Halfback Natalia Hickling and prop Felila Kia have been omitted from the game day squad for the One New Zealand Warriors’ round one NRLW clash against the Bulldogs at FMG Stadium Waikato in Hamilton tomorrow (3.45pm kick-off).
That leaves prop Metanoia Fetalaiga as the 18th player with new signing Stacey Waaka the 19th player.
Hickling and Waaka were among six newcomers named in the extended squad on Tuesday.
Brisbane premiership winner Gayle Broughton will make her club debut at standoff while ex-Roosters prop Mya Hill-Moana is the only other player in the starting lineup yet to appear for the Warriors.
Confirmed on the bench for their NRLW debuts are offseason signings hooker-halfback Jay Huriwai and back rower Belle Onesemo-Tuilaepa.
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Apii NichollsFullback for Bulldogs is number 1 Andie Robinson
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Winger for Warriors is number 2 Lavinia TauhalalikuWinger for Bulldogs is number 2 Moana Courtenay
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Centre for Warriors is number 3 Tysha IkenasioCentre for Bulldogs is number 3 Daynah Nankivell
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Centre for Warriors is number 4 Emmanita PakiCentre for Bulldogs is number 4 Monica Tagoai
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Winger for Warriors is number 5 Payton TakimoanaWinger for Bulldogs is number 5 Elizabeth MacGregor
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Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Gayle BroughtonFive-Eighth for Bulldogs is number 6 Shaquaylah Mahakitau-Monschau
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Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Patricia MaliepoHalfback for Bulldogs is number 7 Tayla Preston
Forwards
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Prop for Warriors is number 8 Annetta NuuausalaProp for Bulldogs is number 8 Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa
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Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Capri PaekauHooker for Bulldogs is number 9 Ebony Prior
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Prop for Warriors is number 10 Mya Hill-MoanaProp for Bulldogs is number 10 Alexis Tauaneai
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2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Maarire Puketapu2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 11 Pauline Suli-Ruka
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2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Shakira Baker2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 12 Tamika Jones
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Lock for Warriors is number 13 Ashlee MatapoLock for Bulldogs is number 13 Leilani Wilson
Interchange
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Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Jasmin HuriwaiInterchange for Bulldogs is number 14 Mary-Jane Taito
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Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Harata ButlerInterchange for Bulldogs is number 15 Giovanna Suani
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Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Laishon Albert-JonesInterchange for Bulldogs is number 16 Hope Millard
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Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Christabelle OnesemoInterchange for Bulldogs is number 17 Kalosipani Hopoate
Reserves
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Replacement for Warriors is number 18 Metanoia FetalaigaReplacement for Bulldogs is number 18 Evelyn Roberts
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Reserve for Warriors is number 20 Stacey WaakaReserve for Bulldogs is number 19 Ma’atuleio Fotu-Moala
Match Officials
- Referee: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
- Senior Review Official: Liam Kennedy
Last updated:
Also named in the front row is another Broncos premiership winner Annetta Nuuausala, the returning four-game foundation Warrior who will be playing her first game for the club since 2019.
Centre Mele Hufanga, the third signing from the champion 2026 Brisbane side, will have to wait to debut for the club. She’s sidelined with a hamstring injury which is expected to delay her campaign for four to six weeks.
The One New Zealand Warriors have lost second rower Kaiyah Atai, last year’s players’ player of the year, who broke her thumb in last Sunday’s trial against the Broncos at One New Zealand Stadium in Christchurch; she had surgery on Tuesday and will be out for four to six weeks. Also picking up injuries in the hit-out were middle forward Matekino Gray (foot) and new signing Anastasia Sekene (ankle) while outside back Tyra Wetere is recovering from knee surgery.
Outstanding young prop Ivana Lauitiiti is unavailable for the opening match of the season as she serves a one-game suspension she picked up in the Kiwi Ferns’ Pacific Championships final against the Jillaroos last November.
While the Warriors began last season with the majority of their squad having little or no experience in the NRLW, it’s notable that every player in the starting lineup this time has a solid background in the competition.
Last year the Warriors and the Bulldogs were the two new sides added to the competition.
The Warriors finished with a 4-7 record to narrowly miss the finals while the Bulldogs were just behind them on the ladder. When the two teams met in round six the Warriors prevailed 34-6.
