Big chance for Warriors' next wave of players

Big opportunity for club's next wave of players

Author: Richard Becht & photosport.nz & warriors.kiwi
Timestamp: Fri 13 Feb 2026, 03:10 PM

Tomorrow’s first Preseason Challenge outing against Manly Warringah is as much about the One New Zealand Warriors’ future as it is about the present.

While a number of seasoned first graders will be on show at McLean Park in Napier, there’ll be special interest in how the club’s new wave of talent performs.

This time last year hooker Sam Healey, prop Tanner Stowers-Smith and back rower Eddie Ieremia-Toeava hadn’t made their NRL debuts when they lined up in the Warriors’ first trial against Cronulla Sutherland.

Now they start the 2026 season as bona fide first graders, Healey debuting in round nine last year, Stowers-Smith in round 11 and Ieremia-Toeava in round 22; Healey went on to make seven appearances, Stowers-Smith 13 and Ieremia-Toeava five.

While Healey came through Cronulla Sutherland’s pathways before breaking through with the Warriors, Stowers-Smith and Ieremia-Toeava are at the cutting edge of the club’s pathways poster players alongside centre Ali Leiataua, prop Demitric Vaimauga and back rower Leka Halasima.

Round 2 - Round 2 - Saturday 14 Feb

2:40 am

Warriors

Sea Eagles

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Geronimo Doyle

Fullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Blake Metcalfe
Winger for Warriors is number 2 Haizyn Mellars

Winger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Blake Wilson
Centre for Warriors is number 3 Ali Leiataua

Centre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Clayton Faulalo
Centre for Warriors is number 4 Leka Halasima

Centre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Josh Feledy
Winger for Warriors is number 20 Motu Pasikala

Winger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Navren Willett
Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Luke Hanson

Five-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Onitoni Large
Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Tanah Boyd

Halfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Joey Walsh

Forwards

Prop for Warriors is number 8 Demitric Vaimauga

Prop for Sea Eagles is number 8 Simione Laiafi
Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde Egan

Hooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Brandon Wakeham
Prop for Warriors is number 10 Jackson Ford

Prop for Sea Eagles is number 10 Paul Bryan
2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Kurt Capewell

2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Jackson-Levi Shereb-Schmidt
2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Morgan Gannon

2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 15 Hugo Hart
Lock for Warriors is number 13 Erin Clark

Lock for Sea Eagles is number 12 Corey Waddell

Interchange

Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Sam Healey

Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Zaidas Muagututia
Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Tanner Stowers-Smith

Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Viliami Fifita
Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Eddie Ieremia-Toeava

Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 17 Kylan Mafoa
Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Kayliss Fatialofa

Reserves

Reserve for Warriors is number 18 Makaia Tafua

Reserve for Sea Eagles is number 18 Tyler Melrose
Reserve for Warriors is number 21 Rodney Tuipulotu-Vea

Reserve for Sea Eagles is number 19 Andes Johansson
Reserve for Warriors is number 22 Jack Thompson

Reserve for Sea Eagles is number 20 Benjamin Keene-O'Keefe
Reserve for Warriors is number 23 Caelys-Paul Putoko

Reserve for Sea Eagles is number 21 Tom Summer
Reserve for Warriors is number 24 Daeon Amituanai
Reserve for Warriors is number 25 Sio Kali
Reserve for Warriors is number 26 Paea Sikuvea
Reserve for Warriors is number 27 Brandon Norris
Reserve for Warriors is number 28 Harrison Inch
Reserve for Warriors is number 29 Harry Tauafiafi-Iutoi
Reserve for Warriors is number 30 Jacob Auloa

Match Officials

Referee: Ashley Klein
Senior Review Official: Adam Gee

Last updated: 2/12/2026 12:58:14 PM

Together they provide compelling evidence of how well the Warriors’ pathways system is working, as it was intended to.

Now interest centres on who will be the next to follow them onto the NRL stage - and many of them will be in action tomorrow.

One is standoff Luke Hanson, who starts in the #6 jersey against the Sea Eagles. Coming out of Penrith’s development set-up, he has made huge progress standing out with his contribution to the Warriors’ multiple successes in the New South Wales Cup last year in taking his tally of reserve grade appearances to 37 over the last two seasons.

Added to the starting side is highly promising Motu Pasikala replacing Roger Tuivasa-Sheck on the wing while ready to come off the bench are a number of local players who have come through the grades, not least exciting second rower Kayliss Fatialofa.

He was elevated to the fulltime NRL squad following a superb 2025 campaign when he played in all of the Warriors’ 28 NSW Cup matches last year.

Among others are Canterbury-raised hooker Makaia Tafua, prop Rodney Tuipulotu-Vea, centre Caelys Putoko (a Cook Islands international last year) and outside back Sio Kali.

Set for his first serious taste of rugby league is Harry Inch, the 19-year-old Nelson College-produced rugby union star signed by the Warriors amid much fanfare, plus halfback Jack Thompson, who joined the Warriors from Newcastle and played a key role in the Warriors winning the Harold Matthews Cup (under-17) grand final on debut in 2024.

Winger Daeon Amituanai was in the Warriors’ foundation SG Ball Cup side in 2020 before spending time with the Panthers then rejoining the Warriors last season (he has scored 36 tries in 58 NSW Cup appearances).

Rounding out the extended bench are four more One New Zealand Warriors juniors in 2025 Jersey Flegg Cup players Paea Sikuvea (16 games), outside backs Brandon Norris (15 tries and 32 goals in 17 games) and Harry Tauafiafi (seven tries in 15 games) and hooker Jaydee Auloa (six tries in 13 games).