Front rower Demitric Vaimauga has been ruled out of the One New Zealand Warriors’ round 22 NRL clash against the Dolphins at Go Media Stadium tomorrow night (8.00pm kick-off; match day sponsor: Gatorade).

The 21-year-old Vaimauga, who had featured in all 18 games this year, was named to replace captain James Fisher-Harris (calf) but has been withdrawn with a knee injury.

That sees rookie and fellow 21-year-old Tanner Stowers-Smith elevated from the bench for his seventh NRL appearance while veteran front rower Bunty Afoa has been brought onto the interchange.

Apart from Vaimauga, the other two players omitted from the extended squad at the 24-hour deadline are back rower Kalani Going and hooker Makaia Tafua.

Retained in the game day 19 are second rower Eddie Ieremia-Toeava and winger Edward Kosi.

As well as Vaimauga and Fisher-Harris, the One New Zealand Warriors are also without hooker Wayde Egan and standoff Chanel Harris-Tavita; like Vaimauga, Harris-Tavita had played every game this season until now. He is out for a week with a calf injury while Egan is following NRL concussion protocols after a head injury early in last Saturday’s 16-24 loss to the Gold Coast Titans.

In Fisher-Harris’ absence Queenland Origin winner Kurt Capewell will lead the side, rookie hooker Sam Healey comes in for his third NRL appearance this season and Te Maire Martin moves off the bench to start in the halves.

Brought onto the interchange are utility back Taine Tuaupiki plus Freddy Lussick, who is set for his first NRL start of the season after rotating between hooker and prop for the club’s competition-leading New South Wales Cup side.

The Warriors find themselves in a similar injury predicament to the one they endured in the corresponding match against the Dolphins in round 12 last year when they overcame a huge injury toll to win 24-20.

Fisher-Harris, Egan, Harris-Tavita and Vaimauga join an injury list which also includes Mitchell Barnett, Luke Metcalf, Rocco Berry and Ali Leiataua; between them the eight players account for more than 750 NRL appearances.

Despite last Saturday’s setback the Warriors remain fourth on the ladder on 30 points, three points ahead of the fifth-placed Penrith.

The Dolphins are eighth on 24 points coming off a bye following a 43-24 win over the Cowboys.

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