NRL Team Update: Two omitted as squad cut to 20
Utility back Jye Linnane and hooker Jaydee Auloa have been omitted from the One New Zealand Warriors’ squad for Saturday night’s round 15 NRL clash against Cronulla Sutherland at a sold-out Go Media Stadium (7.30pm kick-off; match day sponsor: Flava).
The extended bench now comprises Makaia Tafua, Eddie Ieremia-Toeava, Demitric Viamauga, Kayliss Fatialofa, Jason Salalilo, Luke Metcalf and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad with one to drop off 90 minutes before kick-off tomorrow.
Injuries and State of Origin commitments have forced a major reshuffle of the One New Zealand Warriors’ lineup for the contest, the club’s first game at home game since beating Gold Coast 28-20 on April 18.
Prop Mitchell Barnett (New South Wales) and second rower Kurt Capewell (Queensland) are both unavailable on Origin duty while fellow veteran and co-captain James Fisher-Harris has been ruled out with a calf injury.
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Taine TuaupikiFullback for Sharks is number 1 William Kennedy
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Winger for Warriors is number 2 Dallin Watene-ZelezniakWinger for Sharks is number 2 Samuel Stonestreet
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Centre for Warriors is number 3 Ali LeiatauaCentre for Sharks is number 3 Jesse Ramien
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Centre for Warriors is number 4 Adam PompeyCentre for Sharks is number 4 KL Iro
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Winger for Warriors is number 5 Alofiana Khan-PereiraWinger for Sharks is number 5 Ronaldo Mulitalo
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Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Chanel Harris-TavitaFive-Eighth for Sharks is number 6 Braydon Trindall
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Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Te Maire MartinHalfback for Sharks is number 7 Niwhai Puru
Forwards
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Prop for Warriors is number 8 Tanner Stowers-SmithProp for Sharks is number 8 Jesse Colquhoun
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Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde EganHooker for Sharks is number 9 Jayden Berrell
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Prop for Warriors is number 10 Jackson FordProp for Sharks is number 10 Toby Rudolf
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2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Marata Niukore2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Billy Burns
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2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Jacob Laban2nd Row for Sharks is number 12 Teig Wilton
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Lock for Warriors is number 13 Erin ClarkLock for Sharks is number 13 Cameron McInnes
Interchange
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Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Makaia TafuaInterchange for Sharks is number 14 Mawene Hiroti
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Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Eddie Ieremia-ToeavaInterchange for Sharks is number 15 Oregon Kaufusi
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Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Demitric VaimaugaInterchange for Sharks is number 16 Siosifa Talakai
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Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Kayliss FatialofaInterchange for Sharks is number 17 Thomas Hazelton
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Interchange for Warriors is number 18 Jason SalaliloInterchange for Sharks is number 18 Hohepa Puru
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Interchange for Warriors is number 22 Charnze Nicoll-KlokstadInterchange for Sharks is number 19 Tuku Hau Tapuha
Reserves
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Reserve for Warriors is number 21 Luke MetcalfReserve for Sharks is number 20 Sione Katoa
Warriors Ins
- Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
- Eddie Ieremia-Toeava
- Jason Salalilo
- Luke Metcalf
- Makaia Tafua
Sharks Ins
- Jesse Ramien
- Sione Katoa
- Tuku Hau Tapuha
Warriors Outs
- James Fisher-Harris
- Leka Halasima
- Luke Hanson
- Sam Healey
Sharks Ins
- Addin Fonua-Blake
- Briton Nikora
Match Officials
- Referee: Gerard Sutton
- Touch Judge: Dave Munro
- Touch Judge: Belinda Sharpe
- Senior Review Official: Chris Butler
Last updated:
Fisher-Harris has joined other frontline players Leka Halasima (hamstring) and Sam Healey (thumb) on the casualty list along with Tanah Boyd and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck who are now recovering from surgery following their season-ending knee injuries.
With those seven first-choice players unavailable, as many as three players remain in the frame for possible NRL debuts in a season in which the Warriors haven’t introduced a new player since round three.
The backline used in the club’s last outing against Penrith on May 31 has been named again while there are two changes in the listed starting pack with Tanner Stowers-Smith in for Fisher-Harris at prop and the vastly-experienced Marata Niukore for Halasima in the second row.
Of the four interchange players who had game time against the Panthers, prop Vaimauga is the only one left.
Among the others on the extended bench hooker Tafua, second rower Fatialofa and middle forward Salalilo are yet to make their first grade debuts.
Vaimauga, with 42 games, is the most experienced and oldest of the six at just 23 while Ieremia-Toeava, Tafua, Fatialofa and Salalilo are all 21.
Metcalf made his comeback from a break with the New South Wales Cup side against Penrith on May 31 while Nicoll-Klokstad hasn’t played since the 28-20 round seven win over the Titans.
The Warriors have won four of their last six matches against the Sharks but suffered a disappointing 22-36 loss when the two teams last met in Sydney in round five.
