NRL Team List: Comeback, debut and milestone

Author: Richard Becht & photosport.nz
Timestamp: Tue 17 Mar 2026, 03:59 PM

Co-captain Mitchell Barnett’s comeback moves closer while young halfback Luke Hanson will make his NRL debut when the One New Zealand Warriors face the Knights in Saturday’s top of the table round three clash at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle (5.00pm kick-off local time; 3.00pm NZT).

As well as Barnett’s possible return and Hanson’s maiden appearance, the match-up between the two unbeaten sides will see in-form Warriors prop Jackson Ford make his 100th career appearance.

Returning to his former club, Barnett has been included on the extended bench in jersey #23 as his eyes his first game after recovering from the knee injury that ended his 2025 campaign in the One New Zealand Warriors’ round 13 encounter with South Sydney.

Now in his fourth season with the Warriors, 22-year-old Penrith junior Hanson comes into the lineup for unavailable standoff Chanel Harris-Tavita (concussion) after starring for the club’s triple crown-winning New South Wales Cup side last year.

Round 3 - Round 3 - Saturday 21 Mar

4:00 am

Knights

Warriors

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Knights is number 1 Fletcher Hunt

Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Taine Tuaupiki
Winger for Knights is number 2 Dominic Young

Winger for Warriors is number 2 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
Centre for Knights is number 3 Dane Gagai

Centre for Warriors is number 3 Ali Leiataua
Centre for Knights is number 4 Bradman Best

Centre for Warriors is number 4 Adam Pompey
Winger for Knights is number 5 Greg Marzhew

Winger for Warriors is number 5 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
Five-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Fletcher Sharpe

Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Luke Hanson
Halfback for Knights is number 7 Sandon Smith

Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Tanah Boyd

Forwards

Prop for Knights is number 8 Jacob Saifiti

Prop for Warriors is number 8 James Fisher-Harris
Hooker for Knights is number 9 Phoenix Crossland

Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde Egan
Prop for Knights is number 10 Trey Mooney

Prop for Warriors is number 10 Jackson Ford
2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Dylan Lucas

2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Leka Halasima
2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Jermaine McEwen

2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Jacob Laban
Lock for Knights is number 13 Tyson Frizell

Lock for Warriors is number 13 Erin Clark

Interchange

Interchange for Knights is number 14 Thomas Cant

Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Sam Healey
Interchange for Knights is number 15 Mat Croker

Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Demitric Vaimauga
Interchange for Knights is number 16 Pasami Saulo

Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Tanner Stowers-Smith
Interchange for Knights is number 17 Francis Manuleleua

Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Marata Niukore
Interchange for Knights is number 18 Tyson Gamble

Interchange for Warriors is number 18 Morgan Gannon
Interchange for Knights is number 19 Harrison Graham

Reserves

Reserve for Knights is number 20 Elijah Salesa-Leaumoana

Reserve for Warriors is number 20 Alofiana Khan-Pereira
Reserve for Knights is number 21 Cody Hopwood

Reserve for Warriors is number 21 Eddie Ieremia-Toeava
Reserve for Knights is number 22 James Schiller

Reserve for Warriors is number 22 Jett Cleary
Reserve for Warriors is number 23 Mitchell Barnett

Cody Hopwood
Elijah Salesa-Leaumoana
Fletcher Sharpe
James Schiller
Tyson Gamble

Alofiana Khan-Pereira
Jett Cleary
Luke Hanson
Marata Niukore
Mitchell Barnett

Dylan Brown
Kalyn Ponga

Chanel Harris-Tavita
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad

Match Officials

Referee: Liam Kennedy
Touch Judge: Belinda Sharpe
Touch Judge: Jon Stone
Senior Review Official: Adam Gee

Last updated: 3/17/2026 6:18:33 AM

He has banked 37 NSW Cup appearances while he started at #6 in each of the Warriors’ Pre-season Challenge matches against Manly Warringah and the Dolphins last month.

Ford (28), the NRL’s front rower of the moment, was signed in 2023 after just 33 games for St George Illawarra across four seasons but has become a mainstay of the Warriors’ pack as he looks ahead to his 67th game for the club just three rounds into his fourth year in Auckland.

In the opening two rounds of the season he has played 144 of a possible 160 minutes – all but four against Canberra last Friday night – while averaging 186 metres a game and making a total of 65 tackles.

The quality of his performances in the wins over the Roosters (42-18) and Raiders (40-6) saw him collect the maximum six Dally M points in each game to top the leaderboard on 12 points.

As well as Harris-Tavita, the Warriors are missing fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad this week as he also follows concussion protocols while veteran second rower Kurt Capewell is sidelined with a calf injury; Harris-Tavita and Nicoll-Klokstad will be available again next week but Capewell isn’t expected to return until round six.

In Nicoll-Klokstad’s absence, Taine Tuaupiki starts at fullback with Leka Halasima again named in the second row.

Added to the interchange is Marata Niukore after turning out for the New South Wales Cup side last Friday night. Morgan Gannon and Alofi’ana Khan-Pereira are the other two players on the six-man bench.

As well as Barnett, second rower Eddie Ieremia-Toeava and halfback Jett Cleary are listed as the reserves.