Former Penrith juniors Jett Cleary and Luke Hanson team up in the halves for the One New Zealand Warriors’ season-opening Jersey Flegg Cup (under-21) clash against Canberra at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday (12.00pm kick-off local time; 2.00pm NZT).
They both had time on the field together in the Warriors’ two NRL Preseason Challenge matches against Cronulla Sutherland and Melbourne.
The 19-year-old Cleary, signed by the Warriors in April last year, experienced Jersey Flegg finals football with the Panthers last season while Hanson (21) played 18 times for the Warriors’ reserve grade side in the New South Wales and also appeared in six games for the Flegg team.
The side named is dominated by players who have come through the Warriors’ pathways programme featuring in the club’s NSW Cup, Jersey Flegg Cup or SG Ball Cup teams last season.
Fullback Motu Pasikala started in SG Ball and was also used in Jersey Flegg but he played most of his games (13) at NSW Cup level.
Hooker Jaydee Auloa, second rower Kayliss Fatialofa and prop Rodney Tuipulotu-Vea also made appearances in all three grades.
Apart from Cleary, the other new faces are centre Caelys Putoko and forwards Mitchell Bebbington, Jackson Kite and Saxon Day, all named on the extended bench.
Match: Raiders v Warriors
Round 1 -
home Team
Raiders
away Team
Warriors
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Raiders is number 1 Ethan AlaiaFullback for Warriors is number 4 Sefanaia Cowley-Lupo
-
Winger for Raiders is number 2 Tariq TannerWinger for Warriors is number 1 Motu Pasikala
-
Centre for Raiders is number 3 Regan CarrCentre for Warriors is number 2 Brandon Norris
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Centre for Raiders is number 4 Atini TuialiiCentre for Warriors is number 3 Caelys-Paul Putoko
-
Winger for Raiders is number 5 Siamani LeuluaiWinger for Warriors is number 5 Rapheal Sio
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Five-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Keahn SkippsFive-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Luke Hanson
-
Halfback for Raiders is number 7 Jalen AfamasagaHalfback for Warriors is number 7 Jett Cleary
Forwards
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Prop for Raiders is number 10 Caleb GarvieProp for Warriors is number 8 Rodney Tuipulotu Vea
-
Hooker for Raiders is number 9 Xavier CacciottiHooker for Warriors is number 9 Makaia Tafua
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Prop for Raiders is number 16 Jake ClydsdaleProp for Warriors is number 10 Harry Durbin
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2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 Jai Purser2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Alvin Chong Nee
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2nd Row for Raiders is number 12 Jordan Uta2nd Row for Warriors is number 16 Presley Seumanu Tigafua
-
Lock for Raiders is number 13 Jaxon LavenderLock for Warriors is number 13 Etuate Fukofuka
Interchange
-
Interchange for Raiders is number 8 Tahrell FeaveaiInterchange for Warriors is number 14 Jacob Auloa
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Interchange for Raiders is number 14 Mitchell BrophyInterchange for Warriors is number 15 Jason Seu Salalilo
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Interchange for Raiders is number 15 Owen HromowInterchange for Warriors is number 18 Jackson Kite
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Interchange for Raiders is number 19 Shalom UatisoneInterchange for Warriors is number 20 Saxon Day
Reserves
-
Replacement for Raiders is number 18 Patrick BroeReplacement for Warriors is number 17 Mitchell Bebbington
Last updated:
Putoko was a schoolboy rugby union star with the Hamilton Boys’ High School First XV before a stint with the Gold Coast Titans where he played for feeder Club the Ipswich Jets in Queensland’s Mal Meninga Cup (under-18) competition.
Bebbington, Kite and Day played in the same competition for the Sunshine Coast Falcons but finished up in Auckland (along with teammate James Marriott) to try their luck at landing deals with the Warriors. Bebbington joined them later but has come through to be selected in #17 with New Zealand-born Kite and Day also named in the squad.
The Raiders will provide a difficult assignment for the Warriors. They won the minor premiership last year before finishing one win short of the grand final.
