With the six-man bench ruling coming in this NRL season, just two players are omitted from squads at the 24-hour deadline ahead of kick-off in all games.
Tonight One New Zealand Warriors head coach Andrew Webster has confirmed halfback Luke Hanson and second rower Eddie Ieremia-Toeava are the two to drop out of the 22-man squad for the club’s season opening encounter with the Sydney Roosters at Go Media Stadium on Friday (8.00pm kick-off).
Hanson and Ieremia-Toeava were named in jerseys #22 and #23 but were also listed to play for the club’s New South Wales Cup curtain raiser.
It means new signing Alofiana Khan-Pereira is retained in the game day 20 with the listed six-man bench as announced on Tuesday – Sam Healey, Demitric Vaimauga, Leka Halasima, Tanner Stowers-Smith, Taine Tuaupiki and Morgan Gannon.
Available for selection this week are three of the One New Zealand Warriors’ most experienced players.
Captain James Fisher-Harris returns to lead the side after missing both of the club’s Pre-season Challenge matches while winger Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (hamstring) and standoff Chanel Harris-Tavitas (calf) have been cleared from minor injuries after also bypassing the two trials.
While Tuivasa-Sheck and Harris-Tavita come into the season fresh, Fisher-Harris had a big workload leading the Māori All Stars in their drawn encounter with the Australian Indigenous All Stars in Hamilton on February 15.
The only newcomer, although far from new to top level football, is second rower Gannon who joined the club from the Leeds Rhinos. He has been included on the extended bench and will become Warrior #295 should he take the field.
The 22-year-old made 73 appearances for the Rhinos in the Super League and Challenge Cup following his debut in 2021 while he also played in each of the One New Zealand Warriors’ Pre-season Challenge matches against Manly Warringah and the Dolphins last month.
Co-captain Mitchell Barnett remains sidelined as he recovers from knee surgery but is tagged to return soon. Second rower Marata Niukore (calf) will be available next week while Luke Metcalf (knee), Te Maire Martin (leg) and Rocco Berry (shoulder) will be in the recovery room for some time yet.
Back on the NRL stage for the first time since round 12 last May is Ali Leiataua. The 23-year-old rejoins Adam Pompey in the centres after coming through the trials with three tries.
The rest of the backline is the same as the combination used in last season’s week one play-off against Penrith while the starting forward pack has just one change with Jacob Laban replacing Niukore in the second row.
Tuivasa-Sheck will make his 149th appearance for the Warriors this week, leaving him set for his 150th against Canberra at Go Media Stadium in round two on March 13.