NRL Confirmed Lineup: Morgan Gannon debut against Knights

NRL Confirmed Lineup: Gannon to make NRL debut

Author: Richard Becht & photosport.nz
Timestamp: Sat 21 Mar 2026, 01:31 PM

New signing Morgan Gannon comes into the starting lineup for his NRL debut in the One New Zealand Warriors’ round three encounter with the Knights at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle today (5.00pm kick-off local time; 3.00pm NZT).

The 22-year-old former Leeds Rhinos second rower will become Warrior #296 partnering 21-year-old Jacob Laban with Marata Niukore moving back to the bench.

Gannon joined the Warriors this season after making 73 appearances for Super League club Leeds since 2021.

Used in both Pre-season Challenge matches against Manly Warringah and the Dolphins, he was on the six-man bench for the first-round NRL game against the Roosters but last week played the full 80 minutes for the club’s New South Wales Cup side in its 44-12 win over the Raiders.

The confirmed six-man bench today is now Sam Healey, Demitric Vaimauga, Tanner Stowers-Smith, Niukore, Mitchell Barnett and Alofi’ana Khan-Pereira. Halfback Jett Cleary was omitted.

Barnett, named in jersey #23 on Tuesday, has been brought onto the bench for his first game since June last year after recovering from the knee injury that ended his campaign in the Warriors’ round 13 encounter with South Sydney.

Centre Adam Pompey is unavailable this week. The 121-game centre stayed in Auckland to support his wife Casey who is expecting the couple’s first child.

His absence resulted in Leka Halasima being moved out of the second row into the centres.

Round 3 - Round 3 - Saturday 21 Mar

Full Time

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 11 Leka Halasima
Winger for Knights is number 5 Greg Marzhew

Winger for Warriors is number 5 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
Five-Eighth for Knights is number 18 Tyson Gamble

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 12 Jacob Laban
2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Jermaine McEwen

2nd Row for Warriors is number 18 Morgan Gannon
Lock for Knights is number 15 Mat Croker

Lock for Warriors is number 13 Erin Clark

Interchange

Interchange for Knights is number 13 Tyson Frizell

Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Sam Healey
Interchange for Knights is number 14 Thomas Cant

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

Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Marata Niukore
Interchange for Knights is number 17 Francis Manuleleua

Interchange for Warriors is number 23 Mitchell Barnett

Reserves

Reserve for Knights is number 19 Harrison Graham

Reserve for Warriors is number 16 Tanner Stowers-Smith
Reserve for Knights is number 21 Cody Hopwood

Reserve for Warriors is number 20 Alofiana Khan-Pereira

Match Officials

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

Last updated: 3/21/2026 6:26:11 AM

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 third 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.

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.