Vodafone Warriors captain Addin Fonua-Blake under injury cloud

AFB's chances of playing slightly improved

Author: Richard Becht & photosport.nz
Timestamp: Wed 6 Apr 2022, 01:30 PM

Vodafone Warriors captain Addin Fonua-Blake is rated a slightly better chance of taking his place against North Queensland in Friday night's fifth-round NRL contest at Moreton Daily Stadium in Redcliffe (6.00pm kick-off local time; 8.00pm NZT).

Head coach Nathan Brown told the media today that his premier prop could neither be ruled out nor ruled in two days out from the match.

He said Fonua-Blake's prospects had improved slightly from no chance 24 hours ago to a slim chance of playing.

Fonua-Blake is suffering from the effects of a knock picked up in last Saturday's 20-6 win over Brisbane; Brown wouldn't specify the nature of the injury "for obvious reasons if he does play".

The prop was named on the expanded bench in jersey #20 yesterday with Bunty Afoa listed in the starting line-up and hooker Wayde Egan selected as captain.

Two players - suspended Jazz Tevaga and injured Ben Murdoch-Masila (ankle/foot) - are definitely missing this week but interchange prop Aaron Pene (shoulder) and back rower Bayley Sironen (Covid) have come straight back into the line-up after missing the Brisbane encounter.

Sironen, who was on the bench in the first three rounds, comes into the second row with Josh Curran switched back to loose forward.

While Pene and Sironen make quick returns, first-choice centre Rocco Berry is also back in the extended squad after sitting out last week with a virus. Also included is fellow young centre Viliami Vailea after recovering from the knee injury which sidelined him after the first-round defeat by St George Illawarra.

Brown said while Berry was available again this week, centre Adam Pompey and winger Edward Kosi were retained as a reward for their performances against the Broncos.

For the first time this season, Brown has been able to select the same spine for a second week running with Egan at hooker, Shaun Johnson and Chanel Harris-Tavita in the halves and Reece Walsh at fullback.

Round 5 - Round 5 - Friday 8 Apr

Full Time

Warriors

Cowboys

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Reece Walsh

Fullback for Cowboys is number 1 Scott Drinkwater
Winger for Warriors is number 2 Edward Kosi

Winger for Cowboys is number 2 Kyle Feldt
Centre for Warriors is number 3 Jesse Arthars

Centre for Cowboys is number 3 Valentine Holmes
Centre for Warriors is number 4 Adam Pompey

Centre for Cowboys is number 4 Peta Hiku
Winger for Warriors is number 5 Marcelo Montoya

Winger for Cowboys is number 5 Murray Taulagi
Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Chanel Harris-Tavita

Five-Eighth for Cowboys is number 6 Tom Dearden
Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Shaun Johnson

Halfback for Cowboys is number 7 Chad Townsend

Forwards

Prop for Warriors is number 10 Matthew Lodge

Prop for Cowboys is number 8 Jordan McLean
Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde Egan

Hooker for Cowboys is number 9 Reece Robson
Prop for Warriors is number 20 Addin Fonua-Blake

Prop for Cowboys is number 16 Reuben Cotter
2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Euan Aitken

2nd Row for Cowboys is number 11 Tom Gilbert
2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Bayley Sironen

2nd Row for Cowboys is number 12 Jeremiah Nanai
Lock for Warriors is number 13 Josh Curran

Lock for Cowboys is number 13 Jason Taumalolo

Interchange

Interchange for Warriors is number 8 Bunty Afoa

Interchange for Cowboys is number 10 Jamayne Taunoa-Brown
Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Kodi Nikorima

Interchange for Cowboys is number 14 Jake Granville
Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Aaron Pene

Interchange for Cowboys is number 15 Heilum Luki
Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Jack Murchie

Interchange for Cowboys is number 17 Griffin Neame

Reserves

Replacement for Warriors is number 15 Eliesa Katoa

Replacement for Cowboys is number 19 Brendan Elliot

Match Officials

Referee: Todd Smith
Touch Judge: Kasey Badger
Senior Review Official: Matt Noyen

Last updated: 3/4/2024 11:32:50 PM

Until now Egan had been the only constant in the opening four rounds.

In round one Johnson was with Kodi Nikorima in the halves with Harris-Tavita at fullback while a week later Walsh came in at fullback with Harris-Tavita going to the halves alongside new signing Ash Taylor.

There was another shuffle for the round three contest when Taylor (hip) was ruled out and Nikorima was back in the halves.

It meant Brown was unable to field his preferred spine until last week when Johnson came back from injury.

Last week Matt Lodge, Jesse Arthars, Nikorima and Walsh all lined up against their former club Brisbane; this week the Vodafone Warriors will face three former players in centre Peta Hiku, halfback Chad Townsend and prop Jamayne Taunoa-Brown who were all teammates last season.

Friday night’s second consecutive home game at Moreton Daily Stadium offers up another all-Queensland clash, the third in the opening five rounds for the Redcliffe-based Vodafone Warriors after facing Gold Coast in round two and Brisbane last week.