NRL Team Update: Barnett confirmed, Pompey out
While co-captain Mitchell Barnett’s comeback has been confirmed, centre Adam Pompey is unavailable for the One New Zealand Warriors’ round four NRL clash against the Knights at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle tomorrow (5.00pm kick-off local time; 3.00pm NZT).
Barnett, named in jersey #23 on Tuesday, moves onto the interchange for his first game after recovering from the knee injury that ended his 2025 campaign in the Warriors’ round 13 encounter with South Sydney last June.
Experienced 121-game centre Pompey has stayed in Auckland to support his wife Casey who is expecting the couple’s first child.
His absence results in Leka Halasima being moved to the centres and Marata Niukore returning for his first appearance of the year in the second row.
The confirmed interchange is Sam Healey, Demitric Vaimauga, Tanner Stowers-Smith and Barnett with Morgan Gannon and Alofi’ana Khan-Pereira on the six-man bench.
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Knights is number 1 Fletcher HuntFullback for Warriors is number 1 Taine Tuaupiki
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Winger for Knights is number 2 Dominic YoungWinger for Warriors is number 2 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
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Centre for Knights is number 3 Dane GagaiCentre for Warriors is number 3 Ali Leiataua
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Centre for Knights is number 4 Bradman BestCentre for Warriors is number 11 Leka Halasima
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Winger for Knights is number 5 Greg MarzhewWinger for Warriors is number 5 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
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Five-Eighth for Knights is number 18 Tyson GambleFive-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Luke Hanson
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Halfback for Knights is number 7 Sandon SmithHalfback for Warriors is number 7 Tanah Boyd
Forwards
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Prop for Knights is number 8 Jacob SaifitiProp for Warriors is number 8 James Fisher-Harris
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Hooker for Knights is number 9 Phoenix CrosslandHooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde Egan
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Prop for Knights is number 10 Trey MooneyProp for Warriors is number 10 Jackson Ford
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2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Dylan Lucas2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Jacob Laban
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2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Jermaine McEwen2nd Row for Warriors is number 17 Marata Niukore
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Lock for Knights is number 13 Tyson FrizellLock for Warriors is number 13 Erin Clark
Interchange
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Interchange for Knights is number 14 Thomas CantInterchange for Warriors is number 14 Sam Healey
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Interchange for Knights is number 15 Mat CrokerInterchange for Warriors is number 15 Demitric Vaimauga
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Interchange for Knights is number 16 Pasami SauloInterchange for Warriors is number 16 Tanner Stowers-Smith
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Interchange for Knights is number 17 Francis ManuleleuaInterchange for Warriors is number 18 Morgan Gannon
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Interchange for Knights is number 19 Harrison GrahamInterchange for Warriors is number 23 Mitchell Barnett
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Interchange for Knights is number 21 Cody Hopwood
Reserves
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Reserve for Knights is number 22 James SchillerReserve for Warriors is number 20 Alofiana Khan-Pereira
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Reserve for Warriors is number 22 Jett Cleary
Knights Ins
- Cody Hopwood
- James Schiller
- Tyson Gamble
Warriors Ins
- Alofiana Khan-Pereira
- Jett Cleary
- Luke Hanson
- Marata Niukore
- Mitchell Barnett
Knights Outs
- Dylan Brown
- Kalyn Ponga
Warriors Ins
- Adam Pompey
- Chanel Harris-Tavita
- Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
- Eddie Ieremia-Toeava
Match Officials
- Referee: Liam Kennedy
- Touch Judge: Belinda Sharpe
- Touch Judge: Jon Stone
- Senior Review Official: Adam Gee
Last updated:
The match-up between the two unbeaten sides sees in-form Warriors prop Jackson Ford make his 100th career appearance and standoff Luke Hanson on debut as Warrior #295.
Now in his fourth season with the Warriors, 22-year-old Penrith junior Hanson comes into the lineup for injured standoff Chanel Harris-Tavita (concussion) after starring for the club’s triple crown-winning New South Wales Cup side last year.
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.
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.
