NRL Confirmed Lineup: Khan-Pereira makes club debut
Alofi’ana Khan-Pereira will make his debut for the One New Zealand Warriors after being confirmed to start on the left wing in tonight’s round six NRL clash against the Storm at AAMI Park in Melbourne (7.35pm kick-off local time; 9.35pm NZT).
The 24-year-old was named on the six-man bench on Tuesday but was revealed as a starter 90 minutes before kick-off, a move which sees Roger Tuivasa-Sheck going into the centres where he was predominantly used in 2024.
His switch follows the Warriors losing both of their originally selected centres Adam Pompey (suspended) and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (injured).
Starting in the centres with Tuivasa-Sheck is Ali Leiataua, who was used in the role in the first three matches of the season.
Khan-Periera, who becomes Warrior #297, joined the club this season after scoring 53 tries in 54 NRL appearances for the Titans in the last three seasons.
Match: Storm v Warriors
Round 6 -
home Team
Storm
away Team
Warriors
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Storm is number 1 Sualauvi FaalogoFullback for Warriors is number 1 Taine Tuaupiki
-
Winger for Storm is number 2 Will WarbrickWinger for Warriors is number 2 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
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Centre for Storm is number 3 Jack HowarthCentre for Warriors is number 5 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
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Centre for Storm is number 4 Nick MeaneyCentre for Warriors is number 23 Ali Leiataua
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Winger for Storm is number 5 Moses LeoWinger for Warriors is number 20 Alofiana Khan-Pereira
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Five-Eighth for Storm is number 6 Cameron MunsterFive-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Chanel Harris-Tavita
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Halfback for Storm is number 7 Jahrome HughesHalfback for Warriors is number 7 Tanah Boyd
Forwards
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Prop for Storm is number 8 Stefano UtoikamanuProp for Warriors is number 8 James Fisher-Harris
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Hooker for Storm is number 9 Harry GrantHooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde Egan
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Prop for Storm is number 10 Josh KingProp for Warriors is number 10 Jackson Ford
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2nd Row for Storm is number 11 Joe Chan2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Leka Halasima
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2nd Row for Storm is number 12 Cooper Clarke2nd Row for Warriors is number 15 Marata Niukore
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Lock for Storm is number 13 Trent LoieroLock for Warriors is number 13 Erin Clark
Interchange
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Interchange for Storm is number 14 Tyran WishartInterchange for Warriors is number 12 Jacob Laban
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Interchange for Storm is number 15 Alec MacDonaldInterchange for Warriors is number 14 Sam Healey
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Interchange for Storm is number 17 Davvy MoaleInterchange for Warriors is number 16 Demitric Vaimauga
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Interchange for Storm is number 19 Manaia WaitereInterchange for Warriors is number 17 Tanner Stowers-Smith
Reserves
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Reserve for Storm is number 16 Jack HetheringtonReserve for Warriors is number 18 Eddie Ieremia-Toeava
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Reserve for Storm is number 18 Lazarus VaalepuReserve for Warriors is number 22 Luke Hanson
Match Officials
- Referee: Grant Atkins
- Touch Judge: Drew Oultram
- Senior Review Official: Chris Butler
Last updated:
Leka Halasima, listed in the centres in the updated side 24 hours ahead of kick-off, goes back to the second row with Jacob Laban moving to the interchange.
The other major 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.
