The One New Zealand Warriors will have two teenagers on NRLW debut - Tyra Wetere and Ivana Lauitiiti - and no Michaela Brake when they face North Queensland the Magic Round in Newcastle today (11.50am kick-off local time; 1.50pm NZT).
Wetere (19) replaces Brake - unavailable for personal reasons - while Lauitiiti (18), daughter of the legendary Ali Lauitiiti - has been added to the bench
The in-form North Queensland poses a stern challenge on a day when the weather is also likely to be a factor in storm-ravaged New South Wales.
The Warriors are looking to get back on track after posting back-to-back losses against Newcastle and Gold Coast while the Cowboys completed a 26-0 shutout against the Raiders last week.
The Warriors lost 10-20 to the Titans at home in New Zealand, but did show some good signs in their fourth game back in the competition.
Winger Payton Takimoana is proving to be a try-scoring star, crossing for her fifth in four appearances, sharing second place on the try-scoring ladder.
Match: Cowboys v Warriors
Round 5 -
home Team
Cowboys
4th Position
away Team
Warriors
10th Position
Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
Team news
Cowboys: No changes to the personnel who defeated the Raiders last week, with just one minor reshuffle. Essay Banu moves back to the bench and Hailee-Jay Ormond-Maunsell has been named to start. The pair may switch places on game day, as was the case last week.
One New Zealand Warriors: Halfback Emily Curtain is straight back into the starting side in her return from a hip injury. A couple of changes in the forward pack, with props Metanoia Fotu-Moala and Lavinia Kitai shifting from the bench to the starting side. Harata Butler moves to the bench while Matekino Gray is following head injury protocols. Michaela Brake (personal reasons) was omitted at the 24-hour deadline with debutante Tyra Wetere brought in to replace her while Ivana Lauitiiti makes her debut from the bench. It will mean 21 players have now debuted for the Warriors this season.
Match: Cowboys v Warriors
Round 5 -
home Team
Cowboys
away Team
Warriors
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Cowboys is number 1 Jakiya WhitfeldFullback for Warriors is number 1 Apii Nicholls
-
Winger for Cowboys is number 2 Krystal BlackwellWinger for Warriors is number 5 Payton Takimoana
-
Centre for Cowboys is number 3 Abigail RoacheCentre for Warriors is number 3 Tysha Ikenasio
-
Centre for Cowboys is number 4 Jasmine PetersCentre for Warriors is number 4 Emmanita Paki
-
Winger for Cowboys is number 5 Francesca GoldthorpWinger for Warriors is number 19 Tyra Wetere
-
Five-Eighth for Cowboys is number 6 Rosie KellyFive-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Patricia Maliepo
-
Halfback for Cowboys is number 7 Tahlulah TillettHalfback for Warriors is number 7 Emily Curtain
Forwards
-
Prop for Cowboys is number 8 Lillian YarrowProp for Warriors is number 8 Metanoia Fotu-Moala
-
Hooker for Cowboys is number 9 Emma ManzelmannHooker for Warriors is number 9 Lydia Turua-Quedley
-
Prop for Cowboys is number 10 Makenzie WealeProp for Warriors is number 10 Lavinia Kitai
-
2nd Row for Cowboys is number 11 Tallisha Harden2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Maarire Puketapu
-
2nd Row for Cowboys is number 17 Essay Banu2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Kaiyah Atai
-
Lock for Cowboys is number 13 Bree ChesterLock for Warriors is number 13 Laishon Albert-Jones
Interchange
-
Interchange for Cowboys is number 12 Hailee-Jay Ormond-MaunsellInterchange for Warriors is number 14 Capri Paekau
-
Interchange for Cowboys is number 14 Alisha FoordInterchange for Warriors is number 15 Harata Butler
-
Interchange for Cowboys is number 15 Lily PeacockInterchange for Warriors is number 16 Ashlee Matapo
-
Interchange for Cowboys is number 16 Najvada GeorgeInterchange for Warriors is number 20 Ivana Lauitiiti
Reserves
-
Replacement for Cowboys is number 18 Lily DickReplacement for Warriors is number 21 Avery-Rose Carmont
Match Officials
- Referee: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
- Senior Review Official: Peter Gough
Last updated:
Stat attack
- Cowboys centre Abigail Roache has won seven of her nine games at McDonald Jones Stadium.
- Warriors winger Payton Takimoana has scored five tries in her last three games.
- Cowboys winger Krystal Blackwell has scored four tries in four games this season.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
