NSW Cup Team List: Just one win away from grad final

NSW Cup Team List: One win away from grand final

Author: Richard Becht & photosport.nz
Timestamp: Sun 14 Sep 2025, 09:00 AM

St George Illawarra stands between the One New Zealand Warriors and the club’s first New South Wales Cup grand final since 2011.

Following their totally dominant regular season campaign, the minor premiers have their first outing in the finals today after earning the right to sit out week one in the top five finals format being used in the competition.

Their interest in week one was on the encounter between the second-placed St George Illawarra and Parramatta, teams they’d faced in the last five weeks (drawing 14-14 with the Dragons in round 22 and beating the Eels 54-4 in round 25).

The Dragons had to withstand a Parramatta comeback before winning 24-18 to secure a week two match-up against the Warriors at Leichhardt Oval today (1.00pm kick-off NZT; 3.00pm NZT).

The victors advance directly to the grand final on September 28 while the loser has a second chance of reaching the decider next week.

Finals Week 2 - Finals Week 2 - Sunday 14 Sep

Full Time

Warriors

Dragons

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Taine Tuaupiki

Fullback for Dragons is number 1 Cody Ramsey
Winger for Warriors is number 2 Sio Kali

Winger for Dragons is number 2 Mathew Feagai
Centre for Warriors is number 3 Morgan Harper

Centre for Dragons is number 3 Hayden Buchanan
Centre for Warriors is number 4 Moala Graham-Taufa

Centre for Dragons is number 4 Nick Tsougranis
Winger for Warriors is number 5 Edward Kosi

Winger for Dragons is number 5 Jesse Williams
Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Luke Hanson

Five-Eighth for Dragons is number 6 Jonah Glover
Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Jett Cleary

Halfback for Dragons is number 7 Lachlan Ilias

Forwards

Prop for Warriors is number 8 Bunty Afoa

Prop for Dragons is number 8 Loko Pasifiki Tonga
Hooker for Warriors is number 14 Makaia Tafua

Hooker for Dragons is number 9 Connor Muhleisen
Prop for Warriors is number 10 Tom Ale

Prop for Dragons is number 10 Jett Liu
2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Kayliss Fatialofa

2nd Row for Dragons is number 11 Raymond Faitala-Mariner
2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Kalani Going

2nd Row for Dragons is number 12 Jacob Halangahu
Lock for Warriors is number 20 Eddie Ieremia-Toeava

Lock for Dragons is number 13 Hame Sele

Interchange

Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Jason Seu Salalilo

Interchange for Dragons is number 14 Haele Finau
Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Toby Crosby

Interchange for Dragons is number 16 Ben Murdoch-Masila
Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Geronimo Doyle

Interchange for Dragons is number 17 Jacob Webster
Interchange for Warriors is number 22 Jacob Auloa

Interchange for Dragons is number 18 Tyler Peckham-Harris

Reserves

Replacement for Warriors is number 18 Setu Tu

Replacement for Dragons is number 19 Cyrus Stanley-Traill

Last updated: 9/14/2025 4:20:22 PM

In the first playoff last week the fifth-ranked Canberra eliminated fourth-placed Newtown to go through to another elimination final against the Eels today (7.00pm kick-off NZT). The winner of that match will play the loser of the Warriors v Dragons contest for a spot in the grand final.

During the regular season the Warriors were exceptional amassing a record of 21 wins, a draw and just two losses including an unbeaten run of 16 matches.

A potent side was named on Tuesday for today's clash against the Dragons although one change will definitely be made to that lineup with hooker Sam Healey out after playing for the Warriors in last night's elimination final defeat by the Panthers.

Outside Healey the side features the players who have helped the Warriors to their impressive record.

Captain Kalani Going, named the New South Wales Cup player of the year, is one of numerous players with NRL experience named on Tuesday, the others being fullback Taine Tuaupiki, winger Edward Kosi, centres Moala Graham-Taufa and Morgan Harper, props Bunty Afoa and Tom Ale and loose forward Freddy Lussick.

Alongside them are explosive winger Sio Kali, promising halves Luke Hanson and Jett Cleary plus exciting second rower Kayliss Fatialofa with hooker Makaia Tafua, props Jason Salalilo and Toby Crosby, and utility Geronimo Doyle on the bench.

In the 2011 grand final, the Auckland Vulcans (including Warriors and local players) suffered a last-minute 28-30 loss to Canterbury Bankstown.
The Warriors first made the reserve grade final in the Winfield Cup days in 1996 when they lost 12-14 to Cronulla Sutherland.
The One New Zealand Warriors took over outright ownership of the New South Wales Cup side in 2014.