Exciting NRL rookie Demitric Sifakula is on the comeback trail as he prepares for his first outing since last August in the One New Zealand Warriors’ 12th-round New South Wales Cup encounter with top four side North Sydney at North Sydney Oval on Sunday (1.00pm kick-off local time; 3.00pm NZT).
The 20-year-old back rower’s last match was in the club’s NSW Cup clash against Western Suburbs in Hamilton last year, a sad night for him when he suffered a season-ending ACL knee injury.
Earlier in the year he made his NRL debut against the Sydney Roosters at Go Media Stadium, one of three first-grade appearances in 2023.
Now he takes his first steps back on the field after being named on the interchange for Sunday’s clash against the fourth-placed Bears, who are on 15 points just two ahead of the Warriors, the only side in the top eighth yet to have a bye.
Match: Bears v Warriors
Round 12 -
home Team
Bears
away Team
Warriors
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Bears is number 1 Jake TobyFullback for Warriors is number 1 Ben Farr
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Winger for Bears is number 2 Allan FitzgibbonWinger for Warriors is number 2 Motu Pasikala
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Centre for Bears is number 4 Israel OgdenCentre for Warriors is number 3 Kayliss Fatialofa
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Centre for Bears is number 18 Dean IeremiaCentre for Warriors is number 20 Quinnlan Tupou
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Winger for Bears is number 5 Tuipulotu KatoaWinger for Warriors is number 18 Compton Fuatimau
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Five-Eighth for Bears is number 6 Kieran HaymanFive-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Caleb Laiman
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Halfback for Bears is number 7 Ben StevanovicHalfback for Warriors is number 7 Luke Hanson
Forwards
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Prop for Bears is number 8 Kurt De LuisProp for Warriors is number 10 Tanner Stowers-Smith
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Hooker for Bears is number 9 Bronson GarlickHooker for Warriors is number 14 Jacob Auloa
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Prop for Bears is number 19 Joe ChanProp for Warriors is number 16 Toni Tupouniua
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2nd Row for Bears is number 11 Matt Stimson2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Eddie Ieremia-Toeava
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2nd Row for Bears is number 12 Jerry Key2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Maia Sands
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Lock for Bears is number 13 Ben TaltyLock for Warriors is number 13 Kalani Going
Interchange
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Interchange for Bears is number 14 Jayden YatesInterchange for Warriors is number 9 Makaia Tafua
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Interchange for Bears is number 15 Phillip MakatoaInterchange for Warriors is number 15 Leka Halasima
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Interchange for Bears is number 16 Josh BevanInterchange for Warriors is number 17 Demitric Sifakula
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Interchange for Bears is number 22 Rua NgatikauraInterchange for Warriors is number 21 Harry Durbin
Reserves
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Replacement for Bears is number 23 Regan HughesReplacement for Warriors is number 22 Etuate Fukofuka
Last updated:
Sifakula comes into a Warriors side enjoying a solid vein of form which has seen it unbeaten in its last five games including four wins and a draw, the most recent result an exceptional 22-10 victory over competition leader Penrith.
All but bereft of experience, the Warriors fielded a lineup dominated by players eligible to play in the Jersey Flegg Cup (under-21) and SG Ball Cup (under-19).
The win has the Warriors in seventh place with six wins, a draw and four losses from their first 11 matches.
They’ll again be low on NRL experience this week although they have been boosted by Sifakula’s return along with fellow back rower Leka Halasima, who made his comeback last week.
The Warriors will go into the game with grim memories of their second-round match against the Bears in Pukekohe in March when they were on the end of an 18-38 loss.
North Sydney beat South Sydney 30-20 last Saturday following a 24-31 loss to Parramatta in round 10.
