NRL Confirmed Lineup: DWZ and Halasima set to start
Winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and centre Leka Halasima have been confirmed in the One New Zealand Warriors’ starting lineup for today’s NRL elimination semi-final against the Newcastle Knights at Eden Park (6.05pm kick-off).
Less than four weeks after breaking his right clavicle (collarbone), the 31-year-old comes in on the right wing for Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad with Halasima in for Adam Pompey on the left edge.
That sees Nicoll-Klokstad switched to the left wing replacing Alofi’ana Khan-Pereira who goes to the six-man bench along with Pompey, Sam Healey, Tanner Stowers Smith, Demitric Vaimauga and Eddie Ieremia-Toeava. Morgan Gannon is the player omitted.
Confirmation of his selection means Watene-Zelezniak will today make his 250th NRL milestone appearance in a 13-season career which has spanned time with the Panthers, Bulldogs and Warriors.
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Taine TuaupikiFullback for Knights is number 1 Kalyn Ponga
-
Winger for Warriors is number 2 Charnze Nicoll-KlokstadWinger for Knights is number 2 Dominic Young
-
Centre for Warriors is number 3 Ali LeiatauaCentre for Knights is number 3 Dane Gagai
-
Centre for Warriors is number 22 Leka HalasimaCentre for Knights is number 4 Bradman Best
-
Winger for Warriors is number 23 Dallin Watene-ZelezniakWinger for Knights is number 5 Greg Marzhew
-
Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Chanel Harris-TavitaFive-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Fletcher Sharpe
-
Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Te Maire MartinHalfback for Knights is number 7 Sandon Smith
Forwards
-
Prop for Warriors is number 8 James Fisher-HarrisProp for Knights is number 8 Tyson Frizell
-
Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde EganHooker for Knights is number 9 Phoenix Crossland
-
Prop for Warriors is number 10 Mitchell BarnettProp for Knights is number 10 Cody Hopwood
-
2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Kurt Capewell2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Jermaine McEwen
-
2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Jacob Laban2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Francis Manuleleua
-
Lock for Warriors is number 13 Erin ClarkLock for Knights is number 13 Mat Croker
Interchange
-
Interchange for Warriors is number 4 Adam PompeyInterchange for Knights is number 14 Harrison Graham
-
Interchange for Warriors is number 5 Alofiana Khan-PereiraInterchange for Knights is number 15 Lachlan Crouch
-
Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Sam HealeyInterchange for Knights is number 16 Pasami Saulo
-
Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Tanner Stowers-SmithInterchange for Knights is number 17 Thomas Cant
-
Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Demitric VaimaugaInterchange for Knights is number 18 Fletcher Hunt
-
Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Eddie Ieremia-ToeavaInterchange for Knights is number 22 Dylan Lucas
Warriors Ins
- Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
- Leka Halasima
Knights Ins
- Dylan Lucas
Warriors Outs
- Jackson Ford
- Jett Cleary
Knights Ins
- Toby Winter
Match Officials
- Referee: Ashley Klein
- Touch Judge: Phil Henderson
- Touch Judge: Tyson Brough
- Senior Review Official: Chris Butler
Last updated:
Halasima will bring up his 50-game milestone for the club.
Ruled out is prop Jackson Ford, who suffered an ankle injury in his comeback after being sidelined since June with a pectoral tear. In his absence Eddie Ieremia-Toeava is named as his replacement in the #17 jersey.
The rest of the side selected is the same as the one which started against the Dolphins.
The Warriors’ seventh home final is the first they have played away from Go Media Stadium.
It will be their second play-off against the Knights. In the first in 2023 the Warriors came back from a week one finals loss to Penrith to beat Newcastle 40-10 at Go Media Stadium.
