NRL Team List: Senior players back, one new face

Author: Richard Becht & photosport.nz
Timestamp: Tue 3 Mar 2026, 04:09 PM

Three of the One New Zealand Warriors’ most experienced players will be on deck along with one new face for the season-opening NRL clash against the Sydney Roosters at a sold-out Go Media Stadium on Friday night (8.00pm kick-off; match day sponsor: V Energy).

Captain James Fisher-Harris returns to lead the side after missing both of the club’s Pre-season Challenge matches while winger Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (hamstring) and standoff Chanel Harris-Tavita (calf) have been cleared from minor injuries after also bypassing the two trials.

While Tuivasa-Sheck and Harris-Tavita come into the season fresh, Fisher-Harris had a big workload leading the Māori All Stars in their drawn encounter with the Australian Indigenous All Stars in Hamilton on February 15.

The only newcomer, although far from new to top level football, is second rower Morgan Gannon who joined the club from the Leeds Rhinos. He has been included on the extended bench and will become Warrior #295 should he take the field.

Round 1 - Round 1 - Friday 6 Mar

Full Time

Warriors

Roosters

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad

Fullback for Roosters is number 1 James Tedesco
Winger for Warriors is number 2 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak

Winger for Roosters is number 2 Daniel Tupou
Centre for Warriors is number 3 Ali Leiataua

Centre for Roosters is number 3 Billy Smith
Centre for Warriors is number 4 Adam Pompey

Centre for Roosters is number 19 Fetalaiga Pauga
Winger for Warriors is number 5 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck

Winger for Roosters is number 5 Mark Nawaqanitawase
Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Chanel Harris-Tavita

Five-Eighth for Roosters is number 6 Daly Cherry-Evans
Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Tanah Boyd

Halfback for Roosters is number 7 Sam Walker

Forwards

Prop for Warriors is number 8 James Fisher-Harris

Prop for Roosters is number 8 Naufahu Whyte
Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde Egan

Hooker for Roosters is number 9 Benaiah Ioelu
Prop for Warriors is number 10 Jackson Ford

Prop for Roosters is number 10 Lindsay Collins
2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Kurt Capewell

2nd Row for Roosters is number 11 Angus Crichton
2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Jacob Laban

2nd Row for Roosters is number 12 Nat Butcher
Lock for Warriors is number 13 Erin Clark

Lock for Roosters is number 13 Blake Steep

Interchange

Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Sam Healey

Interchange for Roosters is number 14 Connor Watson
Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Demitric Vaimauga

Interchange for Roosters is number 15 Siua Wong
Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Leka Halasima

Interchange for Roosters is number 16 Egan Butcher
Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Tanner Stowers-Smith

Interchange for Roosters is number 20 Salesi Foketi

Reserves

Reserve for Warriors is number 18 Taine Tuaupiki

Reserve for Roosters is number 18 Cody Ramsey
Reserve for Warriors is number 20 Morgan Gannon

Reserve for Roosters is number 22 Toby Rodwell

Match Officials

Referee: Wyatt Raymond
Senior Review Official: Chris Butler

Last updated: 3/17/2026 3:08:31 AM

The 22-year-old made 73 appearances for the Rhinos in the Super League and Challenge Cup following his debut in 2021 while he also played in each of the One New Zealand Warriors’ Pre-season Challenge matches against Manly Warringah and the Dolphins last month.

Co-captain Mitchell Barnett remains sidelined as he recovers from knee surgery but is tagged to return soon. Second rower Marata Niukore (calf) will be available next week while Luke Metcalf (knee), Te Maire Martin (leg) and Rocco Berry (shoulder) will be in the recovery room for some time yet.

Back on the NRL stage for the first time since round 12 last May is Ali Leiataua. The 23-year-old rejoins Adam Pompey in the centres after coming through the trials with three tries.

The rest of the backline is the same as the combination used in last season’s week one play-off against Penrith while the starting forward pack has just one change with Jacob Laban replacing Niukore in the second row.

Hooker Sam Healey, front rowers Demitric Vaimauga and Tanner Stowers-Smith and second rower Leka Halasima are the first four players on the interchange with Taine Tuaupiki and Gannon rounding out the new look six-man bench.

Left winger Roger Tuivasa-Sheck will make his 149th appearance for the Warriors this week, leaving him set for his 150th against Canberra at Go Media Stadium in round two on March 13.