Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has been named to make his comeback in the centres in the updated One New Zealand Warriors side for Saturday’s 11th-round NRL clash against the Dolphins at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane (3.00pm kick-off local time; 5.00pm NZT).
Sidelined with a hamstring injury since the round three win over the Roosters, the 31-year-old Tuivasa-Sheck was again included on the extended bench in jersey #22 when the squad to face the Dolphins was announced on Tuesday.
Tuivasa-Sheck came through training yesterday and the final run in Brisbane today to be confirmed for a return when the lineup was trimmed to 19 at the 24-hour deadline ahead of kick-off.
With the Warriors beset by injuries among their outside backs – centres Rocco Berry and Ali Leiataua plus winger Edward Kosi all out – head coach Andrew Webster has opted to bring Tuivasa-Sheck into the midfield role he filled most of last season.
Match: Dolphins v Warriors
Round 11 -
home Team
Dolphins
away Team
Warriors
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Dolphins is number 1 Hamiso Tabuai-FidowFullback for Warriors is number 1 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
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Winger for Dolphins is number 2 Jamayne IsaakoWinger for Warriors is number 2 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
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Centre for Dolphins is number 3 Jake AverilloCentre for Warriors is number 3 Adam Pompey
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Centre for Dolphins is number 4 Herbie FarnworthCentre for Warriors is number 4 Kurt Capewell
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Winger for Dolphins is number 5 Jack BostockWinger for Warriors is number 22 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
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Five-Eighth for Dolphins is number 6 Kodi NikorimaFive-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Chanel Harris-Tavita
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Halfback for Dolphins is number 7 Isaiya KatoaHalfback for Warriors is number 7 Luke Metcalf
Forwards
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Prop for Dolphins is number 8 Francis MoloProp for Warriors is number 8 James Fisher-Harris
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Hooker for Dolphins is number 9 Kurt DonoghoeHooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde Egan
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Prop for Dolphins is number 10 Felise KaufusiProp for Warriors is number 10 Mitchell Barnett
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2nd Row for Dolphins is number 11 Kulikefu Finefeuiaki2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Leka Halasima
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2nd Row for Dolphins is number 12 Tom Gilbert2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Marata Niukore
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Lock for Dolphins is number 13 Ray StoneLock for Warriors is number 13 Erin Clark
Interchange
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Interchange for Dolphins is number 14 Harrison GrahamInterchange for Warriors is number 14 Te Maire Martin
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Interchange for Dolphins is number 15 Mark NichollsInterchange for Warriors is number 15 Jacob Laban
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Interchange for Dolphins is number 16 Josh KerrInterchange for Warriors is number 16 Demitric Vaimauga
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Interchange for Dolphins is number 17 Connelly LemueluInterchange for Warriors is number 20 Tanner Stowers-Smith
Reserves
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Replacement for Dolphins is number 18 Sean O'SullivanReplacement for Warriors is number 18 Eddie Ieremia-Toeava
Match Officials
- Referee: Peter Gough
- Touch Judge: Belinda Sharpe
- Senior Review Official: Kasey Badger
Last updated:
That sees Kurt Capewell, used as a stand-in centre recently, move back into the second row alongside Leka Halasima with Marata Niukore switching to the interchange joining Te Maire Martin, Demitric Vaimauga and Jacob Laban.
Retained in the game day 19 are young forwards Eddie Ieremia-Toeava and Tanner Stowers-Smith while hooker Sam Healey, halfback Tanah Boyd and Moala Graham-Taufa are omitted.
As well as Tuivasa-Sheck, Saturday’s match marks another significant comeback with co-captain James Fisher-Harris back in harness after suffering a pectoral strain early in the round six match against Melbourne on April 13.
While the veterans are back, the Warriors have lost middle forwards Bunty Afoa (knee) and Jackson Ford (concussion).
The Warriors go into the weekend holding second spot on the ladder with a 7-2 record matching the club’s best start to a season first achieved in 2002 and emulated in 2018.
After a run of three consecutive wins earlier in the season against Manly-Warringah, the Roosters and Wests Tigers, they’ve now rebounded from their heavy loss to the Storm with four wins on end against Brisbane (20-18), Newcastle (26-12), North Queensland (30-26) and St George Illawarra (15-14).
Halfback Luke Metcalf lifted his season’s points tally to 79 with a try, two conversions, a penalty and the match-winning field goal against the Dragons. He’s comfortably the team’s leading try score with seven in nine games.
This will be the fifth time the Warriors have met the Dolphins since the Queensland side was added to the competition in 2023.
While the Warriors have won both contests at Go Media Stadium – 30-8 in 2023 and 24-20 last year – the Dolphins have taken out both clashes at Suncorp Stadium (34-10 and 34-32).
The Dolphins sit 12th on the ladder after 10 rounds with four wins and six losses but had a 20-16 win over Parramatta last weekend to bounce back from defeats by Canberra and the Roosters.
