Just-signed centre Paris Pickering will make her NRLW debut and middle forward Felila Kia will play her first match for the One New Zealand Warriors in Saturday’s round nine NRLW clash against St George Illawarra at Jubilee Stadium in Sydney (3.15pm kick-off local time; 5.15pm NZT).
They’ve both come up from the extended bench, Pickering named in the centres and Kia on the interchange in a lineup which shows a lot of change from the one named initially.
Winger Payton Takimoana has been moved into the centres with last week's debutant Kalyn Takitimu-Cook now on the right wing.
Harata Butler is back in the starting lineup with Lavina Kitai going to the bench while Shakira Baker and Kaiyah Atai switch from the centres to the second row and Maarire Puketapu has been shifted to loose forward.
The updated bench comprises Kitai, Kia, prop Metanoia Fotu-Moala and hooker Avery-Rose Carmont.
Match: Warriors v Eels
Round 26 -
home Team
Warriors
away Team
Eels
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Charnze Nicoll-KlokstadFullback for Eels is number 1 Isaiah Iongi
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Winger for Warriors is number 2 Dallin Watene-ZelezniakWinger for Eels is number 2 Zac Lomax
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Centre for Warriors is number 3 Adam PompeyCentre for Eels is number 3 Will Penisini
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Centre for Warriors is number 4 Rocco BerryCentre for Eels is number 18 Sean Russell
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Winger for Warriors is number 5 Roger Tuivasa-SheckWinger for Eels is number 5 Josh Addo-Carr
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Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Chanel Harris-TavitaFive-Eighth for Eels is number 6 Joash Papalii
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Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Tanah BoydHalfback for Eels is number 7 Mitchell Moses
Forwards
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Prop for Warriors is number 8 James Fisher-HarrisProp for Eels is number 8 J'maine Hopgood
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Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde EganHooker for Eels is number 9 Ryley Smith
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Prop for Warriors is number 16 Tanner Stowers-SmithProp for Eels is number 10 Junior Paulo
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2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Kurt Capewell2nd Row for Eels is number 11 Kelma Tuilagi
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2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Marata Niukore2nd Row for Eels is number 12 Jack Williams
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Lock for Warriors is number 13 Erin ClarkLock for Eels is number 13 Dylan Walker
Interchange
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Interchange for Warriors is number 10 Demitric VaimaugaInterchange for Eels is number 14 Tallyn Da Silva
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Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Te Maire MartinInterchange for Eels is number 15 Matt Doorey
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Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Eddie Ieremia-ToeavaInterchange for Eels is number 16 Charlie Guymer
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Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Leka HalasimaInterchange for Eels is number 17 Jordan Samrani
Reserves
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Replacement for Warriors is number 20 Samuel HealeyReplacement for Eels is number 21 Toni Mataele
Match Officials
- Referee: Peter Gough
- Senior Review Official: Chris Butler
Last updated:
With centre Tysha Ikenasio and middle forward Matekino Gray already suspended, the team’s second most experienced player Laishon Albert-Jones has joined them this week.
A key influence in the side with 28 NRLW appearances so far, Albert-Jones will miss two games after taking an early guilty plea on a careless high tackle charge in Sunday’s 14-22 loss to the Sharks in Hamilton.
Out for the season is halfback Emily Curtain with an ACL knee injury and winger Michaela Brake is finished after falling pregnant.
Such is the impact of injury, suspension and unavailability that the Warriors were able to name only 21 players this week instead of the allowable 22.
On the positive side, powerful forward Fotu-Moala is back after missing the game against the Sharks with a hamstring issue.
Takimoana has scored in each of her last seven games with her tally of 11 equalling the NRLW record for a season set by Teagan Berry with the Dragons in 2023.
A standout feature of the Warriors’ first season back in the competition has been their ability to create tries for their wingers on both edges.
Right winger Tyra Wetere, who had a try ruled out on debut against the Cowboys, has four in three games after snaring doubles in her last two outings, Brake had two in four games she played and Lavinia Tauhalaliku scored in her club debut against the Raiders.
It means the four wingers have claimed a total of 18 tries between them with the only non-wingers to cross being standoff Patricia Maliepo with three, centre Ikenasio with two and props Fotu-Moala and Lauitiiti one each.
Despite back-to-back losses to the Raiders and the Sharks, the Warriors are just a point outside the top six on six points from three wins and five losses with the Titans just ahead of them.
The Dragons are 10th on four points after losing their last five games.
