Team List: Afoa, Ford named as replacement props

Author: Richard Becht warriors.kiwi
Timestamp: Tue 20 May 2025, 03:59 PM

Bunty Afoa and Jackson Ford have been named to replace co-captains Mitchell Barnett and James Fisher-Harris as the One New Zealand Warriors’ starting props for Sunday’s top three NRL encounter with Canberra at Go Media Stadium (6.05pm kick-off).

Barnett is unavailable due to his New South Wales State of Origin selection while Fisher-Harris is suspended this week after taking an early guilty plea on a high tackle charge he received following Saturday’s 16-12 win over the Dolphins.

The 144-game veteran Afoa (knee) and 85-game forward Ford (concussion) were both ruled out of the clash against the Dolphins but have been cleared to return for this week’s contest between the second-placed Warriors (18 points) and the third-ranked Raiders (16 points).

The rest of the 17 listed in the initial lineup is the same as the one used when the club extended its season start to 8-2 following five straight wins over Brisbane, Newcastle, North Queensland, St George Illawarra and the Dolphins. The record matches the previous best starts to a season in 2018 and 2002 but is still short of the mark of 11-2 created by the 2002 side in the opening 13 rounds that year.

Round 12 - Sunday 25th May

Full Time

Warriors

Raiders

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad

Fullback for Raiders is number 1 Kaeo Weekes
Winger for Warriors is number 2 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak

Winger for Raiders is number 2 Savelio Tamale
Centre for Warriors is number 3 Adam Pompey

Centre for Raiders is number 3 Matthew Timoko
Centre for Warriors is number 22 Ali Leiataua

Centre for Raiders is number 4 Sebastian Kris
Winger for Warriors is number 5 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck

Winger for Raiders is number 5 Xavier Savage
Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Chanel Harris-Tavita

Five-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Ethan Strange
Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Luke Metcalf

Halfback for Raiders is number 7 Jamal Fogarty

Forwards

Prop for Warriors is number 10 Bunty Afoa

Prop for Raiders is number 8 Corey Horsburgh
Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde Egan

Hooker for Raiders is number 9 Tom Starling
Prop for Warriors is number 12 Marata Niukore

Prop for Raiders is number 10 Joseph Tapine
2nd Row for Warriors is number 4 Kurt Capewell

2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 Simi Sasagi
2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Leka Halasima

2nd Row for Raiders is number 12 Zac Hosking
Lock for Warriors is number 13 Erin Clark

Lock for Raiders is number 13 Morgan Smithies

Interchange

Interchange for Warriors is number 8 Jackson Ford

Interchange for Raiders is number 14 Owen Pattie
Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Te Maire Martin

Interchange for Raiders is number 15 Noah Martin
Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Jacob Laban

Interchange for Raiders is number 16 Josh Papalii
Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Demitric Vaimauga

Interchange for Raiders is number 17 Ata Mariota

Reserves

Replacement for Warriors is number 21 Tanah Boyd

Replacement for Raiders is number 18 Jed Stuart

Match Officials

Referee: Adam Gee
Touch Judge: Wyatt Raymond
Senior Review Official: Kasey Badger

Last updated: 12:54 pm Sunday 25th May 2025

With Barnett and Fisher-Harris missing, Kurt Capewell has been named as captain.

While Afoa and Ford make returns, centre Ali Leiataua could be considered to come back after being included on the extended bench in jersey #22.

He has missed the last three matches after picking up an ankle injury in a field session ahead of the Magic Round match against North Queensland.

The interchange as it stands now again boasts three 21-year-old forwards including prop Tanner Stowers-Smith who became Warrior #292 making his debut last Saturday.

This will be the 53rd meeting between the Warriors and Canberra, 13 weeks on from the Las Vegas season opener which finished in a disappointing 8-30 loss for the Warriors.

Since then they have had an 8-1 record in a campaign highlighted by a series of tight and tense wins.

Following five consecutive wins over the Sharks, Eels, Titans, Dolphins and Storm, Canberra lost to the Bulldogs before rebounding with 40-24 victory over Gold Coast last Sunday.

Like the Warriors they have lost one player to State of Origin selection with back rower Hudson Young joining Barnett in the New South Wales squad.