NRLW Confirmed Lineup: Another back row swap

Author: Richard Becht & photosport.nz
Timestamp: Sat 30 Aug 2025, 02:14 PM

One more change has been made to the One New Zealand Warriors’ back row combination for today’s round nine NRLW encounter with St George Illawarra at Jubilee Stadium in Sydney (3.15pm kick-off local time; 5.15pm NZT).

An hour out from kick-off head coach Ron Griffiths has indicated Maarire Puketapu, listed at loose forward in the 24-hour update, will move into the second row with Kaiyah Atai switched back to loose forward.

Griffiths revealed a lot of changes at the 24-hour deadline confirming just-signed centre Paris Pickering will make her NRLW debut today while middle forward Felila Kia – who previously played for the Knights - will have her first match for the One New Zealand Warriors.

They’ve both come up from the extended bench, Pickering named in the centres and Kia on the interchange in a lineup which bears little resemblance to the one named initially.

Winger Payton Takimoana has been moved into the centres with Kalyn Takitimu-Cook now on the right wing.

Round 9 - Round 9 - Saturday 30 Aug

Full Time

Dragons

Warriors

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Dragons is number 1 Teagan Berry

Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Apii Nicholls
Winger for Dragons is number 5 Jayme Millard

Winger for Warriors is number 2 Tyra Wetere
Centre for Dragons is number 3 Indie Bostock

Centre for Warriors is number 5 Payton Takimoana
Centre for Dragons is number 4 Keele Browne

Centre for Warriors is number 23 Paris Pickering
Winger for Dragons is number 22 Maria Paseka

Winger for Warriors is number 22 Kalyn Takitimu-Cook
Five-Eighth for Dragons is number 9 Zali Hopkins

Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Patricia Maliepo
Halfback for Dragons is number 6 Kasey Reh

Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Emmanita Paki

Forwards

Prop for Dragons is number 8 Madison Mulhall

Prop for Warriors is number 8 Ashlee Matapo
Hooker for Dragons is number 14 Nita Maynard-Perrin

Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Lydia Turua-Quedley
Prop for Dragons is number 10 Bronte Wilson

Prop for Warriors is number 15 Harata Butler
2nd Row for Dragons is number 11 Shenai Lendill

2nd Row for Warriors is number 4 Shakira Baker
2nd Row for Dragons is number 13 Ella Koster

2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Maarire Puketapu
Lock for Dragons is number 16 Trinity Tauaneai

Lock for Warriors is number 3 Kaiyah Atai

Interchange

Interchange for Dragons is number 12 Charlotte Basham

Interchange for Warriors is number 10 Lavinia Kitai
Interchange for Dragons is number 19 Pia Tapsell

Interchange for Warriors is number 12 Metanoia Fotu-Moala
Interchange for Dragons is number 20 Tori Shipton

Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Avery-Rose Carmont
Interchange for Dragons is number 21 Sara Sautia

Interchange for Warriors is number 18 Felila Kia

Reserves

Replacement for Dragons is number 18 Ahlivia Ingram

Replacement for Warriors is number 14 Capri Paekau

Match Officials

Senior Review Official: Gerard Sutton

Last updated: 8/31/2025 11:10:24 AM

Harata Butler has been brought back into the starting lineup with Lavina Kitai going to the bench while Shakira Baker, named in the centres, was switched to the second row.

The updated bench comprises Kitai, Kia, prop Metanoia Fotu-Moala and hooker Avery-Rose Carmont.

With centre Tysha Ikenasio and middle forward Matekino Gray already suspended, the team’s second most experienced player Laishon Albert-Jones 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.