HMC Team List: Two players out for finals contest

Author: Richard Becht & photosport.nz
Timestamp: Wed 9 Apr 2025, 10:08 AM

Two first-choice starting players will be missing for the One New Zealand Warriors’ Harold Matthews Cup (under-17) week one finals clash against the Sydney Roosters at Leichhardt Oval in Sydney on Sunday (10.00am kick-off local time; 12.00pm NZT).

Ruled out following concussion protocols is standoff Christiano Elia while second rower Tusi Fanolua is suspended.

Elia was the victim of a brutal late shot by Roosters captain Jeziah Papa after he’d put Lucian Mikaele in for his second try early in the second half of last Sunday’s final regular season match in Pukekohe.

The incident was either missed or not acted on by match officials as the Warriors went out to a 24-6 lead. Elia had to leave the field for a head injury assessment but couldn’t return ruling him out this week while Papa wasn’t sin binned with the Roosters then going on to mount a comeback to win 26-24.

Finals Week 1 - Sunday 13th April

Full Time

Roosters

Warriors

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Roosters is number 1 Triston Ross

Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Jeremiah Lemana
Winger for Roosters is number 2 Filipe Fakauho

Winger for Warriors is number 2 Alexander Pua
Centre for Roosters is number 3 Hunter May

Centre for Warriors is number 4 Soane Ma'asi
Centre for Roosters is number 4 Bastion Armstrong

Centre for Warriors is number 18 Parekaahu Keepa
Winger for Roosters is number 5 Cooper Moore

Winger for Warriors is number 3 Hinckley Ioka
Five-Eighth for Roosters is number 6 Charlie Webb

Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Ashton Ulaula-Ieremia
Halfback for Roosters is number 7 Lachlan Metcalfe

Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Alapati Tusa Soagia

Forwards

Prop for Roosters is number 8 Roman Leilua

Prop for Warriors is number 10 Krushil Koteka
Hooker for Roosters is number 9 Payton Gifford

Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Dreytin Marriott
Prop for Roosters is number 10 Paula Teisina

Prop for Warriors is number 17 Ronan Byford
2nd Row for Roosters is number 11 Ravai Tulevu

2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Dougal Grant
2nd Row for Roosters is number 12 Jackson Rodwell

2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Bishop Neal
Lock for Roosters is number 13 Marquis Sando

Lock for Warriors is number 13 Tyson Hansen

Interchange

Interchange for Roosters is number 14 Kalen Cashin

Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Amasio Tiatia
Interchange for Roosters is number 15 Kobi Siltala

Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Luke Lemalu
Interchange for Roosters is number 16 Lucas Large

Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Kenny Lafituanai
Interchange for Roosters is number 17 Daniel Ibrahim

Interchange for Warriors is number 21 Hanita Takulua

Reserves

Replacement for Roosters is number 18 Johnathon Haddad

Replacement for Warriors is number 5 Kaian Olsen

Last updated: 05:20 pm Monday 14th April 2025

The match review committee subsequently found Papa had a case to answer handing him a one-game suspension eliminating him from this week’s finals contest.

With a top eight format in place in the Harold Matthews Cup this season (it was top six last year), the second-placed Roosters and the Warriors, the third-placed defending premiers, square off again just six days after their Pukekohe encounter.

At stake is a place in the week three preliminary final for the winners while the losers have a second life in week two.

With Elia out, Ashton Ulaula-Ieremia comes back into the halves for his fifth appearance of the season, his last one in the round seven win over the Balmain Tigers.

Dougal Grant, used from the bench last week, has been named to replace Fanolua in what will be his seventh outing.

While the Warriors experienced finals football on debut last year, it’s a new playing field for this season’s squad. Of the side playing on Sunday, only Jeremiah Lemana and Tyson Hansen were involved in the playoffs last year including the grand final win over Western Suburbs.