbs 34-16 in the grand final.
Such is the nature of a pathways competition like this that 11 of the 17 players who savoured grand final success last year have moved up to the club’s SG Ball Cup (under-19) squad although one of them – grand final hero Lennox Tuiloma (St Thomas of Canterbury College) – will miss the entire campaign with injury.
Just two of the side – centre Jeremiah Lemana (Kelston Boys’ High School) and standoff Tyson Hansen (Rotorua Boys’ High School) – remain on this year’s Harold Matthews roster.
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Jack KalmsFullback for Warriors is number 1 Jeremiah Lemana
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Winger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Sonny ColellaWinger for Warriors is number 2 Alexander Pua
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Centre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Tahj HamiltonCentre for Warriors is number 3 Parekaahu Keepa
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Centre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Oscar CrottyCentre for Warriors is number 4 Soane Ma'asi
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Winger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Tom LonglandWinger for Warriors is number 5 Calieb Fidow
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Five-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Kobe MorrisFive-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Tyson Hansen
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Halfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Callum MiskellHalfback for Warriors is number 7 Ashton Ulaula-Ieremia
Forwards
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Prop for Sea Eagles is number 8 Sonny WilcockProp for Warriors is number 8 Lucian Mikaele
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Hooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Ashton LargeHooker for Warriors is number 9 Dreytin Marriott
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Prop for Sea Eagles is number 10 Cameron MakeyProp for Warriors is number 10 D'Angelo Mikaele
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2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Sifa Oldfield2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Dougal Grant
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2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Kai Brennan2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Bishop Neal
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Lock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Beau McKeeLock for Warriors is number 13 Ronan Byford
Interchange
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Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Boston ByrneInterchange for Warriors is number 14 Amasio Tiatia
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Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Billy MillerInterchange for Warriors is number 15 Tusi Fanolua
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Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Lukas ButlerInterchange for Warriors is number 16 Kenny Lafituanai
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Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 18 Jax FullerInterchange for Warriors is number 17 Alapati Tusa Soagia
Reserves
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Replacement for Sea Eagles is number 19 Aiden CameronReplacement for Warriors is number 18 Christiano Elia
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Reserve for Warriors is number 19 Kaian Olsen
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Reserve for Warriors is number 20 Hanita Takulua
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Reserve for Warriors is number 21 Jacksyn Hill
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Joining them are three players who made one appearance each in winger Justice Pua (St Paul’s College), forward Dreytin Marriott (Te Te Kōpuku High School) and halfback Ashton Ulaula-Ieremia (Mount Albert Grammar). The only other 2024 survivor is middle forward Ronan Byford (Trident High School) who was the unused 18th man in one game.
Successful head coach TJ Ashford has today named all six of those 2024 squad members in the side to face the Sea Eagles this weekend.
“Apart from a handful of players, we're starting fresh. It’s a different team,” he said.
“At the same time it’s exciting because we have players who have been in our academy now coming through. They know what the club is about.
“What happened last year isn’t relevant although it does show this year’s players what’s possible.
“The biggest issue for us is that we haven’t trialled against another side in the competition. We really don’t know where we are or what to expect.”
Apart from the six players involved last year, another five from 2024’s wider squad are in the mix again this year.
One of them is one of New Zealand rugby league’s hottest prospects in St Thomas of Canterbury back rower Bishop Neal. He was destined to make his debut as a 15-year-old last year, only to have his season ended by injury.
He recovered in time to star for St Thomas at the New Zealand Rugby League’s secondary schools nationals, helping his side to a second consecutive title as well as being named the competition’s MVP.
This will be the first time the Warriors and Sea Eagles have met at Harold Matthews level.