NRL Confirmed Lineup: Kayliss Fatialofa Warriors debut a possibility

NRL Confirmed Lineup: Fatialofa included on six-man bench

Author: Richard Becht & photosport.nz
Timestamp: Sat 23 May 2026, 04:00 PM

Second rower Kayliss Fatialofa is a step closer to his NRL debut after being confirmed on the One New Zealand Warriors’ six-man bench for tonight’s round 12 clash against the Dragons at St George Venues Jubilee Stadium in Sydney (5.30pm kick-off local time; 7.30pm NZT).

The 21-year-old joins hooker Sam Healey, front rowers Demitric Vaimauga and Tanner Stowers-Smith, second rower Eddie Ieremia-Toeava and standoff Luke Hanson on the bench.

Centre Adam Pompey drops out of the 20-man squad. Marata Niukore and Makaia Tafua were omitted last night.

If called on to take the field, Fatialofa would become Warrior #298.

After originally being named on the extended bench in jersey #23, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck will start in the centres.

Round 12 - Round 12 - Saturday 23 May

Full Time

Dragons

Warriors

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Dragons is number 1 Clinton Gutherson

Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Taine Tuaupiki
Winger for Dragons is number 2 Setu Tu

Winger for Warriors is number 2 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
Centre for Dragons is number 4 Valentine Holmes

Centre for Warriors is number 3 Ali Leiataua
Centre for Dragons is number 20 Hayden Buchanan

Centre for Warriors is number 23 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
Winger for Dragons is number 5 Christian Tuipulotu

Winger for Warriors is number 5 Alofiana Khan-Pereira
Five-Eighth for Dragons is number 6 Daniel Atkinson

Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Chanel Harris-Tavita
Halfback for Dragons is number 7 Kyle Flanagan

Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Te Maire Martin

Forwards

Prop for Dragons is number 8 Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga

Prop for Warriors is number 8 James Fisher-Harris
Hooker for Dragons is number 9 Damien Cook

Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde Egan
Prop for Dragons is number 10 Toby Couchman

Prop for Warriors is number 10 Jackson Ford
2nd Row for Dragons is number 11 Dylan Egan

2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Leka Halasima
2nd Row for Dragons is number 12 Hamish Stewart

2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Jacob Laban
Lock for Dragons is number 13 Ryan Couchman

Lock for Warriors is number 13 Erin Clark

Interchange

Interchange for Dragons is number 14 Luciano Leilua

Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Sam Healey
Interchange for Dragons is number 15 Emre Guler

Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Tanner Stowers-Smith
Interchange for Dragons is number 16 Josh Kerr

Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Demitric Vaimauga
Interchange for Dragons is number 17 Blake Lawrie

Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Eddie Ieremia-Toeava

Reserves

Reserve for Dragons is number 18 Tyrell Sloan

Reserve for Warriors is number 18 Luke Hanson
Reserve for Dragons is number 19 Lyhkan King-Togia

Reserve for Warriors is number 21 Kayliss Fatialofa

Match Officials

Referee: Adam Gee
Touch Judge: Dave Munro
Senior Review Official: Wyatt Raymond

Last updated: 5/23/2026 11:58:11 AM

He has recovered from a shoulder injury suffered in the round nine win over the Eels that forced him to miss the Magic Round encounter with the Broncos last Sunday.

At the 24-hour deadline before kick-off, Tuivasa-Sheck was moved into the starting lineup replacing Pompey on the left edge he filled in the wins over the Storm, Titans, Dolphins and Eels.

With second rower Kurt Capewell (Queensland) and co-captain Mitchell Barnett (New South Wales) on State of Origin duty, there are two changes to the starting pack used in the 42-12 win over the Broncos.

Jackson Ford, surprisingly overlooked for New South Wales selection, is named to start at prop after being injected from the bench on Sunday with Jacob Laban coming back into the run-on side for Capewell.

With the in-form Tanah Boyd cruelly ruled out for the rest of the season with an ACL injury, the remarkable 30-year-old Te Maire Martin shoulders the halfback’s duties in only his third start in the last two seasons.

Of his 17 appearances last year one was at standoff and one at halfback with the other 15 off the bench.

Going into Sunday’s battle against the Broncos, Martin had played just once this season since returning from a broken leg in the All Stars match in February – and that was at loose forward for the club’s New South Wales Cup side followed by a bye the following week.

Despite his lack of football he produced an exceptional 74-minute performance in which he scored a try, had two try assist and a line break assist plus 28 tackles.

The Warriors head into round 12 with an 8-2 record sitting alone in second on the table on 18 points, two behind Penrith and two ahead of the third-placed Sydney Roosters. In 10 games they have scored 320 (second to Penrith’s 349 in 11 games) and conceded 182 (second to the Panthers’ 146).

With five wins on end the Warriors have the chance to move within one of the seven-win run achieved in 2023 and two behind the club record of eight consecutive wins in 2002.