NSW Cup Team List: New era dawns for defending premiers

Author: Richard Becht & photosport.nz
Timestamp: Tue 3 Mar 2026, 06:31 PM

After winning three major titles last season, the One New Zealand Warriors take a vastly-changed lineup into their New South Wales Cup campaign starting against the Sydney Roosters at Go Media Stadium on Friday night (5.15pm kick-off).

It’s a measure of the squad's movement that only standoff Luke Hanson, second rowers Kayliss Fatialofa and Eddie Ieremia-Toeava, interchange halfback Jett Cleary and 18th man Geronimo Doyle remain from the side that beat the Burleigh Bears 50-20 to win the NRL State Championship last October.

Doyle has been named at fullback this week, Hanson and Cleary in the halves and Fatialofa and Ieremia-Toeava in the second row.

All around them can be found the Warriors’ next wave of promising prospects from wingers Haizyn Mellars and Motu Pasikala and centres Sio Kali and Caelys Putoko to props Rodney Tuipulotu-Vea and Emosi Ravosai, hooker Makaia Tafua and loose forward Junior (Paea) Sikuvea plus a bench showing halfback Jack Thompson, props Tepatasi Laumalili and Sam Waterworth, hooker Jaydee Auloa and winger Daeon Amituanai.

Round 1 - Round 1 - Friday 6 Mar

Full Time

Warriors

Roosters

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Geronimo Doyle

Fullback for Roosters is number 1 Owen Flaherty
Winger for Warriors is number 5 Haizyn Mellars

Winger for Roosters is number 2 Junior Tupou
Centre for Warriors is number 3 Sio Kali

Centre for Roosters is number 4 Ben Johnson
Centre for Warriors is number 4 Caelys-Paul Putoko

Centre for Roosters is number 21 Tommy Talau
Winger for Warriors is number 20 Alofiana Khan-Pereira

Winger for Roosters is number 5 Tom Rodwell
Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Luke Hanson

Five-Eighth for Roosters is number 19 Lachlan Dooner
Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Jett Cleary

Halfback for Roosters is number 6 Reece Foley

Forwards

Prop for Warriors is number 8 Rodney Tuipulotu-Vea

Prop for Roosters is number 8 Taylor Losalu
Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Makaia Tafua

Hooker for Roosters is number 14 Josiah Fesolai
Prop for Warriors is number 10 Emosi Ravosai

Prop for Roosters is number 10 De La Salle Va'a
2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Kayliss Fatialofa

2nd Row for Roosters is number 11 Max McCathie
2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Eddie Ieremia-Toeava

2nd Row for Roosters is number 12 Hayden Barton
Lock for Warriors is number 13 Christian Sikuvea

Lock for Roosters is number 20 Salesi Foketi

Interchange

Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Jack Thompson

Interchange for Roosters is number 9 Jaxson Allen
Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Tepatasi Laumalili

Interchange for Roosters is number 13 Jaxson Rahme
Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Samuel Waterworth

Interchange for Roosters is number 15 Makahesi Makatoa
Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Jacob Auloa

Interchange for Roosters is number 16 Kanaan Magele

Reserves

Replacement for Warriors is number 18 Daeon Amituanai

Replacement for Roosters is number 18 William Malloy

Last updated: 3/16/2026 10:15:28 PM

All but new signing Mellars have come through the Warriors’ pathways programme.

All 18 players named except Cleary featured in the Warriors’ NRL trials or the reserve grade hit-out against Redcliffe (or in both in a number of cases).

Now head coach David Tangata-Toa and his young group of players embark on a new era.