Andrew Webster and Erin Clark both mark key milestone when the One New Zealand Warriors host the Sea Eagles in their final NRL regular season encounter at Go Media Stadium today (5.00pm kick-off).
Webster brings up his 100th game as the club's head coach, only the second to do so after Ivan Cleary who was in charge 154 games from 2006-2011.
And Clark, after making a solitary appearance for the Warriors in 2017, reaches the 50-game mark for the club today.
In 99 games so far (95 regular season, four finals), Webster's winning per centage of 57.58 (57 wins, a draw, 41 losses) is the best of any Warriors coach. He has guided the club to the finals for the third time in four seasons and a top two finish for only the second time in history.
The club's first minor premiership since 2002 is a possibility depending on the outcome of today's match against Manly and second-placed Penrith's matchs against Wests Tigers tomorrow.
A home final is already locked in for week one of the play-offs but there will no easing up from the Warriors as they look to fine tune combinations ahead of the big end-of-season matches.
The Sea Eagles dropped out of finals contention last weekend but any team boasting Tom Trbojevic, Haumole Olakau'atu and Jamal Fogarty has to be respected.
Having piled on 44 points in consecutive wins over the Dragons and Knights, the boys from Brookie have shown just how lethal they can be once they click into gear.
Match: Warriors v Sea Eagles
Round 27 -
home Team
Warriors
1st Position
away Team
Sea Eagles
9th Position
Venue: Go Media Stadium, Auckland
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
Team news
One New Zealand Warriors: Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad is back from suspension and key playmakers Te Maire Martin and Chanel Harris-Tavita also return from hamstring injuries. CNK will slot into the centres with Leka Halasima coming out of the side on Friday due to an ankle injury. That brings Taine Tuaupiki in at fullback and Jett Cleary onto the bench. Hooker Wayde Egan and back-rower Kurt Capewell will be rested so Sam Healey wears the #9 jersey and Eddie Ieremia-Toeava starts. "Wayde deserves to rest, he has played every game this year, and he has bounced well out of byes this year so I could imagine he will bounce well out of it," coach Andrew Webster said on Thursday.
Sea Eagles: No changes for Kieran Foran as the Sea Eagles roll out the same starting side that got the job done against the Dragons. Last week's debutant Onitoni Large retains his spot on the interchange. Nic Lenaz and Hugo Hart came out of the side in Friday's 24-hour update with Jackson Shereb added to the interchange. The Sea Eagles are chasing their first win in Auckland since Round 25, 2017 when Tom and Jake Trbojevic both scored tries and Daly Cherry-Evans nailed two field goals in a 22-21 win.
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Warriors is number 18 Taine TuaupikiFullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Tom Trbojevic
-
Winger for Warriors is number 2 Adam PompeyWinger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Jason Saab
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Centre for Warriors is number 1 Charnze Nicoll-KlokstadCentre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Josh Feledy
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Centre for Warriors is number 3 Ali LeiatauaCentre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Reuben Garrick
-
Winger for Warriors is number 5 Alofiana Khan-PereiraWinger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Lehi Hopoate
-
Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Chanel Harris-TavitaFive-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Clayton Faulalo
-
Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Te Maire MartinHalfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Jamal Fogarty
Forwards
-
Prop for Warriors is number 8 James Fisher-HarrisProp for Sea Eagles is number 8 Simione Laiafi
-
Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Sam HealeyHooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Brandon Wakeham
-
Prop for Warriors is number 10 Mitchell BarnettProp for Sea Eagles is number 10 Nathan Brown
-
2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Eddie Ieremia-Toeava2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Haumole Olakau'atu
-
2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Jacob Laban2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Ben Trbojevic
-
Lock for Warriors is number 13 Erin ClarkLock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Jake Trbojevic
Interchange
-
Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Makaia TafuaInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Jake Simpkin
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Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Tanner Stowers-SmithInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Corey Waddell
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Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Demitric VaimaugaInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 17 Caleb Navale
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Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Morgan GannonInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 18 Onitoni Large
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Interchange for Warriors is number 20 Kayliss FatialofaInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 19 Fletcher Baker
-
Interchange for Warriors is number 21 Jett ClearyInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 22 Jackson Shereb
Reserves
-
Reserve for Warriors is number 22 Jye LinnaneReserve for Sea Eagles is number 20 Blake Wilson
Warriors Ins
- Chanel Harris-Tavita
- Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
- Jye Linnane
- Kayliss Fatialofa
- Morgan Gannon
- Te Maire Martin
Sea Eagles Ins
- Blake Wilson
- Jackson Shereb
Warriors Outs
- Kurt Capewell
- Leka Halasima
- Luke Hanson
- Luke Laulilii
- Wayde Egan
Sea Eagles Ins
- Nicholas Lenaz
Match Officials
- Referee: Gerard Sutton
- Touch Judge: Drew Oultram
- Touch Judge: Jon Stone
- Senior Review Official: Grant Atkins
Last updated:
Stat attack
- The Warriors have scored 40 points or more in four of their last five games.
- The Sea Eagles have not won in Auckland since 2017.
- Warriors second-rower Jacob Laban has scored five tries in his last five games.
- Sea Eagles centre Reuben Garrick requires two tries for a century of NRL tries.
- Warriors coach Andrew Webster will reach 100 games in the club’s head coaching role.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
