NRL Team List: Vaimauga returns to face Broncos
Impact front rower Demitric Vaimauga is back on the interchange for the One New Zealand Warriors’ round 24 NRL clash against the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Saturday (5.35pm kick-off local time; 7.35pm NZT).
After being sidelined with a rib injury for the last two matches against the Titans and the Panthers, the 25-year-old Vaimauga slots back on the bench alongside fellow young guns Tanner Stowers-Smith and Eddie Ieremia-Toeava.
Vaimauga, who plays his 49th game this week, replaces Englishman Morgan Gannon who made his second NRL appearance last week.
Outside that change the rest of the six-man bench and the starting lineup used against the Panthers remain unchanged.
That includes halfback Luke Metcalf who produced an outstanding display coming in as a late replacement after incumbent Te Maire Martin was ruled out with a hamstring injury; he’s expected to miss the next two games against Brisbane and South Sydney.
In his first start at halfback in 405 days, Metcalf scored two tries and kicked four goals from five attempts as well as producing a line break, a line break assist, a try assist, four tackle breaks and making 519 metres from 18 kicks.
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Broncos is number 1 Reece WalshFullback for Warriors is number 1 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
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Winger for Broncos is number 2 Josiah KarapaniWinger for Warriors is number 2 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
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Centre for Broncos is number 3 Kotoni StaggsCentre for Warriors is number 3 Ali Leiataua
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Centre for Broncos is number 4 Deine MarinerCentre for Warriors is number 4 Leka Halasima
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Winger for Broncos is number 5 Grant AndersonWinger for Warriors is number 5 Alofiana Khan-Pereira
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Five-Eighth for Broncos is number 6 Ezra MamFive-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Chanel Harris-Tavita
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Halfback for Broncos is number 7 Thomas DuffyHalfback for Warriors is number 7 Luke Metcalf
Forwards
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Prop for Broncos is number 8 Xavier WillisonProp for Warriors is number 8 James Fisher-Harris
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Hooker for Broncos is number 9 Billy WaltersHooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde Egan
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Prop for Broncos is number 10 Payne HaasProp for Warriors is number 10 Mitchell Barnett
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2nd Row for Broncos is number 11 Jaiyden Hunt2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Kurt Capewell
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2nd Row for Broncos is number 12 Jordan Riki2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Jacob Laban
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Lock for Broncos is number 13 Patrick CarriganLock for Warriors is number 13 Erin Clark
Interchange
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Interchange for Broncos is number 14 Ben HuntInterchange for Warriors is number 14 Sam Healey
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Interchange for Broncos is number 15 Aublix TawhaInterchange for Warriors is number 15 Tanner Stowers-Smith
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Interchange for Broncos is number 16 Jack GosiewskiInterchange for Warriors is number 16 Demitric Vaimauga
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Interchange for Broncos is number 17 Va'a SemuInterchange for Warriors is number 17 Eddie Ieremia-Toeava
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Interchange for Broncos is number 18 Blake MozerInterchange for Warriors is number 18 Taine Tuaupiki
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Interchange for Broncos is number 19 Ben TaltyInterchange for Warriors is number 20 Adam Pompey
Reserves
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Reserve for Broncos is number 20 Gehamat ShibasakiReserve for Warriors is number 21 Morgan Gannon
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Reserve for Broncos is number 21 Jesse ArtharsReserve for Warriors is number 22 Luke Hanson
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Reserve for Broncos is number 22 Hayze PerhamReserve for Warriors is number 23 Makaia Tafua
Broncos Ins
- Aublix Tawha
- Hayze Perham
- Jesse Arthars
Warriors Ins
- Demitric Vaimauga
- Luke Hanson
- Makaia Tafua
Broncos Outs
Warriors Ins
Match Officials
- Referee: Wyatt Raymond
- Senior Review Official: Chris Butler
Last updated:
The Warriors savoured only their second victory over Penrith since 2019 and their first at Go Media Stadium since 2018.
With the Sydney Roosters beating the Bulldogs, the top of the table has tightened up with Penrith and the Roosters level on 36 points right behind them on 34 with four games to come in the regular season against the Broncos and Rabbitohs both away followed by back-to-back home games against the Knights and Sea Eagles.
The Warriors face a 2025 premiership-winning Broncos side which has slumped to 16th on the ladder losing eight of their nine games since the Warriors’ 42-12 win over Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium.
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.
