NRLW Team List: Mele Hufanga to make club debut for Warriors

NRLW Team List: Hufanga named to make club debut

Author: Richard Becht & photosport.nz
Timestamp: Tue 28 Jul 2026, 04:11 PM

Centre Mele Hufanga has been named to make her belated club debut in the One New Zealand Warriors’ NRLW Magic Round encounter with the Gold Coast Titans at Geohex Park in Wagga Wagga on Sunday (1.25pm kick-off local time; 3.25pm NZT).

The blockbusting 31-year-old’s start has been delayed over the opening four rounds by a hamstring injury picked up during the preseason campaign.

She is the last of the Warriors’ major offseason signings to make her first appearance for the club joining halfback Gayle Broughton and prop Annetta Nuuausala with whom she won premiership glory with at the Brisbane Broncos last season; and she’s also reunited with 2024 Broncos teammate Stacey Waaka.

Hufanga’s introduction results in a reshuffle in the backline with Waaka going back to the wing after being used in the centres in the back-to-back wins over North Queensland and Parramatta. Moving onto the extended bench is rookie winger Ocean Tierney who snared three tries in her first three appearances.

Broughton and Emmanita Paki are again in the halves while there are two changes to the listed starting front row with Maarire Puketapu, not used in the last two games, coming in at prop for Mya Hill-Moana and Patricia Mailepo at hooker with Jasmin Huriwai ruled out as she follows concussion protocols following a head knock on Sunday.

Round 5 - Round 5 - Sunday 2 Aug

3:25 am

Warriors

Titans

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Apii Nicholls

Fullback for Titans is number 1 Lily Patston
Winger for Warriors is number 2 Stacey Waaka

Winger for Titans is number 2 Phoenix-Raine Hippi
Centre for Warriors is number 3 Tysha Ikenasio

Centre for Titans is number 3 Jaime Chapman
Centre for Warriors is number 4 Mele Hufanga

Centre for Titans is number 4 Sarina Masaga
Winger for Warriors is number 5 Payton Takimoana

Winger for Titans is number 5 Indie Bostock
Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Emmanita Paki

Five-Eighth for Titans is number 6 Teagan Levi
Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Gayle Broughton

Halfback for Titans is number 7 Lauren Brown

Forwards

Prop for Warriors is number 8 Maarire Puketapu

Prop for Titans is number 8 Laikha Clarke
Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Patricia Maliepo

Hooker for Titans is number 9 Georgia Hale
Prop for Warriors is number 10 Metanoia Fetalaiga

Prop for Titans is number 10 Fanua Rimoni
2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Christabelle Onesemo-Tuilaepa

2nd Row for Titans is number 11 Evania Isa'ako
2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Shakira Baker

2nd Row for Titans is number 12 Ivana Lolesio
Lock for Warriors is number 13 Kaiyah Atai

Lock for Titans is number 13 Sienna Lofipo

Interchange

Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Capri Paekau

Interchange for Titans is number 14 Lily Kolc
Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Harata Butler

Interchange for Titans is number 15 Eta Sikahele
Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Annetta Nuuausala

Interchange for Titans is number 16 Natasha Penitani
Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Ivana Lauitiiti

Interchange for Titans is number 17 Takoda Thompson

Reserves

Replacement for Warriors is number 18 Ashlee Matapo

Replacement for Titans is number 18 Enah Desic
Reserve for Warriors is number 19 Natalia Hickling

Reserve for Titans is number 19 Aleksandra Tunufai
Reserve for Warriors is number 20 Ocean Tierney

Reserve for Titans is number 20 Jasmine Solia
Reserve for Warriors is number 21 Mya Hill-Moana

Reserve for Titans is number 21 Pauline Piliae-Rasabale
Reserve for Titans is number 22 Lailani Montgomery

Ashlee Matapo
Capri Paekau
Mele Hufanga
Natalia Hickling

Aleksandra Tunufai
Jasmine Solia
Lailani Montgomery
Pauline Piliae-Rasabale

Jasmin Huriwai

Match Officials

Referee: Belinda Sharpe
Senior Review Official: Peter Gough

Last updated: 7/28/2026 7:14:12 AM

Shakira Baker, rookie Christabelle Onesemo-Tuilaepa and Kaiyah Atai again start in the back with Baker and Atai – in her first game of the season – playing the full 70 minutes against the Eels.

While the Warriors secured their third win in four starts last Sunday, they struggled throughout the contest clawing their way back from a 4-12 deficit early in the second half before going ahead with a converted Tysha Ikenasio try and then holding on for the last 16 minutes.

The result lifted the Warriors to fourth on the ladder on six points level with Titans but behind on points for and against differential (plus 36 to Gold Coast’s plus 68). They’re two points back from the unbeaten Broncos and Roosters.

After starting with a 10-34 loss to the Roosters, the Titans have posted three big wins over the Bulldogs (36-10), the Eels (50-12) and the Cowboys (34-6).