While co-captain Mitchell Barnett’s comeback has been confirmed, centre Adam Pompey is unavailable for the One New Zealand Warriors’ round four NRL clash against the Knights at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle tomorrow (5.00pm kick-off local time; 3.00pm NZT).

Barnett, named in jersey #23 on Tuesday, moves onto the interchange for his first game after recovering from the knee injury that ended his 2025 campaign in the Warriors’ round 13 encounter with South Sydney last June.

Experienced 121-game centre Pompey has stayed in Auckland to support his wife Casey who is expecting the couple’s first child.

His absence results in Leka Halasima being moved to the centres and Marata Niukore returning for his first appearance of the year in the second row.

The confirmed interchange is Sam Healey, Demitric Vaimauga, Tanner Stowers-Smith and Barnett with Morgan Gannon and Alofi’ana Khan-Pereira on the six-man bench.

The match-up between the two unbeaten sides sees in-form Warriors prop Jackson Ford make his 100th career appearance and standoff Luke Hanson on debut as Warrior #295.

Now in his fourth season with the Warriors, 22-year-old Penrith junior Hanson comes into the lineup for injured standoff Chanel Harris-Tavita (concussion) after starring for the club’s triple crown-winning New South Wales Cup side last year.

He has banked 37 NSW Cup appearances while he started at #6 in each of the Warriors’ Pre-season Challenge matches against Manly Warringah and the Dolphins last month.

Ford (28), the NRL’s front rower of the moment, was signed in 2023 after just 33 games for St George Illawarra across four seasons but has become a mainstay of the Warriors’ pack as he looks ahead to his 67th game for the club just three rounds into his fourth year in Auckland.

In the opening two rounds of the season he has played 144 of a possible 160 minutes – all but four against Canberra last Friday night – while averaging 186 metres a game and making a total of 65 tackles.

The quality of his performances in the wins over the Roosters (42-18) and Raiders (40-6) saw him collect the maximum six Dally M points in each game to top the leaderboard on 12 points.

The quality of his performances in the wins over the Roosters (42-18) and Raiders (40-6) saw him collect the maximum six Dally M points in each game to top the leaderboard on 12 points.