Vodafone Warriors make three changes to spine against Knights

Three changes made to spine for Newcastle contest

Author: Richard Becht & photosport.nz
Timestamp: Tue 15 Jun 2021, 03:03 PM

Sean O’Sullivan, Jazz Tevaga and Reece Walsh all come into the spine for the Vodafone Warriors’ 15th-round NRL encounter with the Newcastle Knights at McDonald Jones Stadium on Saturday (3.00pm kick-off local time; 5.00pm NZT).

The 22-year-old O’Sullivan made four consecutive appearances replacing injured Chanel Harris-Tavita at halfback earlier in the season and now he reprises the role after Harris-Tavita was forced off the field with a pectoral complaint in Sunday’s loss to Melbourne.

O’Sullivan, set to play his 14th NRL game, last appeared in the 20-14 round six win over St George Illawarra while he was 18th man against North Queensland in the eighth round but wasn’t used.

With regular hooker Wayde Egan ruled out following a head knock in Sunday’s defeat by the Storm, the recently re-signed Tevaga returns to the side at dummy half after being omitted for the Melbourne match.

And 18-year-old Walsh is back in the #1 jersey after serving a one-game suspension on a striking charge he landed after the 28-29 loss to North Queensland; that sees captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck again moving to the right wing.

Round 15 - Round 15 - Saturday 19 Jun

Full Time

Knights

Warriors

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Knights is number 3 Kurt Mann

Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Reece Walsh
Winger for Knights is number 2 Dominic Young

Winger for Warriors is number 2 Marcelo Montoya
Centre for Knights is number 4 Enari Tuala

Centre for Warriors is number 4 Euan Aitken
Centre for Knights is number 12 Brodie Jones

Centre for Warriors is number 21 Adam Pompey
Winger for Knights is number 5 Hymel Hunt

Winger for Warriors is number 5 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
Five-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Jake Clifford

Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Kodi Nikorima
Halfback for Knights is number 7 Mitchell Pearce

Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Sean O'Sullivan

Forwards

Prop for Knights is number 8 Jacob Saifiti

Prop for Warriors is number 8 Addin Fonua-Blake
Hooker for Knights is number 9 Jayden Brailey

Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Jazz Tevaga
Prop for Knights is number 10 Daniel Saifiti

Prop for Warriors is number 10 Ben Murdoch-Masila
2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Lachlan Fitzgibbon

2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Bayley Sironen
2nd Row for Knights is number 13 Mitchell Barnett

2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Tohu Harris
Lock for Knights is number 16 Sauaso Sue

Lock for Warriors is number 13 Josh Curran

Interchange

Interchange for Knights is number 14 Connor Watson

Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Eliesa Katoa
Interchange for Knights is number 15 David Klemmer

Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Leeson Ah Mau
Interchange for Knights is number 17 Jack Johns

Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Kane Evans
Interchange for Knights is number 18 Josh King

Interchange for Warriors is number 22 Taniela Otukolo

Reserves

Reserve for Knights is number 19 Tex Hoy

Reserve for Warriors is number 18 Edward Kosi

Match Officials

Referee: Chris Butler
Touch Judge: Drew Oultram
Senior Review Official: Steve Chiddy

Last updated: 5/29/2023 4:40:58 AM

Also returning is 20-year-old centre Rocco Berry – a late defection with a hamstring twinge for the Storm game – as well as second rower Eliesa Katoa, who has been included on the bench.

Aside from Tevaga’s forced selection at hooker, the other key change in the starting pack sees prop Addin Fonua-Blake named to start after playing a total of 50 minutes in his two stints against Melbourne. He finished with 81 metres from nine runs and made 20 tackles.

He’ll team up with fellow new signing Ben Murdoch-Masila to form a big starting front row while head coach Nathan Brown has retained the same back row of Tohu Harris and Bayley Sironen in the second row with re-signed Josh Curran at loose forward. Leeson Ah Mau moves out of the front row to join the interchange.

Included on the extended bench is centre Adam Pompey - back from a one-match suspension - and promising young hooker Taniela Otukolo.

With Egan sidelined, Ah Mau, Tuivasa-Sheck and standoff Kodi Nikorima are now set to the only players to appear in every match so far this season.