Centre Ali Leiataua has been confirmed to make his return from injury for the One New Zealand Warriors’ round 12 match against the Canberra Raiders at Go Media Stadium on Sunday (6.05pm kick-off).
His comeback sees stand-in captain Kurt Capewell move out of the centres back into his customary position in the second row.
Marata Niukore has been switched from the second row to prop with Jackson Ford now listed on the interchange with last week’s debutant Tanner Stowers-Smith named as 19th man.
The other player retained in the 19-man game day squad is halfback Tanah Boyd while the three omitted from the extended bench at the 24-hour deadline are Tom Ale, Sam Healey and Taine Tuaupiki.
The changes mean Niukore and Bunty Afoa are now listed as the Warriors’ starting props in the absence of co-captains Mitchell Barnett and James Fisher-Harris.
Match: Warriors v Raiders
Round 12 -
home Team
Warriors
away Team
Raiders
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Charnze Nicoll-KlokstadFullback for Raiders is number 1 Kaeo Weekes
-
Winger for Warriors is number 2 Dallin Watene-ZelezniakWinger for Raiders is number 2 Savelio Tamale
-
Centre for Warriors is number 3 Adam PompeyCentre for Raiders is number 3 Matthew Timoko
-
Centre for Warriors is number 22 Ali LeiatauaCentre for Raiders is number 4 Sebastian Kris
-
Winger for Warriors is number 5 Roger Tuivasa-SheckWinger for Raiders is number 5 Xavier Savage
-
Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Chanel Harris-TavitaFive-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Ethan Strange
-
Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Luke MetcalfHalfback for Raiders is number 7 Jamal Fogarty
Forwards
-
Prop for Warriors is number 10 Bunty AfoaProp for Raiders is number 8 Corey Horsburgh
-
Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde EganHooker for Raiders is number 9 Tom Starling
-
Prop for Warriors is number 12 Marata NiukoreProp for Raiders is number 10 Joseph Tapine
-
2nd Row for Warriors is number 4 Kurt Capewell2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 Simi Sasagi
-
2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Leka Halasima2nd Row for Raiders is number 12 Zac Hosking
-
Lock for Warriors is number 13 Erin ClarkLock for Raiders is number 13 Morgan Smithies
Interchange
-
Interchange for Warriors is number 8 Jackson FordInterchange for Raiders is number 14 Owen Pattie
-
Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Te Maire MartinInterchange for Raiders is number 15 Noah Martin
-
Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Jacob LabanInterchange for Raiders is number 16 Josh Papalii
-
Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Demitric VaimaugaInterchange for Raiders is number 17 Ata Mariota
Reserves
-
Replacement for Warriors is number 21 Tanah BoydReplacement for Raiders is number 18 Jed Stuart
Match Officials
- Referee: Adam Gee
- Touch Judge: Wyatt Raymond
- Senior Review Official: Kasey Badger
Last updated:
The Warriors go into their first match at home in five weeks on the back of five straight wins over Brisbane, Newcastle, North Queensland, St George Illawarra and the Dolphins. Their 8-2 record matches the club’s 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.
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.
