An unchanged starting side has been named for the One New Zealand Warriors’ Harold Matthews Cup (under-17) grand final against the Newcastle Knights at Leichhardt Oval in Sydney on Saturday (12.00pm kick-off local time; 2.00pm NZT).
Coach TJ Ashford has listed the same run-on combination used in last Sunday’s 28-8 preliminary final victory over South Sydney at Redfern Oval.
One change was forced on the interchange with Hanita Takulua replacing regular back-up dummy half Amasio, who’s following concussion protocols after a head knock late in the first half of the match against the Rabbitohs.
Another five players used during the campaign have been named in the reserves – Christiano Elia, who was activated as 18th man last Sunday, Kaian Olsen, D’Angelo Mikaele, Jacksyn Hill and Caleib Fidow.
Match: Warriors v Knights
Grand Final -
home Team
Warriors
away Team
Knights
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Jeremiah LemanaFullback for Knights is number 1 Riley Rostron
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Winger for Warriors is number 2 Alexander PuaWinger for Knights is number 2 Callum Elsley
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Centre for Warriors is number 3 Parekaahu KeepaCentre for Knights is number 3 Chip Valentish
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Centre for Warriors is number 4 Soane Ma'asiCentre for Knights is number 4 William Manning
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Winger for Warriors is number 20 Kaian OlsenWinger for Knights is number 5 Jett McKay
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Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 5 Hinckley IokaFive-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Cooper Votano
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Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Alapati Tusa SoagiaHalfback for Knights is number 7 Chase Butler
Forwards
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Prop for Warriors is number 8 Lucian MikaeleProp for Knights is number 8 Ashton Allen
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Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Dreytin MarriottHooker for Knights is number 9 Zane Hopkins
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Prop for Warriors is number 10 Krushil KotekaProp for Knights is number 10 Lachlan Quigley
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2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Dougal Grant2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Kade McKay
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2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Bishop Neal2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Curtis Mulherin
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Lock for Warriors is number 13 Ronan ByfordLock for Knights is number 13 Cooper Townsend
Interchange
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Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Tusi FanoluaInterchange for Knights is number 14 Kyron Nixon-Croaker
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Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Satali Asolelei FrettonInterchange for Knights is number 15 Noah McNamara
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Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Kenny LafituanaiInterchange for Knights is number 16 Cody Baker
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Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Hanita TakuluaInterchange for Knights is number 17 Sione Haukinima
Reserves
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Replacement for Warriors is number 18 Christiano EliaReplacement for Knights is number 18 Cooper McKenna
Last updated:
The appearance in the grand final continues the One New Zealand Warriors’ remarkable run since entering the competition for the first time last season.
They sneaked into the playoffs but went all the way to claim the title on debut and have now repeated the feat in a season in which they finished third in the regular season, their only losses coming against minor premiers the Illawarra Steelers and the Sydney Roosters.
The defeat by the Roosters was avenged a week later when the Warriors beat them 20-4 in week one of the finals.
The Warriors have never met Newcastle since joining the competition. The Knights were fourth at the end of the regular season, also finishing with a 6-2 record but with a slightly inferior points for and against differential.
To qualify for the decider, the Knights beat Illawarra 28-10 in week one of the finals and then the Central Coast Roosters 26-20 last week.
While the Warriors won the title last year, their 2025 side bears little resemblance to the grand final-winning one 12 months ago.
The only survivors from the 2024 premiership-winning lineup are fullback Jeremiah Lemana – who was in the centres as a 15-year-old that day – and captain and standoff Tyson Hansen. Starting hooker Dreytin Marriott and winger Justice Pua made one appearance each in the regular season while loose forward Ronan Byford was the unused 18th man once.
The impressive Lemana, who scored a hat-trick against South Sydney last week, has played in all 10 matches so far this campaign as have Hansen, Byford and halfback Alapati Soagia.
The Warriors have been strong defensively conceding only 12 points in their two finals matches while across the 10 matches played they've allowed only 138 points, an average of less than 14 a game.
Lemana and powerful second rower Bishop Neal are the team's top try scorers with six each.
