Rd 23 Team List: Tevaga in mix to make comeback
The long-awaited reunion of the One New Zealand Warriors’ ‘bald brothers’ has edged a step closer with Jazz Tevaga included in the extended squad for the club’s 23rd-round NRL clash against the Gold Coast Titans at Cbus Super Stadium in Robina on Friday night (6.00pm kick-off local time; 8.00pm NZT).
The livewire 27-year-old has been named in jersey #18 as he makes his reappearance in the line-up after being sidelined since leaving the field with a calf injury just 22 minutes into the Anzac Day encounter with Melbourne.
Tevaga formed a potent partnership with new recruit Dylan Walker in the earlier rounds of the season, the pair lifting energy levels and intensity when they operated in tandem in the middle of the park.
Their combined impact was telling as the One New Zealand Warriors put together a run of victories over North Queensland, Canterbury Bankstown and Cronulla Sutherland in rounds three, four and five before beating the Cowboys again in round seven.
The Warriors made a fizzing start against the Storm on Anzac Day leading 12-0 and then 18-6 before Tevaga’s night was ended by the calf issue which forced him to sit out more than three months and miss the club’s last 11 matches.
After a delayed start to the campaign he made a key contribution in his six appearances averaging 122 metres and 33 tackles a game, his partnership with fellow shaven-headed teammate Walker leading to them being dubbed the ‘bald brothers’.
Match: Titans v Warriors
Round 23 -
home Team
Titans
away Team
Warriors
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Titans is number 14 Jayden CampbellFullback for Warriors is number 1 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
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Winger for Titans is number 2 Alofiana Khan-PereiraWinger for Warriors is number 2 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
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Centre for Titans is number 3 Brian KellyCentre for Warriors is number 3 Rocco Berry
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Centre for Titans is number 4 Aaron SchouppCentre for Warriors is number 4 Adam Pompey
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Winger for Titans is number 5 Phillip SamiWinger for Warriors is number 5 Marcelo Montoya
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Five-Eighth for Titans is number 6 Kieran ForanFive-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Luke Metcalf
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Halfback for Titans is number 7 Tanah BoydHalfback for Warriors is number 7 Shaun Johnson
Forwards
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Prop for Titans is number 8 Moeaki FotuaikaProp for Warriors is number 8 Addin Fonua-Blake
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Hooker for Titans is number 15 Chris RandallHooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde Egan
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Prop for Titans is number 10 Isaac LiuProp for Warriors is number 10 Mitchell Barnett
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2nd Row for Titans is number 11 David Fifita2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Jackson Ford
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2nd Row for Titans is number 12 Joe Stimson2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Marata Niukore
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Lock for Titans is number 13 Erin ClarkLock for Warriors is number 13 Tohu Harris
Interchange
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Interchange for Titans is number 9 Sam VerrillsInterchange for Warriors is number 14 Dylan Walker
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Interchange for Titans is number 16 Klese HaasInterchange for Warriors is number 16 Bayley Sironen
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Interchange for Titans is number 17 Iszac Fa'asuamaleauiInterchange for Warriors is number 17 Josh Curran
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Interchange for Titans is number 18 Keano KiniInterchange for Warriors is number 18 Jazz Tevaga
Reserves
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Replacement for Titans is number 19 Jacob Alick
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Reserve for Warriors is number 20 Taine Tuaupiki
Match Officials
- Referee: Ben Cummins
- Senior Review Official: Kasey Badger
Last updated:
Coming out of the team’s third bye, One New Zealand Warriors head coach Andrew Webster is hopeful Tevaga will be able to play this week but that call is yet to be made.
As it stands now, Webster has named the same 17 players used in the round 21 golden point win over Canberra on July 21.
It’s the sixth match on end that he has been able to select the same backline of Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Rocco Berry, the just re-signed Adam Pompey, Marcelo Montoya, Luke Metcalf and Shaun Johnson.
Utility forward Bayley Sironen is poised to make his 50th appearance for the One New Zealand Warriors this week while Johnson will move within two games of his 250th career milestone and captain Tohu Harris will make his 97th appearance for the Warriors.
After winning five of their first 10 matches of the season, the Warriors have won seven of their last nine, a period which has seen them score 277 points (30.77 a game) while conceding just 148 (average: 16.44 a game).
With a 12-7 record they sit third on the ladder with 30 points having conceded just 346 points, the second fewest so far this season.
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They head to Gold Coast with an impressive 6-3 away record but the Titans have been challenging opponents in recent seasons winning four of the last five contest between the two clubs.
They’re coming off an impressive 22-13 win over North Queensland on Sunday which moved them to 12th on 22 points, four short of the eighth-placed Cowboys.
