Confirmed Lineup: Halasima brought into starting side
Second rower Leka Halasima comes into the starting lineup for the One New Zealand Warriors’ round eight Anzac Day clash against the Newcastle Knights at Apollo Projects Stadium in Christchurch tonight (8.05pm kick-off).
His inclusion sees Marata Niukore moved into the front row and 50-game milestone man Jackson Ford shifted to the interchange.
Tanah Boyd is confirmed as 18th man while Edward Kosi is 19th man.
At the 24-hour deadline before kick-off on Thursday the three players omitted were halfback Te Maire Martin, prop Tanner Stowers-Smith and hooker Sam Healey.
Just re-signed fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and centre Rocco Berry return this week.
Match: Warriors v Knights
Round 8 -
home Team
Warriors
away Team
Knights
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Charnze Nicoll-KlokstadFullback for Knights is number 1 Kalyn Ponga
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Winger for Warriors is number 2 Taine TuaupikiWinger for Knights is number 2 James Schiller
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Centre for Warriors is number 3 Rocco BerryCentre for Knights is number 3 Dane Gagai
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Centre for Warriors is number 4 Ali LeiatauaCentre for Knights is number 4 Bradman Best
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Winger for Warriors is number 5 Adam PompeyWinger for Knights is number 5 Greg Marzhew
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Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Chanel Harris-TavitaFive-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Fletcher Sharpe
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Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Luke MetcalfHalfback for Knights is number 20 Jack Cogger
Forwards
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Prop for Warriors is number 10 Mitchell BarnettProp for Knights is number 8 Tyson Frizell
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Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde EganHooker for Knights is number 14 Jayden Brailey
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Prop for Warriors is number 12 Marata NiukoreProp for Knights is number 10 Leo Thompson
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2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Kurt Capewell2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Dylan Lucas
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2nd Row for Warriors is number 14 Leka Halasima2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Kai Pearce-Paul
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Lock for Warriors is number 13 Erin ClarkLock for Knights is number 13 Mat Croker
Interchange
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Interchange for Warriors is number 8 Jackson FordInterchange for Knights is number 9 Phoenix Crossland
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Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Bunty AfoaInterchange for Knights is number 15 Tyrone Thompson
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Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Demitric VaimaugaInterchange for Knights is number 16 Thomas Cant
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Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Jacob LabanInterchange for Knights is number 17 Brodie Jones
Reserves
-
Replacement for Warriors is number 20 Tanah BoydReplacement for Knights is number 21 Matthew Arthur
Match Officials
- Referee: Wyatt Raymond
- Touch Judge: Phil Henderson
- Senior Review Official: Kasey Badger
Last updated:
Nicoll-Klokstad (concussion) and Berry (suspension) were both unavailable for Saturday night’s gritty golden point victory over the Broncos but come straight back into the side.
Nicoll-Klokstad’s return sees Taine Tuaupiki back on the right wing replacing Kosi while Berry comes in for second rower Kurt Capewell who filled in for him in the centres against Brisbane.
Capewell is back in the second row with Ford joining a beach which includes Demitric Vaimauga, Bunty Afoa and Jacob Laban, giving the Warriors one of the youngest benches in their history with Vaimauga and Laban both 21 and Halasima only 19.
After marking 100-game landmarks for Erin Clark and Adam Pompey in the last two games against Melbourne and Brisbane, the hard-working Ford is the milestone man this week as he brings up his 50th appearance for the club since moving to Auckland from St George Illawarra in 2023.
This will be the Warriors’ 16th Anzac Day fixture but the first in Christchurch with the previous 15 split between AAMI Park and Go Media Stadium.
They’ll be seeking their first Anzac Round victory on New Zealand soil following losses in the two matches against the Titans in Auckland last year and in 2015.
The Warriors go into the contest seeking a fourth straight home win following three on end at Go Media Stadium against Manly Warringah (36-16), the Sydney Roosters (14-6) and the extra-time thriller against the Broncos (20-18) last week.
Together with the away win against the Wests Tigers (26-24), the Warriors sit fourth on the ladder on 10 points. Their 4-2 win-loss start to the season has been bettered only twice in the club’s previous 30 campaigns (5-1 in 2018 and 2003).
It will be the 52nd clash between the Warriors and the Knights with the two opponents having 25 wins apiece with one drawn.
The Warriors have a strong success rate against Newcastle in games played in New Zealand with nine wins in the last 10 contests (eight in Auckland and one in Wellington) with the last loss in 2019.
The Knights started the season with wins over the Tigers and Dolphins but have lost their last four against Gold Coast (6-26), Canterbury Bankstown (0-20), Wests Tigers (4-20) and Cronulla Sutherland (14-34).
