Taine Tuaupiki and Will Kennedy will square off, when NZ Warriors face Cronulla Sharks.
Photo: Photosport/RNZ
NRL: NZ Warriors v Cronulla Sharks
Kickoff 4pm, Sunday, 5 April
Ocean Protect Stadium, Sydney
Live blog updates on RNZ website
Analysis: After the euphoria of a three-game winning streak to start the 2026 NRL season, NZ Warriors have tasted a dose of reality, with their first defeat against an improving Wests Tigers side.
They travel across the Tasman, hoping to regroup against a Cronulla Sharks outfit off to a 2-2 start to their campaign.
Here’s what you need to know about that meeting.
History
Cronulla enjoy a sizeable head-to-head advantage over the Warriors, winning 29 of their previous 51 meetings (56.9 percent), but the rivals have shared honours (5-5) over the past 10 encounters, dating back to September 2020.
They faced each other just once last season, with the Warriors producing a 40-10 win at Sharks Park that rated as their best performance of the campaign.
They led 12-10 at halftime, but kept the home team scoreless after the break, with Chanel Harris-Tavita grabbing a try double. Co-captain Mitch Barnett had suffered his season-ending knee injury the week before, while hooker Sam Healey made his Warriors debut against his old club, deputising for Wayde Egan.
The Sharks have the biggest win of the rivalry, prevailing 45-4 in 2012, with Todd Carney, Andrew Fifita and John Williams all scoring try doubles and Carney kicking 8/8 from the tee, along with a field goal.
The Warriors’ biggest margin was their 44-12 win in 2023, with Dallin Watene-Zelezniak scoring two tries.
Form
After a three-game winning start to their season, the Warriors suffered their first defeat at the hands of the Tigers, running up an early 10-point advantage, but losing their way before halftime, conceding three tries and momentum that they were never able to regain.
After four rounds, they had slipped to second on the competition table, behind unbeaten Penrith Panthers, and led the league in total kick metres (2650). Halfback Tanah Boyd headed try assists (8) and all kicks (73).
Tanah Boyd led the competition in try assists and kicks after four rounds.
Photo: Andrew Cornaga/Photosport
Cronulla began their campaign with a big 50-10 win over Gold Coast Titans, but fell to Penrith and the Dolphins, before levelling their account with victory over Canberra Raiders last week.
They sit ninth on the table (2-2) and wing Sione Katoa leads the competition in tacklebreaks (34), while second-rower Billy Burns has missed most tackles (22).
Teams
Warriors: 1. Taine Tuaupiki, 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 3. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 4. Adam Pompey, 5. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 6. Luke Metcalf, 7. Tanah Boyd, 8. James Fisher-Harris, 9. Wayde Egan, 10. Jackson Ford, 11. Leka Halasima, 12. Jacob Laban, 13. Erin Clark
Interchange: 14. Sam Healey, 15. Marata Niukore, 16. Demitric Vaimauga, 17. Tanner Stowers-Smith, 18. Chanel Harris-Tavita, 20. Eddie Ieremia-Toeava
Reserves: 21. Morgan Gannon, 22. Alofiana Khan-Pereira, 23. Ali Leiataua
Warriors coach Andrew Webster has stuck with the reshuffled starting line-up that took the field against Wests last week, with Taine Tuaupiki at fullback and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad at centre.
Nicoll-Klokstad responded with a try double in the loss and Webster obviously values Tuaupiki’s x-factor at the back.
Barnett’s broken thumb will open an opportunity for Demitric Vaimauga, who did not take the field last week, as Webster tried to share gametime around his extended interchange.
Sharks: 1. Will Kennedy, 2. Sione Katoa, 3. Jesse Ramien, 4. KL Iro, 5. Sam Stonestreet, 6. Braydon Trindall, 7. Nicho Hynes, 8. Addin Fonua-Blake, 9. Blayke Brailey, 10. Tony Rudolf, 11. Billy Burns, 12. Teig Wilton, 13. Jesse Colquhoun
Interchange: 14. Sione Talakai, 15. Tom Hazelton, 16. Oregon Kaufusi, 17. Braden Uele, 18. Mawene Hiroti, 19. Hohepa Puru
Reserves: 20. Jayden Berrell, 21. Michael Gabrael, 22. Briton Nikora
Sharks coach Craig Ftizgibbon retains the same starters that beat Canberra Raiders last week, but brings Taranaki-born Mawene Hiroti onto the interchange, with Kiwis star Briton Nikora lurking
among the reserves, nursing a broken nose.
Player to watch
Does this feel like a game you circle for an Addin Fonua-Blake grudge match?
The imposing front-rower has won Dally M Prop of the Year for three consecutive years, including two as a Warrior, and letting him off his contract early still hurts. His clash with replacement James Fisher-Harris should be key to the outcome of this encounter.
It didn’t seem that long ago Addin Fonua-Blake was wearing a Warriors jersey.
Photo: NRL Photos / www.photosport.nz
Kiwi player to watch
If he’s anywhere near fit, you’d think second-rower Briton Nikora will be promoted into the playing line-up.
He’s a potential gamewinner and has already put his hand up for Origin, while keeping his Kiwis eligibility under new rules.
They said it
“We weren’t overreactive in there, we’re not happy, we’re very frustrated. We missed the mark tonight, we know that, but we know what we’ve got to work on… it’s clear already for us.”
Warriors coach Andrew Webster reflects on Tigers loss
“Those kicks he’s producing at the moment, he practices those during the week, so it’s no fluke that they’re coming off in the game. I think his defensive workrate has been great and he’s really found his own in the side.”
Sharks hooker Blayke Brailey assesses half Braydon Trindall’s performance this season
What will happen
The Warriors need to regroup after their loss to Wests Tigers and must do so without their skipper. They’ve done it before and Metcalf will be better for last week’s run.
Warriors by five.
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