NRL Team Update: Metcalf, Salalilo omitted from squad
Halfback Luke Metcalf and middle forward Jason Salalilo have been omitted from the One New Zealand Warriors’ game day squad for Sunday’s top-of-the-table round 13 encounter with Penrith at CommBank Stadium in Sydney (6.15pm kick-off local time; 8.15pm NZT).
Hooker Makaia Tafua, selected in jersey #21, remains in the 20-man contingent at the 24-hour deadline ahead of kick-off.
State of Origin representatives Mitchell Barnett and Kurt Capewell were left out when the lineup was named on Tuesday while centre Adam Pompey is back in the side.
Penrith head coach Ivan Cleary has left out Origin players Nathan Cleary, Isaah Yeo and Brian To'o while Casey McLean is on the extended bench.
One New Zealand Warriors head coach Andrew Webster opted to give Barnett and Capewell a break rather than consider the possibility of them backing up against the competition leaders.
It means the starting pack named is unchanged from the combination used in the 30-12 win over the St George Illawarra Dragons last Saturday.
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Panthers is number 1 Dylan EdwardsFullback for Warriors is number 1 Taine Tuaupiki
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Winger for Panthers is number 2 Thomas JenkinsWinger for Warriors is number 2 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
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Centre for Panthers is number 3 Izack TagoCentre for Warriors is number 3 Ali Leiataua
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Centre for Panthers is number 4 Luke GarnerCentre for Warriors is number 4 Adam Pompey
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Winger for Panthers is number 5 Paul AlamotiWinger for Warriors is number 5 Alofiana Khan-Pereira
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Five-Eighth for Panthers is number 6 Blaize TalagiFive-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Chanel Harris-Tavita
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Halfback for Panthers is number 7 Jack CoggerHalfback for Warriors is number 7 Te Maire Martin
Forwards
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Prop for Panthers is number 8 Moses LeotaProp for Warriors is number 8 James Fisher-Harris
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Hooker for Panthers is number 9 Freddy LussickHooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde Egan
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Prop for Panthers is number 10 Liam HenryProp for Warriors is number 10 Jackson Ford
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2nd Row for Panthers is number 11 Isaiah Papali'i2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Leka Halasima
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2nd Row for Panthers is number 12 Liam Martin2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Jacob Laban
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Lock for Panthers is number 13 Lindsay SmithLock for Warriors is number 13 Erin Clark
Interchange
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Interchange for Panthers is number 14 Jack ColeInterchange for Warriors is number 14 Sam Healey
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Interchange for Panthers is number 15 Scott SorensenInterchange for Warriors is number 15 Tanner Stowers-Smith
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Interchange for Panthers is number 16 Billy PhillipsInterchange for Warriors is number 16 Demitric Vaimauga
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Interchange for Panthers is number 17 Luron PateaInterchange for Warriors is number 17 Marata Niukore
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Interchange for Panthers is number 18 Billy ScottInterchange for Warriors is number 18 Kayliss Fatialofa
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Interchange for Panthers is number 21 Casey McLeanInterchange for Warriors is number 20 Luke Hanson
Reserves
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Reserve for Panthers is number 20 Kalani GoingReserve for Warriors is number 21 Makaia Tafua
Panthers Ins
- Jack Cole
- Kalani Going
- Liam Martin
- Luron Patea
Warriors Ins
- Adam Pompey
- Makaia Tafua
- Marata Niukore
Panthers Outs
- Brian To'o
- Isaah Yeo
- Nathan Cleary
Warriors Ins
- Eddie Ieremia-Toeava
- Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
Match Officials
- Referee: Gerard Sutton
- Touch Judge: Matt Noyen
- Touch Judge: Phil Henderson
- Senior Review Official: Chris Butler
Last updated:
The seasoned Pompey returns to the centres to replace veteran Roger Tuivasa-Sheck who has had his campaign ended by an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury suffered in the 11th minute of the clash against the Dragons.
Pompey slots in on the left edge for his seventh NRL appearance of the year after an 80-minute shift for the club’s New South Wales Cup side last Sunday when he made 143 metres from 17 runs and kicked four goals from four attempts in a 24-20 victory.
As well as Tuivasa-Sheck, back rower Eddie Ieremia-Toeava is unavailable as he follows NRL concussion protocols. Named in his place is veteran Marata Niukore while the others listed on the six-man bench are hooker Sam Healey, props Tanner Stowers-Smith and Demitric Vaimauga, second rower Kayliss Fatialofa and standoff Luke Hanson.
The One New Zealand Warriors and Penrith both take impressive form into their highly anticipated encounter with the Warriors winning their last six games and the Panthers their past five.
Besides Penrith being first on the ladder on 22 points and the Warriors outright second on 20, they have scored the most points – the Warriors 350, Penrith 349 – and conceded the fewest (Penrith 146, the Warriors 194).
Wingers Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and Alofi’ana Khan-Pereira have been in prolific try-scoring form. With his double last week, Watene-Zelezniak has scored in each of his last seven games to equal the club record for tries in consecutive outings; he has 12 tries in those seven matches and 14 in 11 games so far this season to lift his club tally to 73 in 96 games closing in on Stacey Jones (77) and Shaun Johnson (79) who are second and third behind Manu Vatuvei”s club record 152 tries.
Khan-Pereira has four doubles in his first six games for the Warriors with an exceptional career tally of 61 tries in 60 appearances.
The Warriors have beaten Penrith only once – at Magic Round in 2024 – in the last 11 games between the two sides.
