NRLW Team List: Waaka for club debut against Raiders
Black Ferns rugby union superstar Stacey Waaka has been named to make her One New Zealand Warriors NRLW debut in Sunday’s round two encounter with the Raiders at GIO Stadium in Canberra (12.00pm noon kick-off local time; 2.00pm NZT).
The 30-year-old, who made six appearances for the Broncos in 2024, comes into the side on the wing replacing prolific try scorer Payton Takimoana who suffered a shoulder injury in the club’s impressive season-opening 32-10 win over the Bulldogs in Hamilton on Sunday.
Waaka will become NRLW Warrior #80 after Gayle Broughton, Mya Hill-Moana, Jay Huriwai and Christabelle Onesemo-Tuilaepa debuted for the club on Sunday (Huriwai and Onesemo-Tuilaepa making their maiden NRLW appearances as well).
The Warriors have also lost middle forward Laishon Albert-Jones with a calf injury while prop Mya Hill-Moana has been hit with a one-match suspension.
Tonga international Metanoia Fetalaiga moves into the starting front row for Hill-Moana while Ivana Lauitiiti is added to the bench after serving a suspension last week dating back to the Kiwi Ferns’ Pacific Championships final loss to the Jillaroos last November.
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Raiders is number 1 Sheridan GallagherFullback for Warriors is number 1 Apii Nicholls
-
Winger for Raiders is number 2 Elise SimpsonWinger for Warriors is number 2 Stacey Waaka
-
Centre for Raiders is number 3 Leianne TufugaCentre for Warriors is number 3 Tysha Ikenasio
-
Centre for Raiders is number 4 Bobbi LawCentre for Warriors is number 4 Emmanita Paki
-
Winger for Raiders is number 5 Mackenzie WikiWinger for Warriors is number 5 Lavinia Tauhalaliku
-
Five-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Krystal BlackwellFive-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Gayle Broughton
-
Halfback for Raiders is number 7 Zahara TemaraHalfback for Warriors is number 7 Patricia Maliepo
Forwards
-
Prop for Raiders is number 8 Chloe SaundersProp for Warriors is number 8 Annetta Nuuausala
-
Hooker for Raiders is number 9 Chanté TemaraHooker for Warriors is number 9 Capri Paekau
-
Prop for Raiders is number 10 Sophie HolymanProp for Warriors is number 10 Metanoia Fetalaiga
-
2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 Jordyn Preston2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Maarire Puketapu
-
2nd Row for Raiders is number 12 Charlotte Basham2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Shakira Baker
-
Lock for Raiders is number 13 Simaima TaufaLock for Warriors is number 13 Ashlee Matapo
Interchange
-
Interchange for Raiders is number 14 Emma BarnesInterchange for Warriors is number 14 Jasmin Huriwai
-
Interchange for Raiders is number 15 Grace KempInterchange for Warriors is number 15 Harata Butler
-
Interchange for Raiders is number 16 Hollie-Mae DoddInterchange for Warriors is number 16 Ivana Lauitiiti
-
Interchange for Raiders is number 17 Grace KukutaiInterchange for Warriors is number 17 Christabelle Onesemo
Reserves
-
Replacement for Raiders is number 18 Lili BoyleReplacement for Warriors is number 18 Natalia Hickling
-
Reserve for Raiders is number 19 Relna Wuruki-HoseaReserve for Warriors is number 19 Felila Kia
-
Reserve for Raiders is number 20 Madison BartlettReserve for Warriors is number 20 Ocean Tierney
-
Reserve for Raiders is number 21 Sereana Naitokatoka
-
Reserve for Raiders is number 22 Ellie Brander
Raiders Ins
- Ellie Brander
- Madison Bartlett
- Relna Wuruki-Hosea
- Sereana Naitokatoka
Warriors Ins
- Felila Kia
- Ivana Lauitiiti
- Natalia Hickling
- Ocean Tierney
- Stacey Waaka
Raiders Outs
Warriors Ins
- Laishon Albert-Jones
- Mya Hill-Moana
- Payton Takimoana
Match Officials
- Senior Review Official: Adam Gee
Last updated:
New signing Mele Hufanga (hamstring) remains on the injured list along with Matekino Gray, Kaiyah Atai, Anastasia Sekene and Tyra Wetere plus Albert-Jones and Takimoana.
The One New Zealand Warriors travel to Canberra on Friday ahead of their first visit to the Australian national capital. When the two sides met in round seven in Hamilton last year, the Raiders prevailed 20-16.
