NRL Team List: Barnett moved into starting lineup
Co-captain Mitchell Barnett heads a group of four players who return to the One New Zealand Warriors’ squad for their NRL Magic Round encounter with the Brisbane Broncos at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday (4.05pm kick-off local time; 6.05pm NZT).
The veteran has been named to start in the front row for the first time this season where he is reunited with fellow co-captain James Fisher-Harris.
In his previous four appearances this year Barnett was on the interchange bench as he made his comeback from his season-ending knee injury suffered against South Sydney last June (the last time he and Fisher-Harris started a match together).
Barnett missed the round nine win over Parramatta as he was subject to NRL head injury protocols following a head knock in the Anzac Day victory against the Dolphins.
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Taine TuaupikiFullback for Broncos is number 1 Reece Walsh
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Winger for Warriors is number 2 Dallin Watene-ZelezniakWinger for Broncos is number 2 Josiah Karapani
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Centre for Warriors is number 3 Ali LeiatauaCentre for Broncos is number 3 Jesse Arthars
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Centre for Warriors is number 4 Adam PompeyCentre for Broncos is number 4 Gehamat Shibasaki
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Winger for Warriors is number 5 Alofiana Khan-PereiraWinger for Broncos is number 5 Phillip Coates
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Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Chanel Harris-TavitaFive-Eighth for Broncos is number 6 Ezra Mam
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Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Tanah BoydHalfback for Broncos is number 7 Adam Reynolds
Forwards
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Prop for Warriors is number 8 James Fisher-HarrisProp for Broncos is number 8 Preston Riki
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Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde EganHooker for Broncos is number 9 Cory Paix
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Prop for Warriors is number 10 Mitchell BarnettProp for Broncos is number 10 Xavier Willison
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2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Leka Halasima2nd Row for Broncos is number 11 Jaiyden Hunt
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2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Kurt Capewell2nd Row for Broncos is number 12 Jordan Riki
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Lock for Warriors is number 13 Erin ClarkLock for Broncos is number 13 Patrick Carrigan
Interchange
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Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Sam HealeyInterchange for Broncos is number 14 Ben Hunt
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Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Jackson FordInterchange for Broncos is number 15 Ben Talty
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Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Demitric VaimaugaInterchange for Broncos is number 16 Va'a Semu
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Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Jacob LabanInterchange for Broncos is number 17 Aublix Tawha
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Interchange for Warriors is number 18 Tanner Stowers-SmithInterchange for Broncos is number 18 Hayze Perham
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Interchange for Warriors is number 20 Te Maire MartinInterchange for Broncos is number 19 Josh Rogers
Reserves
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Reserve for Warriors is number 21 Eddie Ieremia-ToeavaReserve for Broncos is number 20 Thomas Duffy
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Reserve for Warriors is number 22 Luke HansonReserve for Broncos is number 21 Luke Gale
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Reserve for Warriors is number 23 Makaia TafuaReserve for Broncos is number 22 Kane Bradley
Warriors Ins
- Ali Leiataua
- Luke Hanson
- Makaia Tafua
- Mitchell Barnett
- Tanner Stowers-Smith
- Te Maire Martin
Broncos Ins
- Adam Reynolds
- Jaiyden Hunt
- Josh Rogers
- Kane Bradley
- Luke Gale
Warriors Outs
- Kayliss Fatialofa
- Luke Metcalf
- Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
Broncos Ins
- Antonio Verhoeven
- Jack Gosiewski
Match Officials
- Referee: Ashley Klein
- Touch Judge: Matt Noyen
- Touch Judge: Phil Henderson
- Senior Review Official: Adam Gee
Last updated:
His selection as a starting prop sees the impressive Jackson Ford switched to the bench after being in the run-on side for the first nine rounds.
Returning in the centres is Ali Leiataua, who missed the Parramatta match due to a head knock against the Dolphins; he replaces Roger Tuivasa-Sheck who has been sidelined by a shoulder injury he suffered late in the contest against the Eels.
Wayde Egan left the field with a head injury 29 minutes into the Parramatta game and was subsequently ruled out for the rest of the encounter; he has also been cleared.
The fourth player included after coming off the injury list is prop Tanner Stowers-Smith (hamstring) who is on the six-man bench with Sam Healey, Ford, Demitric Vaimauga, Jacob Laban and Te Maire Martin.
While a significant number of players have spent time on the sideline so far this season nine players are set to make their 10th consecutive appearances in the highly-anticipated clash against the Broncos, the seventh and second-to-last course of the football feast that is the Magic Round.
This is the seventh serving of the concept – all played at Suncorp Stadium – with the Warriors being the nominal home team each time as they still will be again this week despite playing the Broncos on their turf for the first time in the Magic Round.
Previously the Warriors have played the Dragons (2019), Eels (2021), Rabbitohs (2022), Panthers (2023), Panthers (2024) and Cowboys (2025).
Coming off their first bye last week, the Warriors remain second on the ladder with a 7-2 record lying two points behind Penrith.
The last time they beat the Broncos at Suncorp was in 2018 with a draw and three losses in their last four visits. The Warriors have won seven of the last 14 games between the two sides while Brisbane has a 28-22 advantage plus a draw in 51 clashes since 1995.
