NSW Cup Team List: Rocco Berry back for Warriors

NSW Cup Team List: Berry back, Boyd and Harper debut

Author: Richard Becht & photosport.nz
Timestamp: Tue 4 Mar 2025, 05:14 PM

Rocco Berry returns from a long layoff while new signings Tanah Boyd and Morgan Harper will make their One New Zealand Warriors debuts in the club’s round one New South Wales Cup clash against Canberra at Leichhardt Oval in Sydney on Saturday (2.00pm kick-off local time; 4.00pm NZT).

The 23-year-old Berry has recovered from a shoulder injury which sidelined him for the rest of the 2024 season after the round 15 encounter with Melbourne in June last year.

He’s named in the centres while just-signed 64-game centre Morgan Harper starts on the wing and ex-Titans halfback Boyd will wear the #7 jersey paired with Te Maire Martin at standoff.

Winger Edward Kosi and centre Moala Graham-Taufa also provide NRL experience with fullback Geronimo Doyle the only player in the backline yet to play at first-grade level.

After being used in both Preseason Challenge matches against Cronulla-Sutherland and Melbourne, hooker Sam Healey, another new arrival, has his first official competition outing for the club.

There’s NRL strength in starting props Bunty Afoa and Tom Ale along with the Warriors’ 2024 NRL rookie of the year Jacob Laban in the second row and one-game first grader Kalani Going at loose forward.

Round 1 - Round 1 - Saturday 8 Mar

Full Time

Raiders

Warriors

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Raiders is number 1 Chevy Stewart

Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Geronimo Doyle
Winger for Raiders is number 2 Michael Asomua

Winger for Warriors is number 2 Morgan Harper
Centre for Raiders is number 3 Albert Hopoate

Centre for Warriors is number 3 Rocco Berry
Centre for Raiders is number 4 Manaia Waitere

Centre for Warriors is number 4 Moala Graham-Taufa
Winger for Raiders is number 20 Jed Stuart

Winger for Warriors is number 5 Edward Kosi
Five-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Adam Cook

Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Te Maire Martin
Halfback for Raiders is number 7 Ethan Sanders

Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Tanah Boyd

Forwards

Prop for Raiders is number 21 Pasami Saulo

Prop for Warriors is number 8 Tom Ale
Hooker for Raiders is number 18 Danny Levi

Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Samuel Healey
Prop for Raiders is number 22 Trey Mooney

Prop for Warriors is number 10 Bunty Afoa
2nd Row for Raiders is number 12 Joe Roddy

2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Jacob Laban
2nd Row for Raiders is number 14 Noah Martin

2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Eddie Ieremia-Toeava
Lock for Raiders is number 10 Peter Taateo

Lock for Warriors is number 13 Kalani Going

Interchange

Interchange for Raiders is number 5 Jensen Taumoepeau

Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Freddy Lussick
Interchange for Raiders is number 9 Shaun Packer

Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Tanner Stowers-Smith
Interchange for Raiders is number 13 Myles Martin

Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Toby Crosby
Interchange for Raiders is number 15 Vena Patuki-Case

Interchange for Warriors is number 20 Kayliss Fatialofa

Reserves

Replacement for Raiders is number 16 Mitchell Prest

Replacement for Warriors is number 18 Caleb Laiman

Last updated: 3/9/2025 12:03:25 AM

The upgraded Eddie Ieremia-Toeava starts in the second row with NRL hooker Freddy Lussick named on the bench as well as Prop Tanner Stowers-Smith, who has been promoted to the club’s top 30 squad. The other two bench spots are filled by promising prop Toby Crosby (21) and outside back Sio Kali (19).

The Raiders will provide a stern challenge first-up. After finishing second in the regular season in 2024 their run ended one win short of the grand fina.

The Warriors and Raiders shared the spoils last year, Canberra winning convincingly in round three at home before the Warriors avenged the defeat in Auckland.