NRL Team List: Ford named for week one finals clash
Front rower Jackson Ford is set to make his comeback on the bench for the One New Zealand Warriors’ NRL qualifying final against the Dolphins at Go Media Stadium on Saturday (6.05pm kick-off).
He missed the last 10 matches of the regular season after suffering a pectoral injury 20 minutes into the round 16 clash against North Queensland at One New Zealand Stadium in Christchurch on June 21.
He has been named in jersey #17 in a squad which also sees centre Leka Halasima, second rower Kurt Capewell and hooker Wayde Egan back on deck after missing last week’s final regular season match against the Sea Eagles.
While they return, winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak isn’t yet available after breaking his right clavicle in the round 25 game against South Sydney on August 22.
With Watene-Zelezniak still sidelined, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad will again line up on the right wing for what will be his 150th career appearance, his 84th for the Warriors.
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Taine TuaupikiFullback for Dolphins is number 1 Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
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Winger for Warriors is number 2 Charnze Nicoll-KlokstadWinger for Dolphins is number 2 Jamayne Isaako
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Centre for Warriors is number 3 Ali LeiatauaCentre for Dolphins is number 3 Jack Bostock
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Centre for Warriors is number 4 Leka HalasimaCentre for Dolphins is number 4 Herbie Farnworth
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Winger for Warriors is number 5 Alofiana Khan-PereiraWinger for Dolphins is number 5 Selwyn Cobbo
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Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Chanel Harris-TavitaFive-Eighth for Dolphins is number 6 Kodi Nikorima
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Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Te Maire MartinHalfback for Dolphins is number 7 Isaiya Katoa
Forwards
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Prop for Warriors is number 8 James Fisher-HarrisProp for Dolphins is number 8 Thomas Flegler
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Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde EganHooker for Dolphins is number 9 Jeremy Marshall-King
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Prop for Warriors is number 10 Mitchell BarnettProp for Dolphins is number 10 Tom Gilbert
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2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Kurt Capewell2nd Row for Dolphins is number 11 Max Plath
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2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Jacob Laban2nd Row for Dolphins is number 12 Kulikefu Finefeuiaki
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Lock for Warriors is number 13 Erin ClarkLock for Dolphins is number 13 Morgan Knowles
Interchange
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Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Sam HealeyInterchange for Dolphins is number 14 Kurt Donoghoe
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Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Tanner Stowers-SmithInterchange for Dolphins is number 15 Ray Stone
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Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Demitric VaimaugaInterchange for Dolphins is number 16 Francis Molo
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Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Jackson FordInterchange for Dolphins is number 17 Connelly Lemuelu
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Interchange for Warriors is number 18 Eddie Ieremia-ToeavaInterchange for Dolphins is number 18 Felise Kaufusi
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Interchange for Warriors is number 20 Adam PompeyInterchange for Dolphins is number 19 Bradley Schneider
Reserves
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Reserve for Warriors is number 21 Jett ClearyReserve for Dolphins is number 20 Jake Averillo
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Reserve for Warriors is number 22 Luke LauliliiReserve for Dolphins is number 21 Brian Pouniu
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Reserve for Warriors is number 23 Makaia TafuaReserve for Dolphins is number 22 Tevita Naufahu
Warriors Ins
- Jackson Ford
- Kurt Capewell
- Leka Halasima
- Luke Laulilii
- Wayde Egan
Dolphins Ins
- Kodi Nikorima
- Kulikefu Finefeuiaki
- Selwyn Cobbo
Warriors Outs
- Jye Linnane
- Morgan Gannon
Dolphins Ins
Match Officials
- Referee: Adam Gee
- Touch Judge: Matt Noyen
- Senior Review Official: Chris Butler
Last updated:
His double in last Saturday’s 31-30 win over the Sea Eagles lifted his try tally to 12 in 14 appearances so far this year, the best haul of his nine-season first-grade career (seven of those tries have come in four starts on the wing).
The Warriors are entering their 11th finals campaign and their third in four seasons since Andrew Webster took over as head coach in 2023.
This will be their 23rd finals match and their sixth home play-off following previous games against Canberra in 2002 (won 36-20), Parramatta in 2007 (lost 10-12), the Roosters in 2008 (won 30-13), Newcastle in 2023 (won 40-10) and Penrith in 2025 (lost 8-24).
The One New Zealand Warriors finished with club record regular season records for most wins (18), fewest defeats (6) and most points scored (728), topping 17 wins, seven losses and 688 points achieved in 2002.
The Warriors and Dolphins met twice this year with only two points separating the sides each time, the Warriors prevailing 20-18 in round eight on Anzac Day at Hnry Stadium in Wellington before the Dolphins stole a 26-24 victory with a late try in the round 17 meeting at Suncorp Stadium.
Throughout their rivalry, the clubs have shared results each season.
In 2023 the Warriors won 30-8 at Go Media Stadium and lost 10-34 at Suncorp Stadium while in 2024 they prevailed 24-20 at home and lost 32-34 in Brisbane. Last year they won 16-12 at Suncorp Stadium then lost 18-20 in Auckland.
While Nicoll-Klokstad marks his 150-game milestone, Halasima, still only 20, becomes the second of the club’s young guns to make 50 appearances for the Warriors.
Loose forward Erin Clark will stretch his run of consecutive appearances for the club to 50 since returning home last season and 74 all up counting the 24 unbroken games he played for thew Titans in 2024; the last time he missed a game was at the end of the 2023 season.
