Team List: Capewell out, Egan and Graham-Taufa in
Queensland second rower Kurt Capewell won’t back up from State of Origin duty for the One New Zealand Warriors’ sold-out NRL match against four-time premiers the Penrith Panthers at Go Media Stadium on Saturday (5.00pm kick-off; match day sponsor: One New Zealand).
The 31-year-old 170-game veteran is back on the Origin stage for game two of the 2025 series against New South Wales at Optus Stadium in Perth tomorrow night.
With Capewell facing a long flight back to Auckland arriving home early on Friday, head coach Andrew Webster has opted against including him for the Warriors’ first clash against the Panthers at Go Media Stadium in six years.
Capewell’s absence against his former club has forced another change in the centres with Rocco Berry not yet ready to return from a hamstring issue while Ali Leiataua is sidelined for five to six weeks with an ankle injury.
Match: Warriors v Panthers
Round 16 -
home Team
Warriors
away Team
Panthers
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Charnze Nicoll-KlokstadFullback for Panthers is number 1 Daine Laurie
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Winger for Warriors is number 2 Dallin Watene-ZelezniakWinger for Panthers is number 2 Thomas Jenkins
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Centre for Warriors is number 3 Adam PompeyCentre for Panthers is number 3 Izack Tago
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Centre for Warriors is number 4 Moala Graham-TaufaCentre for Panthers is number 4 Casey McLean
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Winger for Warriors is number 5 Roger Tuivasa-SheckWinger for Panthers is number 5 Paul Alamoti
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Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Chanel Harris-TavitaFive-Eighth for Panthers is number 6 Blaize Talagi
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Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Luke MetcalfHalfback for Panthers is number 7 Brad Schneider
Forwards
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Prop for Warriors is number 8 James Fisher-HarrisProp for Panthers is number 8 Moses Leota
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Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde EganHooker for Panthers is number 9 Mitch Kenny
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Prop for Warriors is number 10 Marata NiukoreProp for Panthers is number 10 Lindsay Smith
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2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Leka Halasima2nd Row for Panthers is number 11 Scott Sorensen
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2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Jacob Laban2nd Row for Panthers is number 17 Luke Garner
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Lock for Warriors is number 13 Erin ClarkLock for Panthers is number 12 Isaiah Papali'i
Interchange
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Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Te Maire MartinInterchange for Panthers is number 13 Matthew Eisenhuth
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Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Jackson FordInterchange for Panthers is number 14 Trent Toelau
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Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Demitric VaimaugaInterchange for Panthers is number 15 Liam Henry
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Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Tanner Stowers-SmithInterchange for Panthers is number 16 Luron Patea
Reserves
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Replacement for Warriors is number 18 Samuel HealeyReplacement for Panthers is number 19 Jack Cole
Match Officials
- Referee: Todd Smith
- Touch Judge: Belinda Sharpe
- Senior Review Official: Ashley Klein
Last updated:
It results in an NRL recall for Moala Graham-Taufa who made three appearances for the club last season, the last of them in the round 22 loss to Parramatta on August 2.
The 23-year-old Marist Saints junior is the top try scorer for the Warriors’ table-topping New South Cup side with 11 tries in 12 matches.
In another lineup change, seasoned hooker Wayde Egan returns after missing the 40-10 round 14 win over Cronulla Sutherland with a hip injury. Sam Healey, called in at the 11th hour, reverts to the extended bench.
Egan aside, Webster has named the same starting pack used against the Sharks with Marata Niukore at prop alongside captain James Fisher-Harris and Leka Halasima and Jacob Laban in the second row.
Rookie prop Tanner Stowers-Smith, today re-signed until 2028, is on the interchange again for what will be his third NRL appearance.
The match doubles as a milestone occasion for interchange utility Te Maire Martin and Niukore.
Martin started his career with Penrith in 2016 and will now play his 100th match against his original club on Saturday while Niukore makes his 50th appearance for the Warriors.
Coming off a bye after their impressive 40-10 round 14 win over Cronulla Sutherland, the Warriors lie second equal on the NRL ladder on 24 points with Canberra after winning 10 of 13 games so far.
