Warriors face big task on RTS milestone day

Author: Richard Becht & NRL.com & photosport.nz
Timestamp: Sat 6 Apr 2024, 07:40 AM

Squad depth will be on show for the One New Zealand Warriors in their fifth-round NRL clash against South Sydney at Accor Stadium today.

Five first-choice players have been ruled out meaning the Warriors lose a combined total of 700 NRL appearances.

Out for this match at least and longer in some cases are Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Dylan Walker, Kurt Capewell, Marata Niukore and Luke Metcalf.

On the positive side, fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad is back for his first game of the season.

With injuries having an impact, head coach Andrew Webster has brought in Te Maire Martin to replace Metcalf and Adam Pompey for Watene-Zelezniak.

Round 5 - Round 5 - Saturday 6 Apr

Full Time

Rabbitohs

Warriors

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Rabbitohs is number 1 Latrell Mitchell

Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
Winger for Rabbitohs is number 2 Izaac Tu’itupou Thompson

Winger for Warriors is number 4 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
Centre for Rabbitohs is number 3 Jack Wighton

Centre for Warriors is number 3 Rocco Berry
Centre for Rabbitohs is number 4 Isaiah Tass

Centre for Warriors is number 18 Adam Pompey
Winger for Rabbitohs is number 5 Taane Milne

Winger for Warriors is number 5 Marcelo Montoya
Five-Eighth for Rabbitohs is number 6 Cody Walker

Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Te Maire Martin
Halfback for Rabbitohs is number 7 Dean Hawkins

Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Shaun Johnson

Forwards

Prop for Rabbitohs is number 8 Tevita Tatola

Prop for Warriors is number 8 Addin Fonua-Blake
Hooker for Rabbitohs is number 9 Damien Cook

Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde Egan
Prop for Rabbitohs is number 10 Thomas Burgess

Prop for Warriors is number 16 Bunty Afoa
2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 11 Keaon Koloamatangi

2nd Row for Warriors is number 10 Mitchell Barnett
2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 12 Jacob Host

2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Jackson Ford
Lock for Rabbitohs is number 13 Cameron Murray

Lock for Warriors is number 13 Tohu Harris

Interchange

Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 14 Michael Chee Kam

Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Tom Ale
Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 15 Tallis Duncan

Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Jazz Tevaga
Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 16 Sean Keppie

Interchange for Warriors is number 20 Jacob Laban
Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 18 Peter Mamouzelos

Interchange for Warriors is number 21 Chanel Harris-Tavita

Reserves

Replacement for Rabbitohs is number 17 Davvy Moale

Replacement for Warriors is number 23 Ali Leiataua

Match Officials

Referee: Liam Kennedy
Touch Judge: Jon Stone
Senior Review Official: Ashley Klein

Last updated: 4/29/2024 5:36:32 AM

With Capewell and Niukore both out, Mitchell Barnett has been switched to the second row with Bunty Afoa off the bench to start at prop.

Jazz Tevaga's on the bench for Walker and Chanel Harris-Tavita fills another spot on the interchange with his utility value.

The Rabbitohs picked up their first win of the season last week.

While it was a far from complete performance, they did enough to get home 20-16 over the Bulldogs on Good Friday, completing all but two of their 36 sets with the ball but still finishing on the wrong end of several key stat categories.

The Warriors secured their second win of the season with a gritty 20-12 victory over the Knights in Auckland, earned on the back of another strong defensive showing in which the two tries they leaked both came from kicks.

South Sydney won its lone meeting with the Warriors comfortably on a wet night last season to extend its winning run against the Kiwi side to eight in a row.

The Warriors have played at Accor Stadium just twice in the past four years, winning both of those games against the Bulldogs, while the Rabbitohs have won eight of their past 10 at the venue.

Team news

Rabbitohs: A change on Friday with Davvy Moale making way for Peter Mamouzelos, who will play some minutes out of dummy half backing up Damien Cook. With Alex Johnston sidelined by a hamstring injury, Izaac Tu'itupou Thompson gets the call up to start in an otherwise unchanged backline. Jacob Host retains his place in the back row with Michael Chee Kam again included on the bench. Dean Hawkins will make his third-straight appearance in the No.7 jersey with Lachlan Ilias remaining in the reserves.

One New Zealand Warriors: Changes on Friday with Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (hamstring) and Marata Niukore (foot) dropping out. Adam Pompey moves onto the right wing, Mitch Barnett switches to the second row and Bunty Afoa starts in the front row. Chanel Harris-Tavita has joined the bench from the reserves. Veteran Te Maire Martin comes in to replace the injured Luke Metcalf at five-eighth. Kurt Capewell (concussion protocols) and Dylan Walker (ankle) are also on the injured list.

Stat attack

The Rabbitohs have scored 208 points in their past five games against the Warriors.
Warriors fullback Roger Tuivasa-Sheck will play his 200th NRL game.
Rabbitohs five-eighth Cody Walker has scored nine tries in 11 games against the Warriors.

Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.