NRL Team Update: Barnett to play, Capewell omitted
Mitchell Barnett will play but Kurt Capewell won’t when the One New Zealand Warriors host the Cowboys in tomorrow’s round 16 NRL match at One New Zealand Stadium in Christchurch (4.00pm kick-off).
Co-captain Barnett has been confirmed to return to the side after being used for just 25 minutes in New South Wales’ 24-44 State of Origin loss to Queensland on Wednesday night.
He will make his first appearance for the Warriors since their 42-12 win over Brisbane on May 17.
Queensland second rower Capewell won’t be backing up while hooker Sam Healey has also been omitted at the 24-hour deadline ahead of the game.
With those two dropping off the extended bench now listed comprises Eddie Ieremia-Toeava, Demitric Vaimauga, Kayliss Fatialofa, Rocco Berry, Luke Metcalf, Tafua and Barnett.
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Taine TuaupikiFullback for Cowboys is number 1 Scott Drinkwater
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Winger for Warriors is number 2 Dallin Watene-ZelezniakWinger for Cowboys is number 2 Braidon Burns
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Centre for Warriors is number 3 Ali LeiatauaCentre for Cowboys is number 3 Zac Laybutt
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Centre for Warriors is number 4 Adam PompeyCentre for Cowboys is number 4 Tom Chester
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Winger for Warriors is number 5 Charnze Nicoll-KlokstadWinger for Cowboys is number 5 Murray Taulagi
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Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Chanel Harris-TavitaFive-Eighth for Cowboys is number 6 Jaxon Purdue
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Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Te Maire MartinHalfback for Cowboys is number 7 Jake Clifford
Forwards
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Prop for Warriors is number 8 Tanner Stowers-SmithProp for Cowboys is number 8 Thomas Mikaele
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Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde EganHooker for Cowboys is number 9 Reed Mahoney
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Prop for Warriors is number 10 Jackson FordProp for Cowboys is number 10 Jason Taumalolo
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2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Jacob Laban2nd Row for Cowboys is number 11 Heilum Luki
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2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Marata Niukore2nd Row for Cowboys is number 12 Jeremiah Nanai
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Lock for Warriors is number 13 Erin ClarkLock for Cowboys is number 13 Reuben Cotter
Interchange
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Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Eddie Ieremia-ToeavaInterchange for Cowboys is number 14 Soni Luke
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Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Demitric VaimaugaInterchange for Cowboys is number 15 Griffin Neame
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Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Kayliss FatialofaInterchange for Cowboys is number 16 Matthew Lodge
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Interchange for Warriors is number 18 Rocco BerryInterchange for Cowboys is number 17 Coen Hess
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Interchange for Warriors is number 20 Luke MetcalfInterchange for Cowboys is number 18 Liam Sutton
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Interchange for Warriors is number 21 Makaia TafuaInterchange for Cowboys is number 19 Sam McIntyre
Reserves
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Reserve for Warriors is number 22 Mitchell BarnettReserve for Cowboys is number 20 John Bateman
Warriors Ins
- Luke Metcalf
- Mitchell Barnett
- Rocco Berry
Cowboys Ins
- Braidon Burns
- Jeremiah Nanai
- John Bateman
Warriors Outs
- Alofiana Khan-Pereira
- Jason Salalilo
Cowboys Ins
- Ethan King
- Wiremu Greig
Match Officials
- Referee: Grant Atkins
- Touch Judge: Drew Oultram
- Senior Review Official: Wyatt Raymond
Last updated:
The team changes mean Christchurch-born forwards Tanner Stowers-Smith and Makaia Tafua - who debuted as Warrior #298 last week - are both in line to play in the historic match in their hometown.
Warriors head coach Andrew Webster opted not to include Barnett and Capewell in the extended squad to face Penrith after Origin I but named both of them this time giving him the opportunity to assess whether they could back up against the Cowboys.
The Warriors have lost speedster Alofi’ana Khan-Pereira for a spell after he picked up a quadriceps contusion in a heavy collision just before halftime in last Saturday night’s gruelling battle with the Sharks.
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad replaced him at the halftime break and will now start on the wing, where he began his NRL career in 2017.
On the right wing Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, boasting 14 tries in 13 appearances so far this season, will play his 99th game for the club and is set to join the Warriors’ 100-game club in the round 17 match against the Dolphins.
Tomorrow's match – sold out in five days in January – is the first NRL game played at Christchurch’s new stdaium. It will be the third leg of a tripleheader with the club’s NRLW side playing a trial against the Broncos and the New South Wales Cup team taking on the Bulldogs.
