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Front rower Tom Ale makes is return from injury for the One New Zealand Warriors’ round eight New South Wales Cup match against the Newcastle Knights at the Trusts Arena in Waitakere on Saturday (2.00pm kick-off).

The 26-year-old featured in the team’s first three rounds but has been out since with a foot injury.

Boasting 41 NRL appearances since his debut in 2020, Ale has been named to make his comeback from the bench after missing the last side’s three matches against Western Suburbs, Newtown and St George Illawarra.

Tanner Stowers-Smith and Freddy Lussick have been listed as the starting props with two other middle forwards Jason Salalilo and Toby Crosby named on the interchange.

When the extended NRL squad of 22 was trimmed to 19 for tonight’s Anzac Day contest, Te Maire Martin, Sam Healey and Stowers-Smith were omitted freeing Martin to run the NSW Cup side from halfback.

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
    Fullback for Knights is number 1 Kalyn Ponga
  • Winger for Warriors is number 2 Taine Tuaupiki
    Winger for Knights is number 2 James Schiller
  • Centre for Warriors is number 3 Rocco Berry
    Centre for Knights is number 3 Dane Gagai
  • Centre for Warriors is number 4 Ali Leiataua
    Centre for Knights is number 4 Bradman Best
  • Winger for Warriors is number 5 Adam Pompey
    Winger for Knights is number 5 Greg Marzhew
  • Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Chanel Harris-Tavita
    Five-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Fletcher Sharpe
  • Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Luke Metcalf
    Halfback for Knights is number 20 Jack Cogger

Forwards

  • Prop for Warriors is number 10 Mitchell Barnett
    Prop for Knights is number 8 Tyson Frizell
  • Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde Egan
    Hooker for Knights is number 14 Jayden Brailey
  • Prop for Warriors is number 12 Marata Niukore
    Prop for Knights is number 10 Leo Thompson
  • 2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Kurt Capewell
    2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Dylan Lucas
  • 2nd Row for Warriors is number 14 Leka Halasima
    2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Kai Pearce-Paul
  • Lock for Warriors is number 13 Erin Clark
    Lock for Knights is number 13 Mat Croker

Interchange

  • Interchange for Warriors is number 8 Jackson Ford
    Interchange for Knights is number 9 Phoenix Crossland
  • Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Bunty Afoa
    Interchange for Knights is number 15 Tyrone Thompson
  • Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Demitric Vaimauga
    Interchange for Knights is number 16 Thomas Cant
  • Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Jacob Laban
    Interchange for Knights is number 17 Brodie Jones

Reserves

  • Replacement for Warriors is number 20 Tanah Boyd
    Replacement for Knights is number 21 Matthew Arthur

Match Officials

  • Referee: Wyatt Raymond
  • Touch Judge: Phil Henderson
  • Senior Review Official: Kasey Badger

Last updated:

With either Martin or Tanah Boyd in the halves – if not both together – the Warriors have been well served as they’ve picked up five wins from six starts to sit on top of the ladder.

They have a total 15 try assists between them with Boyd the second top points scorer with 53.

While the table-topping Warriors will be chasing their sixth win in seven starts, the Knights will be hoping to avoid a sixth loss in seven outings.