NRL Team Update: Martin ruled out, Metcalf to start
In-form halfback Te Maire Martin is out with Luke Metcalf replacing him for the One New Zealand Warriors’ NRL Indigenous Round encounter with table-topping Penrith at Go Media Stadium tomorrow night (8.00pm kick-off; match day partner: Steven Adams Pathways Trust).
Martin picked up a hamstring strain at training yesterday after being named to make his 10th straight start at halfback after coming on as replacement for Tanah Boyd early in the club’s 42-12 Magic Round win over the Brisbane Broncos in May.
He was in superb touch on Saturday guiding the Warriors to an impressive 42-6 win over Titans, his two tries giving him six in his 10 appearances so far.
His injury sees Metcalf making just his third first-grade start of the season and his first at halfback in a campaign initially delayed by his return from knee surgery and then further disrupted by a hamstring injury.
In his only two appearances he was at stand off against the Wests Tigers and Cronulla Sutherland. He has since been on the NRL side’s six-man bench six times without being required.
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Charnze Nicoll-KlokstadFullback for Panthers is number 1 Jaxen Edgar
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Winger for Warriors is number 2 Dallin Watene-ZelezniakWinger for Panthers is number 2 Thomas Jenkins
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Centre for Warriors is number 3 Ali LeiatauaCentre for Panthers is number 3 Paul Alamoti
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Centre for Warriors is number 4 Leka HalasimaCentre for Panthers is number 4 Izack Tago
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Winger for Warriors is number 5 Alofiana Khan-PereiraWinger for Panthers is number 5 Brian To'o
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Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Chanel Harris-TavitaFive-Eighth for Panthers is number 19 Blaize Talagi
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Halfback for Warriors is number 18 Luke MetcalfHalfback for Panthers is number 7 Nathan Cleary
Forwards
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Prop for Warriors is number 8 James Fisher-HarrisProp for Panthers is number 8 Moses Leota
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Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde EganHooker for Panthers is number 9 Freddy Lussick
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Prop for Warriors is number 10 Mitchell BarnettProp for Panthers is number 10 Lindsay Smith
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2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Kurt Capewell2nd Row for Panthers is number 11 Isaiah Papali'i
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2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Jacob Laban2nd Row for Panthers is number 12 Liam Martin
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Lock for Warriors is number 13 Erin ClarkLock for Panthers is number 13 Isaah Yeo
Interchange
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Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Sam HealeyInterchange for Panthers is number 14 Billy Scott
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Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Tanner Stowers-SmithInterchange for Panthers is number 15 Scott Sorensen
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Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Morgan GannonInterchange for Panthers is number 16 Liam Henry
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Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Eddie Ieremia-ToeavaInterchange for Panthers is number 17 Billy Phillips
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Interchange for Warriors is number 20 Taine TuaupikiInterchange for Panthers is number 18 Jack Cole
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Interchange for Warriors is number 23 Adam PompeyInterchange for Panthers is number 21 Luron Patea
Reserves
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Reserve for Warriors is number 21 Riley PriceReserve for Panthers is number 20 Jesse McLean
Warriors Ins
- Morgan Gannon
- Taine Tuaupiki
Panthers Ins
- Blaize Talagi
- Jesse McLean
- Luron Patea
Warriors Outs
- Te Maire Martin
Panthers Ins
- Casey McLean
- Jack Cogger
Match Officials
- Referee: Gerard Sutton
- Touch Judge: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
- Touch Judge: Matt Noyen
- Senior Review Official: Ashley Klein
Last updated:
The other player to drop out of the One New Zealand Warriors’ extended squad at the 24-hour deadline is rookie hooker Makaia Tafua.
Returning this week from a one-week injury lay-off is fullback Taine Tuaupiki but he’s on the bench with replacement Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad retaining the fullback’s job following an outstanding performance against Gold Coast.
Nicoll-Klokstad ran a game-high 253 metres including 86 post-contact metres, a line break, five tackle breaks and a number of key defensive plays.
Also named again as a starting centre is Leka Halasima, who was a late replacement in the centres for veteran Adam Pompey. The regular back rower was in electric touch with a try, 147 metres from 15 runs, 60 post-contact metres, a line break, a line break assist, a try assist and five tackle breaks.
The highly-anticipated return home for a match-up between the top-placed Panthers and the third-placed Warriors provides a milestone moment for experienced campaigner Kurt Capewell who will make his 50th appearance for the club. He again lines up in the second row with Jacob Laban in an unchanged pack.
The six-man bench includes second rower Morgan Gannon who’s in line to make his second appearance of the season. The other five named are hooker Sam Healey, middle forwards Tanner Stowers-Smith and Eddie Ieremia-Toeava, Tuaupiki and Adam Pompey. Riley Price is listed as 20th man.
Loose forward Erin Clark and hooker Wayde Egan extend their run of being the only players to appear in each of the Warriors’ games this season when they turn out for the 20th time.
They meet again after producing one of the season’s most exceptional contests in round 13 when the Panthers came back to win 20-18.
