NRL Team List: Martin returns, Laulilii to debut
Halfback Te Maire Martin comes back from injury with winger Luke Laulilii called up to make his club debut in the One New Zealand Warriors’ sold-out round 26 NRL clash against the Newcastle Knights at Go Media Stadium on Sunday (4.00pm kick-off).
Martin returns in the #7 jersey after missing the last three matches against Penrith, Brisbane and South Sydney with a hamstring injury.
He’s reunited in the halves with his regular partner Chanel Harris-Tavita who filled in at halfback for 60 minutes against the Broncos and then started at #7 for the first time since 2021 in Saturday night’s 45-26 win over the Rabbitohs.
Brought in to replace the injured Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (broken clavicle) on the right wing is Laulilii, who will become the Warriors’ 300th NRL player on Sunday.
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Taine TuaupikiFullback for Knights is number 1 Kalyn Ponga
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Winger for Warriors is number 2 Luke LauliliiWinger for Knights is number 2 Fletcher Hunt
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Centre for Warriors is number 3 Ali LeiatauaCentre for Knights is number 3 Dane Gagai
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Centre for Warriors is number 4 Leka HalasimaCentre for Knights is number 4 Bradman Best
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Winger for Warriors is number 5 Alofiana Khan-PereiraWinger for Knights is number 5 Greg Marzhew
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Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Chanel Harris-TavitaFive-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Fletcher Sharpe
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Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Te Maire MartinHalfback for Knights is number 7 Sandon Smith
Forwards
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Prop for Warriors is number 8 James Fisher-HarrisProp for Knights is number 8 Jacob Saifiti
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Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde EganHooker for Knights is number 9 Harrison Graham
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Prop for Warriors is number 10 Mitchell BarnettProp for Knights is number 10 Trey Mooney
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2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Kurt Capewell2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Jermaine McEwen
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2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Jacob Laban2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Francis Manuleleua
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Lock for Warriors is number 13 Erin ClarkLock for Knights is number 13 Mat Croker
Interchange
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Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Sam HealeyInterchange for Knights is number 14 Thomas Cant
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Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Tanner Stowers-SmithInterchange for Knights is number 15 Cody Hopwood
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Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Demitric VaimaugaInterchange for Knights is number 16 Lachlan Crouch
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Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Eddie Ieremia-ToeavaInterchange for Knights is number 17 Pasami Saulo
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Interchange for Warriors is number 18 Adam PompeyInterchange for Knights is number 18 Toby Winter
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Interchange for Warriors is number 20 Morgan GannonInterchange for Knights is number 19 Diesel Hagan
Reserves
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Reserve for Warriors is number 21 Makaia TafuaReserve for Knights is number 20 Kyle McCarthy
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Reserve for Warriors is number 22 Luke HansonReserve for Knights is number 21 Elijah Salesa-Leaumoana
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Reserve for Warriors is number 23 Jett ClearyReserve for Knights is number 22 Brodie Jones
Warriors Ins
- Luke Laulilii
- Makaia Tafua
- Morgan Gannon
- Te Maire Martin
Knights Ins
- Brodie Jones
- Dane Gagai
- Diesel Hagan
- Francis Manuleleua
- Kyle McCarthy
- Pasami Saulo
Warriors Outs
- Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
Knights Ins
- Dominic Young
- Phoenix Crossland
- Tyson Frizell
Match Officials
- Referee: Adam Gee
- Touch Judge: Phil Henderson
- Senior Review Official: Chris Butler
Last updated:
Signed from Wests Tigers in June for the rest of the season, the Perth Bears-bound 20-year-old scored 10 tries in 17 NRL appearances for his former club.
In six New South Wales Cup outings since joining the Warriors. he has averaged 180 metres a game, scored two tries and made 22 tackle breaks.
As well as Martin, regular right edge centre Ali Leiataua is back after missing the South Sydney encounter through illness.
The Warriors will field the same starting forward pack for the seventh match on end with a front row of James Fisher-Harris, Wayde Egan and Mitchell Barnett, Kurt Capewell and Jacob Laban in the second round and Erin Clark at loose forward. Egan and Clark will continue their run of playing every game of the season, this being their 23rd on end.
On the bench Demitric Vaimauga will achieve a significant milestone, his 50th NRL match for the club.
The Warriors go into the contest leading the competition, one of three teams on 38 points but narrowly ahead of second-placed Penrith on points for and against.
