Confirmed Lineup: Late changes

Confirmed Lineup: Stowers-Smith becomes Warrior #292

Author: Richard Becht & photosport.nz
Timestamp: Sat 17 May 2025, 01:59 PM

Prop Tanner Stowers-Smith becomes the latest of the One New Zealand Warriors’ home-grown new breed to make his debut while Roger Tuivasa-Sheck starts on the wing in today’s round 11 NRL match against the Dolphins at Suncorp Stadium (3.00pm kick-off local time; 5.00pm NZT).

The late changes confirmed by head coach Andrew Webster an hour before kick-off see Kurt Capewell reverting to the centres after being listed in the second row in the updated lineup at the 24-hour deadline.

That in turn brings Marata Niukore back into the second row after being switched to the interchange last night with 21-year-old Stowers-Smith brought onto the bench after being listed as 19th man in the revised squad.

With Tuivasa-Sheck on the wing, where he started the season in the first three rounds, fill-in winger Taine Tuaupiki is moved to 19th man.

Round 11 - Round 11 - Saturday 17 May

Full Time

Dolphins

Warriors

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Dolphins is number 1 Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow

Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
Winger for Dolphins is number 2 Jamayne Isaako

Winger for Warriors is number 2 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
Centre for Dolphins is number 3 Jake Averillo

Centre for Warriors is number 3 Adam Pompey
Centre for Dolphins is number 4 Herbie Farnworth

Centre for Warriors is number 4 Kurt Capewell
Winger for Dolphins is number 5 Jack Bostock

Winger for Warriors is number 22 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
Five-Eighth for Dolphins is number 6 Kodi Nikorima

Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Chanel Harris-Tavita
Halfback for Dolphins is number 7 Isaiya Katoa

Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Luke Metcalf

Forwards

Prop for Dolphins is number 8 Francis Molo

Prop for Warriors is number 8 James Fisher-Harris
Hooker for Dolphins is number 9 Kurt Donoghoe

Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde Egan
Prop for Dolphins is number 10 Felise Kaufusi

Prop for Warriors is number 10 Mitchell Barnett
2nd Row for Dolphins is number 11 Kulikefu Finefeuiaki

2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Leka Halasima
2nd Row for Dolphins is number 12 Tom Gilbert

2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Marata Niukore
Lock for Dolphins is number 13 Ray Stone

Lock for Warriors is number 13 Erin Clark

Interchange

Interchange for Dolphins is number 14 Harrison Graham

Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Te Maire Martin
Interchange for Dolphins is number 15 Mark Nicholls

Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Jacob Laban
Interchange for Dolphins is number 16 Josh Kerr

Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Demitric Vaimauga
Interchange for Dolphins is number 17 Connelly Lemuelu

Interchange for Warriors is number 20 Tanner Stowers-Smith

Reserves

Replacement for Dolphins is number 18 Sean O'Sullivan

Replacement for Warriors is number 18 Eddie Ieremia-Toeava

Match Officials

Referee: Peter Gough
Touch Judge: Belinda Sharpe
Senior Review Official: Kasey Badger

Last updated: 5/18/2025 10:54:18 PM

Christchurch-born and raised Stowers-Smith, the great grandson of renowned Kiwi Pat Smith, will become Kiwi #292, the third player to make his club debut this season after co-captain and Kiwi skipper James Fisher-Harris and hooker Sam Healey.

He’s the fifth player from this year’s NRL squad to graduate from the Warriors’ pathways system since 2023 to make his first-grade debut following on from centre Ali Leiataua, prop-second rower Demitric Vaimauga and back rowers Jacob Laban and Leka Halasima.

Stowers-Smith joins fellow 21-year-olds Vaimauga and Laban on one of the youngest interchange combinations in the club’s history.

Only two years ago Stowers-Smith captained the club’s side in the SG Ball Cup under-19 competition before moving up to the New South Wales Cup side for the bulk of the year.

Curiously he was one of eight players bearing hyphenated names in the Warriors’ 22-man squad named on Tuesday for the match against the Dolphins. As well as Stowers-Smith, Tuivasa-Sheck and Fisher-Harris, the others named were Charnze Nicoll-Klostad, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Chanel Harris-Tavita, Eddie Ieremia-Toeava and Moala Graham-Taufa.

Tuivasa-Sheck’s move to the wing enables Webster to field his first-choice back three for the first time this season alongside fullback Nicholl-Klokstad and winger Watene-Zelezniak.

As well as Tuivasa-Sheck, today’s match marks another significant comeback with 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 are 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 13th on the ladder 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.