NRL Team List: Three ruled out, four back in to face Eels
Three players have been ruled out but four are back in the One New Zealand Warriors’ squad for Saturday’s round nine NRL match against the Parramatta Eels at CommBank Stadium in Sydney (5.30pm kick-off local time; 7.30pm NZT).
Co-captain Mitchell Barnett and centre Ali Leiataua are following concussion protocols after leaving the field in the Warriors’ 20-18 win over the Dolphins in their Anzac Day contest in Wellington.
They join second rower Marata Niukore who is also subject to head injury procedures.
While those three are unavailable, experienced Adam Pompey returns from suspension to replace Leiataua in the centres and front rower Tanner Stowers-Smith comes onto the bench for Barnett after recovering from a hamstring complaint that ruled him out of the last two wins over Gold Coast and the Titans.
Also making comebacks are playmakers Luke Metcalf and Te Maire Martin.
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Eels is number 1 Joash PapaliiFullback for Warriors is number 1 Taine Tuaupiki
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Winger for Eels is number 2 Brian KellyWinger for Warriors is number 2 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
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Centre for Eels is number 3 Will PenisiniCentre for Warriors is number 3 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
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Centre for Eels is number 4 Sean RussellCentre for Warriors is number 4 Adam Pompey
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Winger for Eels is number 5 Josh Addo-CarrWinger for Warriors is number 5 Alofiana Khan-Pereira
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Five-Eighth for Eels is number 6 Ronald VolkmanFive-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Chanel Harris-Tavita
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Halfback for Eels is number 7 Mitchell MosesHalfback for Warriors is number 7 Tanah Boyd
Forwards
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Prop for Eels is number 8 Luca MorettiProp for Warriors is number 8 James Fisher-Harris
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Hooker for Eels is number 9 Ryley SmithHooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde Egan
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Prop for Eels is number 10 Junior PauloProp for Warriors is number 10 Jackson Ford
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2nd Row for Eels is number 11 Charlie Guymer2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Leka Halasima
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2nd Row for Eels is number 12 Jack Williams2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Kurt Capewell
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Lock for Eels is number 13 Jack De BelinLock for Warriors is number 13 Erin Clark
Interchange
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Interchange for Eels is number 14 Tallyn Da SilvaInterchange for Warriors is number 14 Sam Healey
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Interchange for Eels is number 15 Saxon PrykeInterchange for Warriors is number 15 Tanner Stowers-Smith
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Interchange for Eels is number 16 Toni MataeleInterchange for Warriors is number 16 Demitric Vaimauga
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Interchange for Eels is number 17 Dylan WalkerInterchange for Warriors is number 17 Jacob Laban
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Interchange for Eels is number 18 Kelma TuilagiInterchange for Warriors is number 18 Eddie Ieremia-Toeava
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Interchange for Eels is number 19 Lorenzo TalatainaInterchange for Warriors is number 20 Luke Metcalf
Reserves
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Reserve for Eels is number 20 Jordan SamraniReserve for Warriors is number 21 Kayliss Fatialofa
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Reserve for Eels is number 21 Teancum BrownReserve for Warriors is number 22 Te Maire Martin
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Reserve for Eels is number 22 Araz NanvaReserve for Warriors is number 23 Makaia Tafua
Eels Ins
- Araz Nanva
- Jordan Samrani
- Teancum Brown
Warriors Ins
- Adam Pompey
- Kayliss Fatialofa
- Luke Metcalf
- Makaia Tafua
- Tanner Stowers-Smith
- Te Maire Martin
Eels Outs
Warriors Ins
- Ali Leiataua
- Luke Hanson
- Mitchell Barnett
Match Officials
- Referee: Gerard Sutton
- Senior Review Official: Wyatt Raymond
Last updated:
Metcalf is included on the six-man bench in jersey #20 after missing the last three games against the Storm, Titans and Dolphins with a hamstring issue while Martin is named as one of the three reserves; Martin has missed the first eight rounds of the season after breaking his right fibula playing for the Māori All Stars in Hamilton in February.
Apart from the inclusion of Pompey and Stowers-Smith the playing 17 is the same as that used in the tense victory over the Dolphins.
Winger Alofi’ana Khan-Pereira netted his second double in consecutive matches to give him four in his first three appearances for the One New Zealand Warriors.
He now has the exceptional distinction of scoring exactly a try a game – 57 tries in 57 career appearances so far.
On the opposite wing Dallin Watene-Zelezniak touched down for the fourth straight game to have seven in four games and nine in eight matches so far this season. He now has 68 tries in his 93 appearances for the Warriors as he edges towards his 100th outing for the club.
Saturday’s match against the Eels will be the 47th between the two clubs with Parramatta holding a 27-19 advantage.
The Eels are among the Warriors’ most challenging opponents having registered just one win in the last seven encounters dating back to 2019.
They’re also the Warriors’ most infrequent rivals in recent times, the two sides facing off only once in each of the last eight seasons.
While the Warriors sit second on the ladder after eight rounds, the Eels are 15th with four losses in the last five rounds.
