Unchanged side selected for first time this season

Author: Richard Becht & photosport.nz
Timestamp: Tue 25 May 2021, 03:01 PM

Vodafone Warriors head coach Nathan Brown has enjoyed rare good fortune in being able to name an unchanged playing 17 for the club’s Indigenous Round encounter with North Queensland in Townsville on Friday night (6.00pm kick-off local time; 8.00pm NZT).

Not a week has gone by when Brown, in his first season with the club, hasn’t been forced to make changes through injuries and also a few suspensions.

Such has been the attrition he had already used 28 players in the opening eight rounds but today he has been able to select the same 17 used in last Friday night’s come from behind 30-26 win over the Wests Tigers in Gosford.

There are some tweaks in the listed side from the one that started against the Tigers but the comfort for Brown is having the same group of players available.

This time teenage sensation Reece Walsh is named in the #1 jersey rather than being listed on the bench as was the case last week. Bunty Afoa was swapped with Kane Evans when the starting side was revealed for the Tigers but Evans is again named in #10 this week.

In the most significant shuffle Brown has named Eliesa Katoa and Jack Murchie as his starting second rowers this week with big Ben Murdoch-Masila on the interchange in #17. Katoa was originally named in #18 a week ago but ultimately started.

Round 12 - Round 12 - Friday 28 May

Full Time

Cowboys

Warriors

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Cowboys is number 1 Valentine Holmes

Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Reece Walsh
Winger for Cowboys is number 2 Kyle Feldt

Winger for Warriors is number 2 Marcelo Montoya
Centre for Cowboys is number 3 Javid Bowen

Centre for Warriors is number 3 Adam Pompey
Centre for Cowboys is number 4 Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow

Centre for Warriors is number 4 Euan Aitken
Winger for Cowboys is number 5 Murray Taulagi

Winger for Warriors is number 5 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
Five-Eighth for Cowboys is number 6 Scott Drinkwater

Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Kodi Nikorima
Halfback for Cowboys is number 7 Jake Clifford

Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Chanel Harris-Tavita

Forwards

Prop for Cowboys is number 8 Tom Gilbert

Prop for Warriors is number 8 Jamayne Taunoa-Brown
Hooker for Cowboys is number 9 Reece Robson

Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde Egan
Prop for Cowboys is number 10 Jordan McLean

Prop for Warriors is number 10 Kane Evans
2nd Row for Cowboys is number 11 Shane Wright

2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Jack Murchie
2nd Row for Cowboys is number 12 Mitchell Dunn

2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Eliesa Katoa
Lock for Cowboys is number 16 Corey Jensen

Lock for Warriors is number 13 Tohu Harris

Interchange

Interchange for Cowboys is number 13 Coen Hess

Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Jazz Tevaga
Interchange for Cowboys is number 14 Jake Granville

Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Leeson Ah Mau
Interchange for Cowboys is number 15 Peter Hola

Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Bunty Afoa
Interchange for Cowboys is number 17 Heilum Luki

Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Ben Murdoch-Masila

Reserves

Reserve for Cowboys is number 20 Daejarn Asi

Reserve for Warriors is number 20 Rocco Berry

Match Officials

Referee: Matt Cecchin
Touch Judge: Todd Smith
Senior Review Official: Alan Shortall

Last updated: 5/29/2023 4:41:00 AM

The only personnel changes are on the extended bench where 2021 rookie Rocco Berry and prop Jackson Frei are included alongside young hooker Taniela Otukolo and halfback Sean O’Sullivan.

Now confirmed at fullback, Walsh has more than matched his anticipated promise in his first five NRL appearances. Last Friday night his statistics were exceptional with a try, 140 metres from 15 runs, a line break, four line break assists, three try assists, two tackle breaks and two off loads.

Overall he has three tries, seven try assists, six line breaks, 18 tackle breaks and he has averaged 102 metres a game.

The Vodafone Warriors head to Townsville tomorrow where they’ll have their final field session ahead of their first appearance at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, the Cowboys’ new home ground.

The two sides are meeting for the second time in a month, the Vodafone Warriors winning 24-20 when they last met in Gosford on May 2. On that occasion they were outstanding in the first half when they led 24-4 but then had to withstand a withering comeback by North Queensland when they failed to score any more points.