The One New Zealand Warriors have been hit by two game day withdrawals ahead of their Indigenous Round encounter with the Dolphins at Te pā o Rarotonga today (6.05pm kick-off; game day partners: Warriors Community Foundation and Kidz First).
First Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad was ruled out through illness this morning and then early this afternoon Taine Tuaupiki withdrew to be with his partner for the imminent birth of the couple’s first child.
Originally named at standoff after starting there last week, the club’s first-choice fullback Nicoll-Klokstad was last night switched to the centres to replace Rocco Berry, who had been withdrawn due to the hand injury that kept him out of last Sunday’s match against Penrith.
But then Nicoll-Klokstad was ruled out resulting in Moala Graham-Taufa coming into the centres for his club debut as Warrior #288.
The 22-year-old Marist Saints junior came through the Sydney Roosters’ system making his NRL debut against South Sydney in 2021 – his only appearance until now – when he was used as 18th man.
Match: Warriors v Dolphins
Round 12 -
home Team
Warriors
away Team
Dolphins
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Warriors is number 2 Dallin Watene-ZelezniakFullback for Dolphins is number 1 Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
-
Winger for Warriors is number 5 Marcelo MontoyaWinger for Dolphins is number 2 Jamayne Isaako
-
Centre for Warriors is number 4 Adam PompeyCentre for Dolphins is number 3 Jake Averillo
-
Centre for Warriors is number 23 Moala Graham-TaufaCentre for Dolphins is number 4 Herbie Farnworth
-
Winger for Warriors is number 22 Edward KosiWinger for Dolphins is number 5 Jack Bostock
-
Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 20 Chanel Harris-TavitaFive-Eighth for Dolphins is number 6 Kodi Nikorima
-
Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Te Maire MartinHalfback for Dolphins is number 7 Isaiya Katoa
Forwards
-
Prop for Warriors is number 10 Bunty AfoaProp for Dolphins is number 8 Jesse Bromwich
-
Hooker for Warriors is number 18 Paul RoacheHooker for Dolphins is number 9 Jeremy Marshall-King
-
Prop for Warriors is number 17 Marata NiukoreProp for Dolphins is number 11 Felise Kaufusi
-
2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Jackson Ford2nd Row for Dolphins is number 12 Euan Aitken
-
2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Mitchell Barnett2nd Row for Dolphins is number 17 Connelly Lemuelu
-
Lock for Warriors is number 13 Dylan WalkerLock for Dolphins is number 13 Max Plath
Interchange
-
Interchange for Warriors is number 9 Freddy LussickInterchange for Dolphins is number 10 Mark Nicholls
-
Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Tom AleInterchange for Dolphins is number 14 Josh Kerr
-
Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Jazz TevagaInterchange for Dolphins is number 15 Kenneath Bromwich
-
Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Jacob LabanInterchange for Dolphins is number 16 Ray Stone
Reserves
-
Replacement for Warriors is number 21 Zyon Maiu'uReplacement for Dolphins is number 18 Oryn Keeley
Match Officials
- Referee: Liam Kennedy
- Senior Review Official: Gerard Sutton
Last updated:
He has been in the Warriors’ New South Wales Cup squad since last season scoring 14 tries in 33 appearances including five in nine games so far this season while averaging 152 metres.
Tuaupiki’s unavailability sees Dallin Watene-Zelezniak switched to fullback with Edward Kosi coming onto the wing for his 29th appearance.
Watene Zelezniak has played extensively at fullback for the Kiwis, Penrith and Canterbury Bankstown but this will be only the second time he has started there for the Warriors, the first against the Roosters in round nine last year.
When Berry was withdrawn yesterday Chanel Harris-Tavita was moved into the halves for his first game since being ruled out with a calf injury following the sixth-round match against Manly Warringah.
With regular prop Addin Fonua-Blake stood down for a breach of club standards, Marata Niukore will start in the front row in his comeback appearance from a foot injury which forced him to miss the club’s last seven matches. It will be only his second game of the season.
Paul Roache starts at hooker after originally being named on the extended bench. He played 68 minutes in the 22-20 win over Penrith after Wayde Egan left the field and couldn’t return following a head knock in the 12th minute.
Apart from Niukore and Harris-Tavita, hooker Freddy Lussick (concussion) is also back from injury for the club’s first match on home soil since the Anzac Day contest against the Gold Coast Titans.
While those three players come off the injury list, Berry, Egan and Leiataua plus Nicoll-Klokstad, Tuaupiki and Fonua-Blake join a long list of unavailable players.
Egan is following NRL protocols but with the club having a bye in round 13, he will be in line to make his return for the away match against North Queensland on June 8.
Rookie Leiataua, playing just his second NRL fixture, was a try-scoring hero in win over the Panthers but picked up an ankle injury early in the contest which is set to keep him out until early July.
Captain Tohu Harris (hand), halfback Shaun Johnson (pectoral), Tuivasa-Sheck, second rower Kurt Capewell (calf) and standoff Luke Metcalf (leg) remain in recovery. That leaves the Warriors without 11 frontline players this week.
