Top four football and a familiar face in the opposition are on the menu when the One New Zealand Warriors seek to extend their club record New South Wales Cup winning streak to nine on Saturday.
Boasting a 12-1 record after 13 matches, the competition leading Warriors face the third-placed Parramatta Eels at Kellyville Park (1.00pm kick-off local time; 3.00pm NZT).
Coming back into the side at fullback is the accomplished Taine Tuaupiki while they’ll be without NRL centre Ali Leiataua, sidelined with an ankle injury.
Lining up against them is 2022-2023 Warriors halfback Ronald Volkman who has been a key figure in the Eels establishing themselves in the top four.
They were running three points behind the Warriors before slipping up against Penrith two weeks ago but rebounded with a win over the Roosters last week to sit five points adrift in third spot.
Match: Eels v Warriors
Round 15 -
home Team
Eels
away Team
Warriors
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Eels is number 1 Te Hurinui TwidleFullback for Warriors is number 1 Taine Tuaupiki
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Winger for Eels is number 4 Samuel LoizouWinger for Warriors is number 5 Edward Kosi
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Centre for Eels is number 2 Alfred SmalleyCentre for Warriors is number 2 Daeon Amituanai
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Centre for Eels is number 5 Beau NewlandsCentre for Warriors is number 3 Morgan Harper
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Winger for Eels is number 19 Liam ScolariWinger for Warriors is number 18 Setu Tu
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Five-Eighth for Eels is number 6 Matthew HunterFive-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Luke Hanson
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Halfback for Eels is number 14 Brendan HandsHalfback for Warriors is number 7 Tanah Boyd
Forwards
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Prop for Eels is number 8 Brock ParkerProp for Warriors is number 8 Tom Ale
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Hooker for Eels is number 9 Joey LussickHooker for Warriors is number 9 Freddy Lussick
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Prop for Eels is number 10 Kayne KalacheProp for Warriors is number 10 Bunty Afoa
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2nd Row for Eels is number 12 Dan Keir2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Kayliss Fatialofa
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2nd Row for Eels is number 21 Tyrese Lokeni2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Eddie Ieremia-Toeava
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Lock for Eels is number 13 Saxon PrykeLock for Warriors is number 13 Kalani Going
Interchange
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Interchange for Eels is number 15 Max TupouInterchange for Warriors is number 14 Jacob Auloa
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Interchange for Eels is number 16 Damascus NeemiaInterchange for Warriors is number 15 Jason Seu Salalilo
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Interchange for Eels is number 17 William LewisInterchange for Warriors is number 16 Toby Crosby
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Interchange for Eels is number 20 Meni LukeInterchange for Warriors is number 17 Geronimo Doyle
Reserves
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Replacement for Eels is number 18 Domenico De StradisReplacement for Warriors is number 21 Harry Durbin
Last updated:
The match pits brothers – and hookers – Freddy and Joey Lussick against each other in a family battle that is sure to have an added edge.
With Tuaupiki back, Geronimo Doyle moves to the interchange, Morgan Harper shifts in from the wing to the centres for the unavailable Leiataua and Daeon Amituanai comes onto the wing.
The starting forward pack is settled featuring an all NRL front to Tom Ale, Lussick and Bunty Afoa while Tanah Boyd and Luke Hanson are again in harness in the halves.
After encountering a gallant South Sydney in round 13, the Warriors had to put in a big shift to see off Newtown 22-16 for their eighth straight win last week but their defence was well up to it in a match in which they failed to score in the second half.
Carrying a big defensive workload was second rower Eddie Ieremia who finished with 51 tackles.
