NRLW Match Preview: Chasing instant turnaround
Buoyed by playing at home for the first time this season, the One New Zealand Warriors are after a huge improvement when they face North Queensland in the Harvey Norman Women in League Round at Go Media Stadium today.
After winning well in round one, they slumped to a heavy loss in Canberra last weekend while the Cowboys come to Auckland after opening the season with two straight losses.
The Warriors showed in round one that they can be one of the most dangerous attacking teams so the Cowboys will need to tighten their defence.
The Cowboys' outside backs have shown they can trouble opposition defences, but they will need more support through the middle against a Warriors pack that enjoys playing direct and generating quick play-the-balls.
Match: Warriors v Cowboys
Round 3 -
home Team
Warriors
5th Position
away Team
Cowboys
12th Position
Venue: Go Media Stadium, Auckland
Team news
One New Zealand Warriors: Coach Ron Griffiths has made a number of changes following his side's loss to the Raiders, shuffling both the forwards and the backs. Lavinia Tauhalaliku (unavailable for the Canberra trip) returns on the wing, shifting Stacey Waaka into the the centres. Shakira Baker moves from the centres to her preferred role in the second row. Jay Huriwai has been promoted from the bench to start at hooker, with Capri Paekau moving to the bench. Mya Hill-Moana returns from her suspension via the bench, with last week's debutante Natalia Hickling slotting back into the reserves. A further change on Friday with Metanoia Fetalaiga moving into the starting side at prop in No18 with Ashlee Matapo sliding to lock, Christabelle Onesemo to second row and Maarire Puketapu to the reserves.
Cowboys: Sian Williams returns to the wing after sitting out round two under concussion protocols, shifting last week's debutante Haylee Hifo to the replacement player role. Other changes see PNG Orchids and Indigenous All Stars representative Essay Banu named to start in place of Tayla Curtis. After being named on the extended bench last week, Ashley Marsters has been named on the interchange and is in line to make her NRLW debut. No changes in Friday's 24-hour update.
Match: Warriors v Cowboys
Round 3 -
home Team
Warriors
away Team
Cowboys
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Apii NichollsFullback for Cowboys is number 1 Margot Vella
-
Winger for Warriors is number 2 Lavinia TauhalalikuWinger for Cowboys is number 2 Francesca Goldthorp
-
Centre for Warriors is number 3 Tysha IkenasioCentre for Cowboys is number 4 Jasmine Peters
-
Centre for Warriors is number 4 Stacey WaakaCentre for Cowboys is number 18 Haylee Hifo
-
Winger for Warriors is number 5 Ocean TierneyWinger for Cowboys is number 5 Sian Williams
-
Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Emmanita PakiFive-Eighth for Cowboys is number 6 Lydia Turua-Quedley
-
Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Patricia MaliepoHalfback for Cowboys is number 7 Rosie Kelly
Forwards
-
Prop for Warriors is number 8 Annetta NuuausalaProp for Cowboys is number 8 Essay Banu
-
Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Jasmin HuriwaiHooker for Cowboys is number 9 Emma Manzelmann
-
Prop for Warriors is number 18 Metanoia FetalaigaProp for Cowboys is number 10 Makenzie Weale
-
2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Shakira Baker2nd Row for Cowboys is number 11 Tallisha Harden
-
2nd Row for Warriors is number 13 Christabelle Onesemo2nd Row for Cowboys is number 12 Hailee-Jay Ormond-Maunsell
-
Lock for Warriors is number 16 Mya Hill-MoanaLock for Cowboys is number 13 Bree Chester
Interchange
-
Interchange for Warriors is number 10 Ashlee MatapoInterchange for Cowboys is number 14 Tallara Bamblett
-
Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Capri PaekauInterchange for Cowboys is number 15 Tayla Curtis
-
Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Harata ButlerInterchange for Cowboys is number 16 Ashley Marsters
-
Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Ivana LauitiitiInterchange for Cowboys is number 17 Lily Dick
Reserves
-
Replacement for Warriors is number 11 Maarire PuketapuReplacement for Cowboys is number 21 Charlize Lloyd-Phillips
Match Officials
- Referee: Belinda Sharpe
- Senior Review Official: Adam Gee
Last updated:
Stat attack
- The Warriors have won only two of seven games played in New Zealand.
- The Cowboys will play in New Zealand for the first time.
- Warriors winger Stacey Waaka has scored six tries in seven NRLW appearances.
- Cowboys second rower Tallisha Harden will make her 50th NRLW appearance.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
