Confirmed Line-up: Late switches made in forwards
An NRL debut for exciting young back rower Demitric Sifakula and positional changes in the starting forward pack have been confirmed by the One New Zealand Warriors for their ninth-round match against the Sydney Roosters at Mount Smart Stadium today (4.00pm kick-off; game day sponsor: Census).
Just turned 19, Otahuhu Leopards junior Sifakula moves onto the interchange bench alongside Freddy Lussick, Tom Ale and Bayley Sironen with New South Wales Cup back rower Kalani Going named as 18th man.
Sifakula, in outstanding form for the club’s New South Wales Cup side this season, becomes Warrior #280.
While the same six players selected in the starting pack remain, three of them will have different roles in the opening stanza.
Front rower Addin Fonua-Blake starts at loose forward replacing Josh Curran, who moves to the edge, while Marata Niukore, originally listed in the second row, will start at prop.
At the 24-hour deadline yesterday, the One New Zealand Warriors were forced to make another change at fullback.
Having lost first-choice custodian Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Taine Tuaupiki was selected as his replacement for his third NRL appearance.
Match: Warriors v Roosters
Round 9 -
home Team
Warriors
away Team
Roosters
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Warriors is number 2 Dallin Watene-ZelezniakFullback for Roosters is number 1 James Tedesco
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Winger for Warriors is number 3 Marcelo MontoyaWinger for Roosters is number 2 Corey Allan
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Centre for Warriors is number 4 Adam PompeyCentre for Roosters is number 3 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii
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Centre for Warriors is number 17 Viliami VaileaCentre for Roosters is number 4 Paul Momirovski
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Winger for Warriors is number 5 Edward KosiWinger for Roosters is number 5 Jaxson Paulo
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Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Dylan WalkerFive-Eighth for Roosters is number 6 Joseph Manu
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Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Shaun JohnsonHalfback for Roosters is number 7 Luke Keary
Forwards
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Prop for Warriors is number 10 Bunty AfoaProp for Roosters is number 10 Lindsay Collins
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Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde EganHooker for Roosters is number 9 Brandon Smith
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Prop for Warriors is number 12 Marata NiukoreProp for Roosters is number 17 Matthew Lodge
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2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Jackson Ford2nd Row for Roosters is number 11 Egan Butcher
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2nd Row for Warriors is number 13 Josh Curran2nd Row for Roosters is number 12 Nat Butcher
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Lock for Warriors is number 8 Addin Fonua-BlakeLock for Roosters is number 13 Victor Radley
Interchange
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Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Freddy LussickInterchange for Roosters is number 14 Drew Hutchison
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Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Bayley SironenInterchange for Roosters is number 15 Angus Crichton
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Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Tom AleInterchange for Roosters is number 16 Sitili Tupouniua
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Interchange for Warriors is number 18 Demitric SifakulaInterchange for Roosters is number 18 Fletcher Baker
Reserves
-
Replacement for Warriors is number 22 Kalani GoingReplacement for Roosters is number 19 Sam Walker
Match Officials
- Referee: Chris Butler
- Touch Judge: Drew Oultram
- Senior Review Official: Ben Cummins
Last updated:
However, he was withdrawn with a leg injury after yesterday’s final field session and, in his absence, winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak will start at fullback.
He moved to the position when Nicoll-Klokstad was forced off the field with 25 minutes to go in Tuesday night’s 22-30 Anzac Day loss to Melbourne. While specialising as a winger since joining the One New Zealand Warriors, Watene-Zelezniak has extensive experience as a fullback for his previous clubs Penrith and Canterbury Bankstown as well as the Kiwis.
Marcelo Montoya moves from the centres back to the wing with Viliami Vailea returning at centre for his fifth match of the season.
As well as Tuaupiki, the other two players omitted from the extended squad 24 hours before kick-off are halfback Ronald Volkman and prop Zyon Maiu’u.
Tuaupiki’s injury setback adds to a casualty list which this week already included captain Tohu Harris (knee), Nicoll-Klokstad and middle forward Jazz Tevaga (leg) who were all ruled out after leaving the field in on Tuesday night.
After leading at halftime and stretching their advantage to 22-12 early in the second half the One New Zealand Warriors hung in despite having no fit players on their interchange late in the match.
Returning to the side is hooker Wayde Egan after missing the last two matches through concussion.
The Roosters, coming off a dramatic 27-26 win over St George Illawarra yesterday, pose another huge challenge for the One New Zealand Warriors, even more so given the key players the home team will be without.
