NRL Team Update: Extended bench reduced by two

Author: Richard Becht & photosport.nz
Timestamp: Thu 26 Mar 2026, 06:05 PM

Winger Alofi’ana Khan-Pereira and second rower Eddie Ieremia-Toeava have been omitted from the One New Zealand Warriors’ extended bench 24 hours out from their round four Pasifika Night encounter with the Wests Tigers at Go Media Stadium tomorrow night (8.00pm kick-off).

In trimming the squad to 20, Khan-Pereira and Ieremia-Toeava have been freed up to appear for the club’s New South Wales Cup side in its round four clash against Western Suburbs in the early game kicking off at 5.15pm.

Khan-Periera played in the Warriors’ first two NSW Cup matches of the season scoring a double in the win over Canberra while Ieremia-Toeava appeared in the team’s round one and round three games.

After coming through training this week, playmaker Luke Metcalf has been cleared to make his NRL comeback ahead of schedule.

The 27-year-old’s 2025 campaign was ended by an ACL knee injury in the round 17 clash against the Broncos in Brisbane last June.

Round 4 - Round 4 - Friday 27 Mar

7:00 am

Warriors

Wests Tigers

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad

Fullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Jahream Bula
Winger for Warriors is number 2 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak

Winger for Wests Tigers is number 2 Jeral Skelton
Centre for Warriors is number 3 Adam Pompey

Centre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Sunia Turuva
Centre for Warriors is number 4 Ali Leiataua

Centre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Heamasi Makasini
Winger for Warriors is number 5 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck

Winger for Wests Tigers is number 5 Luke Laulilii
Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Luke Metcalf

Five-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Jock Madden
Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Tanah Boyd

Halfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Adam Doueihi

Forwards

Prop for Warriors is number 8 James Fisher-Harris

Prop for Wests Tigers is number 8 Terrell May
Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde Egan

Hooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Apisai Koroisau
Prop for Warriors is number 10 Jackson Ford

Prop for Wests Tigers is number 10 Fonua Pole
2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Leka Halasima

2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Samuela Fainu
2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Jacob Laban

2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Kai Pearce-Paul
Lock for Warriors is number 13 Erin Clark

Lock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Alex Twal

Interchange

Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Sam Healey

Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Tristan Hope
Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Mitchell Barnett

Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Sione Fainu
Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Demitric Vaimauga

Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Royce Hunt
Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Tanner Stowers-Smith

Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Alex Seyfarth
Interchange for Warriors is number 18 Marata Niukore

Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 18 Bunty Afoa
Interchange for Warriors is number 20 Chanel Harris-Tavita

Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 19 Faaletino Tavana

Reserves

Reserve for Warriors is number 21 Taine Tuaupiki

Reserve for Wests Tigers is number 21 Latu Fainu

Adam Pompey
Chanel Harris-Tavita
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
Luke Metcalf

Bunty Afoa
Faaletino Tavana
Latu Fainu

Alofiana Khan-Pereira
Luke Hanson
Morgan Gannon

Jarome Luai
Patrick Herbert

Match Officials

Referee: Adam Gee
Senior Review Official: Chris Butler

Last updated: 3/26/2026 7:04:22 AM

Initially slated to return as late as round 10 this season, his comeback came forward to round seven and then to round six last week but on Tuesday he was named to slot straight back into the halves in partnership with in-from Tanah Boyd for the first time.

Boyd has again been named at halfback with Metcalf in the #6 jersey, his return a major boost coming just a week after co-captain Mitchell Barnett came back from his knee injury to make his 50th appearance for the Warriors last Saturday.

Three other frontliners also return after missing the 38-12 win over Newcastle last week.

Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and Chanel Harris-Tavita were both ruled out last week as they followed NRL concussion protocols after head knocks in the 40-6 round two win over minor premiers the Canberra Raiders.

Adam Pompey stayed in Auckland to be with his wife Casey for the birth of their daughter Kiara Dawn, delivered the same day (March 21) his teammates beat the Newcastle Knights to move to the top of the NRL table after three straight wins.

He returns to his customary centre role on the left edge where Leka Halasima filled in on Saturday, Nicoll-Klokstad is at fullback again for Taine Tuaupiki and Harris-Tavita is on the extended bench.

Halasima, who has four tries in the first three games, reverts to the second row where he was due to play last week before Pompey was ruled out.

The extended bench comprises Sam Healey, Barnett, Demitric Vaimauga, Tanner Stowers-Smith, Marata Niukore, Harris-Tavita and Tuaupiki.

The One New Zealand Warriors have won the opening three matches of the season for only the second time in the club’s history; the first was in 2018 when the Warriors put together a run of five victories on end to open the campaign.

In 39 matches against the Tigers they have a 23-16 win-loss record having won the last nine straight and 10 of the last 11 encounters.