One New Zealand Warriors head coach Andrew Webster has shown faith in his players for tomorrow night’s first home game of the 2025 NRL season against Manly Warringah at Go Media Stadium (8.00pm kick-off).
In updating the squad 24 hours before kick-off, he has confirmed the same 19 players used in the round one match against Canberra at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on March 1.
There are no changes to the starting combination and interchange with Eddie Ieremia-Toeava again named as 18th man and halfback Te Maire Martin as 19th man.
The three players to drop out of the extended squad are hooker Sam Healey, front rower Bunty Afoa and winger Edward Kosi.
Tomorrow night’s match is the first of two back-to-back Friday night home games with the Sydney Roosters in Auckland a week later on March 21.
With the clash against Manly coming 12 days after the Warriors’ disappointment in Las Vegas, Webster indicated more than 24 hours before naming the lineup that he would be staying with the same combination – and he did.
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Charnze Nicoll-KlokstadFullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Tom Trbojevic
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Winger for Warriors is number 2 Taine TuaupikiWinger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Jason Saab
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Centre for Warriors is number 3 Ali LeiatauaCentre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Reuben Garrick
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Centre for Warriors is number 4 Adam PompeyCentre for Sea Eagles is number 18 Clayton Faulalo
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Winger for Warriors is number 5 Roger Tuivasa-SheckWinger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Lehi Hopoate
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Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Chanel Harris-TavitaFive-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Luke Brooks
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Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Luke MetcalfHalfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Daly Cherry-Evans
Forwards
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Prop for Warriors is number 8 James Fisher-HarrisProp for Sea Eagles is number 8 Taniela Paseka
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Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde EganHooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Jazz Tevaga
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Prop for Warriors is number 10 Mitchell BarnettProp for Sea Eagles is number 10 Josh Aloiai
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2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Kurt Capewell2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Haumole Olakau'atu
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2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Marata Niukore2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Ben Trbojevic
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Lock for Warriors is number 13 Erin ClarkLock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Jake Trbojevic
Interchange
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Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Dylan WalkerInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Jake Simpkin
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Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Jackson FordInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Corey Waddell
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Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Demitric VaimaugaInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Ethan Bullemor
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Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Leka HalasimaInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 17 Toafofoa Sipley
Reserves
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Replacement for Warriors is number 21 Eddie Ieremia-ToeavaReplacement for Sea Eagles is number 22 Dean Matterson
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Reserve for Warriors is number 20 Te Maire MartinReserve for Sea Eagles is number 21 Jake Arthur
Warriors Ins
- Te Maire Martin
Sea Eagles Ins
- Dean Matterson
- Jake Arthur
- Josh Aloiai
Warriors Outs
Sea Eagles Ins
- Siosiua Taukeiaho
- Tolutau Koula
Match Officials
- Referee: Adam Gee
- Touch Judge: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
- Senior Review Official: Chris Butler
Last updated:
“I want to give these guys an opportunity to right the wrongs,” he said.
Webster shuffled his starting forward pack on game day in Las Vegas with Jackson Ford brought off the bench to start at prop, Mitchell Barnett moved from the front row to start at loose forward and Erin Clark shifted to the interchange.
The players not used in Vegas – hooker Sam Healey, halfback-standoff Te Maire Martin, second rower Eddie Ieremia-Toeava, prop Bunty Afoa and winger Edward Kosi – were all involved in the Warriors’ 18-16 round one New South Wales Cup win over the Canberra Raiders last Saturday.
While the Warriors began their season with an 8-30 loss to the Raiders, the Sea Eagles were in irresistible form against North Queensland as they raced to a 24-0 halftime lead before going on to win 42-12 last Saturday night.
“They were unreal. They got off to a flier,” said Webster.
“They attacked well, they defended well. Hopefully we can create an atmosphere here that will make it hard for them. We’re coming up against a good team so that’s exciting.”
Friday night’s match will have special meaning for co-captain James Fisher Harris as he experiences his first home game for the Warriors at a packed Go Media Stadium.
Clark will edge towards his 100-game career milestone when he plays his 97th game this week and his first as a Warrior at Go Media Stadium since his debut there against the Storm on the 22nd anniversary of the club’s first game (March 10, 2017).
Centre Adam Pompey will make his 96th first-grade appearance, all of them for the One New Zealand Warriors.
Manly has been the Warriors’ most challenging opponent in their history holding a 28-13 advantage in 42 matches played (with one drawn).
When the two sides met in Auckland last April they drew 22-22 after extra time while in 2023 the Warriors prevailed 29-22.
