Jeremiah Lemana is set to become the third member of the One New Zealand Warriors' 2026 Harold Matthews Cup under-17 premiership-winning squad to make his New South Wales Cup debut this season.
The Kelston Boys' High School product has been named in the centres for the Warriors' round six clash with the Storm at AAMI Park in Melbourne on Saturday (4.45pm kick-off local time; 6.45pm NZT).
The 17-year-old, who doesn’t turn 18 until July 31, follows fellow 17-year-olds Bishop Neal and Amasio Tiatia into the reserve grade side in their first season out of under-17 competition.
Lemana is a double Harold Matthews premiership winner playing in the centres in the club’s 2024 grand final win and fullback in last year’s victory.
A joint winner of the Warriors’ Harold Matthews player of the year award last year, he made a delayed start to the 2026 season with the Jersey Flegg Cup (under-21) side being used in the centres, at fullback and standoff in the last three rounds.
He joins outstanding second rower Neal (18 on May 10), the man of the match in last year’s Harold Matthews Cup grand final. St Thomas of Canterbury College product Neal will be making his fourth NSW Cup appearance since debuting against Newcastle in round three.
Out of Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o te Māori Whānau Tahi in Christchurch, hooker Tiatia (18 on August 9) was called up for his reserve grade debut when he started in the 29-28 win over Western Suburbs in round four.
Lining up in the halves with Jett Cleary is Jack Thompson (19), a Harold Matthews winner in 2024. He made his NSW Cup debut in round one.
Match: Storm v Warriors
Round 6 -
home Team
Storm
away Team
Warriors
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Storm is number 1 Hugo PeelFullback for Warriors is number 1 Geronimo Doyle
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Winger for Storm is number 2 Declan CaseyWinger for Warriors is number 2 Daeon Amituanai
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Centre for Storm is number 3 Liam WilliamsCentre for Warriors is number 3 Jeremiah Lemana
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Centre for Storm is number 4 Mitchell JenningsCentre for Warriors is number 4 Caelys-Paul Putoko
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Winger for Storm is number 5 Blake KehlWinger for Warriors is number 5 Haizyn Mellars
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Five-Eighth for Storm is number 6 Trent ToelauFive-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Jack Thompson
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Halfback for Storm is number 7 Keagan Russell-SmithHalfback for Warriors is number 7 Jett Cleary
Forwards
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Prop for Storm is number 8 K-CI Newton-WhareProp for Warriors is number 8 Cooper Page-Wilson
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Hooker for Storm is number 9 Gabriel SatrickHooker for Warriors is number 9 Jacob Auloa
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Prop for Storm is number 10 Lazarus VaalepuProp for Warriors is number 10 Rodney Tuipulotu-Vea
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2nd Row for Storm is number 11 Shawn Blore2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Kayliss Fatialofa
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2nd Row for Storm is number 12 Preston Conn2nd Row for Warriors is number 21 Eddie Ieremia-Toeava
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Lock for Storm is number 13 Josiah PahuluLock for Warriors is number 20 Morgan Gannon
Interchange
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Interchange for Storm is number 14 Stanley HuenInterchange for Warriors is number 12 Bishop Neal
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Interchange for Storm is number 15 Jerry MusuInterchange for Warriors is number 13 Christian Sikuvea
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Interchange for Storm is number 16 Zayvian Langkilde-FaleInterchange for Warriors is number 14 Braelan Marsh
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Interchange for Storm is number 17 Nicholas StonestreetInterchange for Warriors is number 18 Jason Salalilo
Reserves
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Replacement for Storm is number 18 Eli MorrisReplacement for Warriors is number 22 Harry Tauafiafi-Iutoi
Last updated:
Another feature of the side to face the Storm is the inclusion of middle forward Jason Salalilo (20) for his first appearance of the season returning from an injury stint. Also out of St Thomas of Canterbury College, he made 22 NSW Cup appearances last year including the grand final victory and the State Championship win.
The Warriors, sitting seventh on the ladder with a 3-2 record, will be seeking a third win on end after tight wins over the Magpies (29-28) and Newtown (26-24) in their last two outings.
