Team List: Same starting side for Warriors

Team List: Same starting side to face Dragons

Author: Richard Becht & photosport.nz
Timestamp: Tue 16 Apr 2024, 03:59 PM

One New Zealand Warriors head coach Andrew Webster has named an unchanged starting lineup for Friday night’s seventh-round NRL match against St George Illawarra at WIN Stadium in Wollongong (6.00pm kick-off local time; 8.00pm NZT).

The clash will mark a special moment for prop Mitchell Barnett, who will be making his 150th career appearance after joining the club last season following 126 games for the Newcastle Knights and two for the Canberra Raiders.

His milestone comes two weeks after centre Roger Tuivasa-Sheck’s 200th game while more big moments loom for fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and second rower Kurt Capewell.

Nicoll-Klokstad plays his 99th match this week, Watene-Zelezniak his 196th and Capewell his 145th.

While the starting combination is intact after last Saturday’s sapping 22-22 golden point draw with Manly Warringah, there is a change on the bench with middle forward Jazz Tevaga facing a stint on the sideline after being forced off with a hamstring strain just nine minutes into his stint from the interchange.

Round 7 - Round 7 - Friday 19 Apr

Full Time

Dragons

Warriors

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Dragons is number 1 Tyrell Sloan

Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
Winger for Dragons is number 2 Christian Tuipulotu

Winger for Warriors is number 2 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
Centre for Dragons is number 3 Mosese Suli

Centre for Warriors is number 3 Rocco Berry
Centre for Dragons is number 4 Zac Lomax

Centre for Warriors is number 4 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
Winger for Dragons is number 5 Mikaele Ravalawa

Winger for Warriors is number 5 Marcelo Montoya
Five-Eighth for Dragons is number 6 Kyle Flanagan

Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Te Maire Martin
Halfback for Dragons is number 7 Ben Hunt

Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Shaun Johnson

Forwards

Prop for Dragons is number 8 Francis Molo

Prop for Warriors is number 8 Addin Fonua-Blake
Hooker for Dragons is number 9 Jacob Liddle

Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde Egan
Prop for Dragons is number 10 Hame Sele

Prop for Warriors is number 10 Mitchell Barnett
2nd Row for Dragons is number 11 Raymond Faitala-Mariner

2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Jackson Ford
2nd Row for Dragons is number 12 Jaydn Su'a

2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Kurt Capewell
Lock for Dragons is number 13 Tom Eisenhuth

Lock for Warriors is number 13 Tohu Harris

Interchange

Interchange for Dragons is number 15 Blake Lawrie

Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Tom Ale
Interchange for Dragons is number 16 Jack De Belin

Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Jacob Laban
Interchange for Dragons is number 17 Ben Murdoch-Masila

Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Adam Pompey
Interchange for Dragons is number 22 Fa'amanu Brown

Interchange for Warriors is number 23 Paul Roache

Reserves

Replacement for Dragons is number 18 Michael Molo

Replacement for Warriors is number 18 Zyon Maiu'u

Match Officials

Referee: Gerard Sutton
Touch Judge: Phil Henderson
Touch Judge: Kasey Badger
Senior Review Official: Liam Kennedy

Last updated: 4/29/2024 5:36:31 AM

The 28-year-old 123-game veteran is now one of four 100-game plus frontline middle forwards on the injury list alongside Dylan Walker (221 games), Bunty Afoa (134) and Marata Niukore (119).

Rookie Jacob Laban, who turns 20 tomorrow (April 17), is on the interchange for the third week running with prop Tom Ale and utility Chanel Harris-Tavita while centre Adam Pompey joins them.

Included on the extended bench are Zyon Maiu’u, Taine Tuaupiki, Ali Leiataua, Edward Kosi and Paul Roache.

The One New Zealand Warriors are unbeaten in their last four outings ahead of their trip to Wollongong.

They boast the best defence in the competition conceding just 94 points in six matches, an average of 15.66 points a game while they’re also first for most metres gained (11,445), all runs (1269), kick return metres (1367) and total kicks (143) as well as being second for tackle breaks (197), third equal on set completions (81%) and rating prominently in a number of other key measures.

In individual categories Shaun Johnson leads all players for line engaged runs (64), all kicks (123) and attacking kicks (64) while he’s first equal for line breaks assists (7) and second for kick metres (3493).