NRLW Team Update: Matapo brought onto interchange
A change made on the bench 24 hours ahead of the One New Zealand Warriors’ Magic Round clash against Gold Coast at Geohex Park in Wagga Wagga tomorrow (1.25pm kick-off local time; 3.25pm NZT).
Moving onto the interchange after being selected as the 18th player is middle forward Ashlee Matapo.
The 19-year-old played in the opening three rounds of the season but missed last Sunday’s tough win over Parramatta: she replaces veteran Annetta Nuausala.
There are no other changes at the 24-hour mark with centre Mele Hufanga confirmed to make her belated club debut.
The blockbusting 31-year-old’s introduction has been delayed over the opening four rounds by a hamstring injury picked up during the preseason campaign.
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Apii NichollsFullback for Titans is number 1 Lily Patston
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Winger for Warriors is number 2 Stacey WaakaWinger for Titans is number 2 Phoenix-Raine Hippi
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Centre for Warriors is number 3 Tysha IkenasioCentre for Titans is number 3 Jaime Chapman
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Centre for Warriors is number 4 Mele HufangaCentre for Titans is number 4 Sarina Masaga
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Winger for Warriors is number 5 Payton TakimoanaWinger for Titans is number 5 Indie Bostock
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Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Emmanita PakiFive-Eighth for Titans is number 6 Teagan Levi
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Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Gayle BroughtonHalfback for Titans is number 7 Lauren Brown
Forwards
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Prop for Warriors is number 8 Maarire PuketapuProp for Titans is number 8 Laikha Clarke
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Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Patricia MaliepoHooker for Titans is number 9 Georgia Hale
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Prop for Warriors is number 10 Metanoia FetalaigaProp for Titans is number 10 Fanua Rimoni
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2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Christabelle Onesemo-Tuilaepa2nd Row for Titans is number 11 Evania Isa'ako
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2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Shakira Baker2nd Row for Titans is number 12 Ivana Lolesio
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Lock for Warriors is number 13 Kaiyah AtaiLock for Titans is number 13 Sienna Lofipo
Interchange
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Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Capri PaekauInterchange for Titans is number 15 Eta Sikahele
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Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Harata ButlerInterchange for Titans is number 16 Natasha Penitani
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Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Ivana LauitiitiInterchange for Titans is number 17 Takoda Thompson
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Interchange for Warriors is number 18 Ashlee MatapoInterchange for Titans is number 18 Enah Desic
Reserves
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Replacement for Warriors is number 19 Natalia HicklingReplacement for Titans is number 19 Aleksandra Tunufai
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Reserve for Titans is number 21 Pauline Piliae-Rasabale
Warriors Ins
- Ashlee Matapo
- Capri Paekau
- Mele Hufanga
- Natalia Hickling
Titans Ins
- Aleksandra Tunufai
- Pauline Piliae-Rasabale
Warriors Outs
- Annetta Nuuausala
- Jasmin Huriwai
- Mya Hill-Moana
- Ocean Tierney
Titans Ins
- Lily Kolc
Match Officials
- Referee: Belinda Sharpe
- Senior Review Official: Peter Gough
Last updated:
She is the last of the Warriors’ major offseason signings to make her first appearance for the club joining halfback Gayle Broughton and Nuuausala (unavailable this week) with whom she won premiership glory with at the Brisbane Broncos last season; tomorrow she’ll also be 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.
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.
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 14-12 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 the 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).
