NSW Cup Team List: Changes for Newcastle encounter

Author: Richard Becht warriors.kiwi
Timestamp: Tue 17 Mar 2026, 05:42 PM

Injuries to NRL players have forced changes to the One New Zealand Warriors’ lineup for their round three encounter with the New South Wales Cup-leading Knights at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle on Saturday (12.40pm kick-off local time; 2.40pm NZT).

Three senior NRL players - Charnze Nicoill-Klokstad, Chanel Harris-Tavita and Kurt Capewell - are all sidelined which has had a knock-on effect on the make-up of the NSW Cup squad.

With regular #6 Luke Hanson named to make his NRL debut, Knights junior Jack Thompson comes in to partner Jett Cleary in the NSW Cup halves.

Winger Alofia’ana Khan-Pereira is on the NRL team’s six-man bench resulting in Motu Pasikala coming up from the Jersey Flegg Cup under-21 side.

Also brought in from the under-21s to make his NSW Cup debut is exciting second rower Bishop Neal who replaces the unavailable Kayliss Fatialofa.

Round 3 - Round 3 - Saturday 21 Mar

1:40 am

Knights

Warriors

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Knights is number 1 Logan Aoake

Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Geronimo Doyle
Winger for Knights is number 2 James Schiller

Winger for Warriors is number 2 Motu Pasikala
Centre for Knights is number 3 Wilson De Courcey

Centre for Warriors is number 3 Josh Tanielu
Centre for Knights is number 4 Kyle McCarthy

Centre for Warriors is number 4 Caelys-Paul Putoko
Winger for Knights is number 5 Siteni Taukamo

Winger for Warriors is number 5 Haizyn Mellars
Five-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Mitch Henderson

Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Jack Thompson
Halfback for Knights is number 7 Matthew Hunter

Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Jett Cleary

Forwards

Prop for Knights is number 8 Cody Hopwood

Prop for Warriors is number 8 Cooper Page-Wilson
Hooker for Knights is number 9 Jacob Davis

Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Makaia Tafua
Prop for Knights is number 10 Peter Hola

Prop for Warriors is number 10 Rodney Tuipulotu-Vea
2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Elijah Salesa-Leaumoana

2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Bishop Neal
2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Asu Kepaoa

2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Eddie Ieremia-Toeava
Lock for Knights is number 13 Lachlan Crouch

Lock for Warriors is number 13 Christian Sikuvea

Interchange

Interchange for Knights is number 15 Blake Woodford

Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Jacob Auloa
Interchange for Knights is number 16 Kane Graham

Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Tepatasi Laumalili
Interchange for Knights is number 17 Jacob Taulani

Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Samuel Waterworth
Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Cassius Tia

Reserves

Replacement for Knights is number 18 Tamakaimoana Whareaorere

Replacement for Warriors is number 18 Daeon Amituanai
Reserve for Knights is number 19 Marcus D'Acre

Lachlan Crouch
Marcus D'Acre
Siteni Taukamo

Bishop Neal
Eddie Ieremia-Toeava
Jack Thompson
Motu Pasikala
Samuel Waterworth

Connor Votano
Matthew Arthur
Tyson Gamble

Alofiana Khan-Pereira
Kayliss Fatialofa
Luke Hanson
Marata Niukore
Morgan Gannon

Last updated: 3/17/2026 6:05:06 AM

Apart from Khan-Pereira and Hanson, second rowers Marata Niukore and Morgan Gannon are named in the Warriors’ NRL squad after making a huge impact for the club’s NSW Cup side in last Friday night’s 44-12 trouncing of the Canberra Raiders.

Sitting seventh with a win and a loss, the Warriors take on a Newcastle side running hot after thumping South Sydney 52-10 in round one and Manly Warringah 46-24 last week.

The NSW Cup showdown is one of three between the Warriors and the Knights at McDonald Jones Stadium on Saturday sandwiched between the Jersey Flegg Cup and NRL fixtures.