Two clubs who missed the finals last year go head-to-head in their final trial match with similar questions around the make-up of their round one team needing to be answered.
Wests Tigers travel to Rotorua in New Zealand to meet the Warriors on Sunday afternoon with Michael Maguire indicating he'll take a 23-man squad with the intention to cut six players before round one.
The joint venture were solid in their opening 40 minutes against Penrith but Maguire was far from happy with the second half, where they conceded 28 points.
Warriors coach Stephen Kearney opted to rest 10 of his squad members last start following their Nines campaign but they'll go in with close to their strongest available squad this weekend.
Match: Warriors v Wests Tigers
Round 3 -
home Team
Warriors
17th Position
away Team
Wests Tigers
14th Position
Venue: Rotorua International Stadium, Rotorua
The Rundown
Team news
Warriors: 1. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (c) 2. Patrick Herbert 3. Hayze Perham 4. David Fusitu'a 5. Ken Maumalo 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Blake Green 8. Leeson Ah Mau 9. Wayde Egan 10. Agnatius Paasi 11. Adam Blair 12. Tohu Harris 13. Isaiah Papali'i. Interchange: 14. Chanel Harris-Tavita 15. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown 16. Adam Tuimavave-Gerrard 17. Karl Lawton 18. Paul Turner 20. Taane Milne 21. Josh Curran 24. Peta Hiku 25. Lachlan Burr 26. Eliesa Katoa 27. Edward Kosi 28. Leivaha Pulu
Tohu Harris will play his first game since June, while Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Blake Green and Peta Hiku have also been chosen. Kodi Nikorima appears to have his neck in front to start in the halves in round one, with Chanel Harris-Tavita to come from the bench. Train-and-trialist and Indigenous All stars forward Jamayne Taunoa-Brown has nabbed an interchange place amid a prop shortage.
Wests Tigers: 1. Corey Thompson, 2. David Nofoaluma, 3. Joseph Leilua, 4. Moses Mbye (c), 5. Robert Jennings, 6. Benji Marshall (c), 7. Luke Brooks,
8. Thomas Mikaele, 9. Billy Walters, 10. Alex Twal, 11. Luke Garner, 12. Luciano Leilua, 13. Josh Aloiai. Interchange: 14. Michael Chee Kam, 15. Josh Reynolds, 16. Adam Doueihi, 17. Oliver Clark, 18. Chris Lawrence, 19. Alex Seyfarth, 20. Chris McQueen, 21. Zane Musgrove, 22. Tommy Talau, 23. Elijah Taylor.
Co-captains Moses Mbye and Benji Marshall line up for their first games of 2020 alongside new recruit Joey Leilua, who will play on the right edge alongside his brother Luciano. The hooking role has gone to Billy Walters, with Josh Reynolds coming off the bench. After Adam Doueihi featured in the No.1 jersey in last week's trial, Corey Thompson will start at fullback this week with Doueihi named as part of an extended 10-man interchange list. Centre Paul Momirovski (ankle) won't play but is on track for a round one return..
Match: Warriors v Wests Tigers
Round 3 -
home Team
Warriors
away Team
Wests Tigers
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Roger Tuivasa-SheckFullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Corey Thompson
-
Winger for Warriors is number 2 Patrick HerbertWinger for Wests Tigers is number 2 David Nofoaluma
-
Centre for Warriors is number 4 David Fusitu'aCentre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Joseph Leilua
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Centre for Warriors is number 24 Peta HikuCentre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Moses Mbye
-
Winger for Warriors is number 5 Ken MaumaloWinger for Wests Tigers is number 5 Robert Jennings
-
Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Kodi NikorimaFive-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Benji Marshall
-
Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Blake GreenHalfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Luke Brooks
Forwards
-
Prop for Warriors is number 8 Leeson Ah MauProp for Wests Tigers is number 8 Thomas Mikaele
-
Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde EganHooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Billy Walters
-
Prop for Warriors is number 10 Agnatius PaasiProp for Wests Tigers is number 10 Alex Twal
-
2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Adam Blair2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Luke Garner
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2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Tohu Harris2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Luciano Leilua
-
Lock for Warriors is number 13 Isaiah Papali'iLock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Josh Aloiai
Interchange
-
Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Chanel Harris-TavitaInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Michael Chee Kam
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Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Jamayne Taunoa-BrownInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Josh Reynolds
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Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Adam Tuimavave-GerrardInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Adam Doueihi
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Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Karl LawtonInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Oliver Clark
Reserves
-
Reserve for Warriors is number 3 Hayze PerhamReserve for Wests Tigers is number 18 Chris Lawrence
-
Reserve for Warriors is number 18 Paul TurnerReserve for Wests Tigers is number 19 Alex Seyfarth
-
Reserve for Warriors is number 20 Taane MilneReserve for Wests Tigers is number 20 Sam McIntyre
-
Reserve for Warriors is number 21 Josh CurranReserve for Wests Tigers is number 21 Zane Musgrove
-
Reserve for Warriors is number 25 Lachlan BurrReserve for Wests Tigers is number 22 Tommy Talau
-
Reserve for Warriors is number 26 Eliesa KatoaReserve for Wests Tigers is number 23 Elijah Taylor
Match Officials
- Referee: Chris Sutton
- Referee: Phil Henderson
Last updated:
The big question
Warriors: Can the Warriors find another prop willing to step up? After losing Bunty Afoa and Jackson Frei for the season and Sam Lisone to the Titans, suddenly their front-row stocks have plummeted. Former Storm prop Jamayne Taunoa-Brown was solid in his Indigenous All Stars debut last week and could be the man to fill the void.
Wests Tigers: Can Corey Thompson stake a claim while Adam Doueihi is on the bench? The former Rabbitoh has the inside running on the fullback gig but it's the ever reliable Thompson who gets first crack on Saturday night. The final make-up of Michael Maguire's backline and hooker spot is likely to hinge on this game.