NRL Team Update: New Warriors centres pairing to face Storm

NRL Team Update: New centres duo to face Storm

Author: Richard Becht & photosport.nz
Timestamp: Fri 10 Apr 2026, 07:34 PM

After losing Adam Pompey to suspension, the One New Zealand Warriors have now had their other selected centre Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad ruled out of Saturday night’s round six NRL encounter with the Storm at AAMI Park in Melbourne (7.35pm kick-off local time; 9.35pm NZT).

It robs the Warriors of a combined total of 262 NRL appearances with 23-year-old Ali Leiataua and 20-year-old Leka Halasima listed as the new centres pairing.

Between them they boast just 52 NRL matches, Leiataua coming back into the side after playing in the season-opening wins over the Roosters, Raiders and Knights while second row regular Halasima is set to start in the centres for only the third time in his career.

With Halasima moving to centre, veteran Marata Niukore moves into the second row

Nicoll-Klokstad’s absence follows him leaving the field with a neck complaint seven minutes from fulltime in last Sunday’s 22-36 loss to Cronulla Sutherland.

Round 6 - Round 6 - Saturday 11 Apr

Full Time

Storm

Warriors

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Storm is number 1 Sualauvi Faalogo

Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Taine Tuaupiki
Winger for Storm is number 2 Will Warbrick

Winger for Warriors is number 2 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
Centre for Storm is number 3 Jack Howarth

Centre for Warriors is number 5 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
Centre for Storm is number 4 Nick Meaney

Centre for Warriors is number 23 Ali Leiataua
Winger for Storm is number 5 Moses Leo

Winger for Warriors is number 20 Alofiana Khan-Pereira
Five-Eighth for Storm is number 6 Cameron Munster

Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Chanel Harris-Tavita
Halfback for Storm is number 7 Jahrome Hughes

Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Tanah Boyd

Forwards

Prop for Storm is number 8 Stefano Utoikamanu

Prop for Warriors is number 8 James Fisher-Harris
Hooker for Storm is number 9 Harry Grant

Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde Egan
Prop for Storm is number 10 Josh King

Prop for Warriors is number 10 Jackson Ford
2nd Row for Storm is number 11 Joe Chan

2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Leka Halasima
2nd Row for Storm is number 12 Cooper Clarke

2nd Row for Warriors is number 15 Marata Niukore
Lock for Storm is number 13 Trent Loiero

Lock for Warriors is number 13 Erin Clark

Interchange

Interchange for Storm is number 14 Tyran Wishart

Interchange for Warriors is number 12 Jacob Laban
Interchange for Storm is number 15 Alec MacDonald

Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Sam Healey
Interchange for Storm is number 17 Davvy Moale

Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Demitric Vaimauga
Interchange for Storm is number 19 Manaia Waitere

Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Tanner Stowers-Smith

Reserves

Reserve for Storm is number 16 Jack Hetherington

Reserve for Warriors is number 18 Eddie Ieremia-Toeava
Reserve for Storm is number 18 Lazarus Vaalepu

Reserve for Warriors is number 22 Luke Hanson

Match Officials

Referee: Grant Atkins
Touch Judge: Drew Oultram
Senior Review Official: Chris Butler

Last updated: 4/16/2026 11:12:43 PM

Just fullback Taine Tuaupiki, wingers Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and halfback Tanah Boyd remain of the backline used against the Sharks last Sunday.

Apart from the centres, the other change is at standoff where Chanel Harris-Tavita is in for the injured Luke Metcalf, back in the #6 jersey he wore in the first three rounds alongside halfback Tanah Boyd.

The 27-year-old Harris-Tavita will make his 98th career appearance which would leave him in line to reach his 100-game milestone in the Anzac Day clash against the Dolphins at Hnry Stadium in Wellington.

The Warriors and Melbourne both go into the contest coming off disappointing results.

After averaging 40 points a game in their three season-opening wins over the Sydney Roosters, Canberra and Newcastle, the One New Zealand Warriors have suffered back-to-back losses to the Wests Tigers and Cronulla-Sutherland to slip to fifth.

The Storm were the early pacesetters scoring 98 points in two big wins over Parramatta (52-4) and St George Illawarra (46-20) but have, for the first time since 2002, suffered three straight losses to Brisbane (14-18), North Queensland (24-28) and Penrith (10-50).

No matter what the Storm’s form might be, they remain the Warriors’ most challenging opponents with Melbourne boasting 17 straight wins since 2015, the longest active head-to-head streak in the competition.

This is the third time in the last four seasons that the Warriors face the Storm only once in the regular, each of the one-off meetings being scheduled in Melbourne.